By: Ohmer Bautista
Air Padda and Godfrey Okumu have always been known for their competitive-yet-friendly relationship.
Stemming from their hostile encounters in the collegiate scene in seasons past – wherein Padda guided the Adamson Lady Falcons while Okumu coached the UP Lady Maroons – the two foreign coaches have always locked horns with their cunning minds and fiery spirits on full display. Still, despite who comes out on top, mutual respect will always be there.
After all, if there is something they have in common, it is the love that springs from within Padda and Okumu – the love for the game of volleyball, that is.
And so, when Motolite opened the opportunity to change their rival status to comrades, both of them took the leap together. And the decision that brought joy for many, including themselves.
“I’m happy that this is a dream come true for many people who wanted to see us work together.
“I’m so happy that I made the decision to work with her, to work with Motolite,” the Kenyan Okumu beamed.
The American mentor added with a smile, “I’m happy. Like you said, a lot of people have been wanting this. I’ve been wanting it.”
“I’ve been wanting to see what could happen when two coaches like us get together.”
For her part, Padda described their coaching relationship as a “worked marriage”, while emphasizing the fact that their knowledge in volleyball was brought up in a distinct environment. She also noted that while their coaching personalities differ, this ultimately leads to a certain degree of stability.
“It’s like we come from different styles. I’m American, he’s Kenyan. He’s been coaching in Japan for the last eighteen years. It’s really like a work marriage,” Padda bared. “We’re like a merging of two really different styles of volleyball, so we’re always learning from one another.
“It’s a really good balance. Sometimes I could be really intense. And he’s just so calm and peaceful at times.”
The American mentor also voiced her displeasure with what she’s been hearing regarding her working relationship with Okumu. To set the record straight, she said, “I don’t like it when people say, ‘Who’s working for who?’
“He’s not working for me – he’s working with me.”
Motolite started their PVL campaign on a sour note after absorbing a four-set whipping from PacificTown-Army last Saturday. Still, Padda reminded that the season is still far from over.
“This is definitely not a display of what we wanted to happen tonight, but it’s the first game so I’m not going to spend too much time beating ourselves up over this. We got a long, long season ahead of us.”
