HE may be a bemedaled head coach of Alas Pilipinas, but for Jorge Souza de Brito, the gift of family is the prize he cherishes the most.
The 1992 Olympic gold medalist with Brazil first landed in the Philippines in 2021 through the International Volleyball Federation’s (FIVB) national team development program.
READ: Jorge de Brito wishes to see these players in an expanded Alas pool
Since he arrived, he has experienced the pains of defeat, the joys of victory, the unrelenting pressure from fans and volleyball officials, not to mention criticisms that went with the job.
Through all these, however, his wife Raquele and their three children - Julia, 16, Ana Luiza (12) and six-year old Helena - stood by him.
The last few years have seen him witness the growth and the developing maturity of the national team but on the side, he's also seeing how his three children have been growing and maturing before his eyes.
Aware of what this world has become, there is fear in his heart, but there is also excitement as his three young girls, growing ever so rapidly, try to adopt to their new environment.
“When you’re not a father, you don’t know exactly what it means (to be one). You can imagine but you don’t know. It’s a part of you, just seeing them walking around, growing," de Brito said. Then he told the interviewer, " Stop it, I'm getting emotional."
But he continued: “It’s an amazing feeling because they (children) want your protection but suddenly, they start to grow, they start to make their own steps and you just have to be so proud of it. But also, you’ll be afraid because the world is not perfect and it’s always dangerous. But it’s an amazing journey to be a dad. It’s something that will make you alive every single day.
“Of course, you’ll never sleep a hundred percent because you always have to think about what they’re going to do in the future, what they’re thinking about, and what I can do to make their lives comfortable and for them not to be afraid of the things they’ll have to face. It’s the best part of life.”
‘Always here, no matter what’
De Brito's contract was supposed to end this month, but his successful handling of the country's campaign in the AVL Challenge Cup where the Philippines captured the bronze medal, pushed officials to extend his stay as Alas head coach for at least until the end of 2025.
That was great news for de Brito, who was already preparing to go to Chinese Taipei for his next assignment. And his family must have also welcomed the extended stay in the country as they will no longer have to adjust to a new environment, at least for the next two years.
De Brito's concern was always to accept what is good for his children.
“There’s something I always do when there’s some flights and when I’m away is I just always ask to protect me to be back and to protect them to be safe. If something happens, I can’t take care of them because it’s hard (from afar) but they stay with their mom.”
Time is gold
Juggling coaching and parenting duties isn’t an easy task by any stretch. Hence, de Brito imparted what he considers to be the two most important gifts any parent can and must give: love and time.
“I’m a father too. I know how hard it is and I know there’s a part that we always have to work a lot to provide them everything they need. But I want to share with you guys that all they need is our love.
“I wish you happiness in your hearts, a lot of love to help them and use all the moments that you have to spend with them because I think more than everything that you can give them, all they need is our time. Time is something that anyone can’t pay, no one,” said de Brito.
“I wish you could have a long time with them and enjoy this moment, this special moment with the kids. It’s so good because even if they grow, they’ll still always be our kids.”
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