FECAVOLLEY names Brazilian as new Lionesses trainer.

According to sources at the volleyball federation, the structure settled on hiring the South American after he was put at its disposal by volleyball’s global governing body, the International Volleyball Federation, FIVB.

Insiders say the trainer who has a two-decade long coaching career was proposed to FECAVOLLEY due to his proven track record as a tactician who possesses the qualities that are required to lead the rebirth of national teams like that of the Volleyball Lionesses of Cameroon.

Paulo Milagres, they say, is expected to coordinate the rejuvenation of the women’s national team by bringing together a new generation of highly-talented volleyball players who have the skills needed to help the Volleyball Lionesses reclaim their diminishing continental dominance.

According to insiders, the former Brazilian champion is expected to among others, mastermind the Volleyball Lionesses successful return as one of the world’s biggest Olympic teams.

That, they say, is programmed to be attained by ensuring the three-time African champions earn qualification tickets and participate in the finals of the Summer Olympic Games where the outfit’s only appearance remains its group stage show in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 2016.

Paulo Milagres’ proven track record 

Paulo Milagres has a rich coaching profile that has been built through his coaching jobs in South America, Europe and Africa.

One of the trainer’s biggest milestones was registered two years ago when he led the Rwandan women’s national volleyball team to a record fourth-place finish at the 2023 African Women’s Volleyball Championship held in Cameroon.

The top-four ranking which was earned after the side lost its semifinal and third-place fixtures in the Yaounde tournament to Egypt and Cameroon respectively, remains the East African nation’s finest performance since the introduction of the continental event almost six decades ago. 

The trainer achieved a similar success with the Rwandan senior men’s team during the 2023 African Men’s Volleyball Championship in Egypt. 

During the Cairo showpiece, the tactician earned a record sixth-place finish with the Rwandan side, the first time that the Rwandan men’s team was breaking into that bracket.

Paulo Milagres’ African experience adds to a ride that has seen him also succeeding in Romania and Poland in Europe and in Brazil in South America.

In 2023, he led Romanian club, CSU Targu Mures to qualifying for the Romanian first division volleyball championship. 

He had before that achievement, had a massive European coaching experience by leading the coaching bench of Polish elite championship outfit, SKS Jedinka Tarnów.

His trophy achievements include four Sao Paulo Cup trophies won with Esporte Clube Pinheiros between 2015 and 2019 during his eight-year stay at the team. 

He equally led the club to winning its only Brazilian Cup title in 2015 and secured an additional six junior championship titles.

Before the long ride with Esporte Clube Pinheiros, Paulo Milagres had earlier led ADC Finasa Osasco volleyball club in winning three successive titles while equally anchoring the outfit’s youngsters in harvesting junior and youth distinctions.

Paulo Milagres has several degrees, notably a master’s degree in behavior management and specialized training in high-performance volleyball from the São Paulo University in Brazil. 

He is also certified at the highest level by the Brazil volleyball governing body, according to his professional training background.

Paulo Milagres’ to begin race in Thailand

Before the much-anticipated overall rebuilding exercise, Paulo Milagres’ first challenge in charge of the team will be to lead the Volleyball Lionesses during the forthcoming 2025 World Women’s Volleyball Championships.

The championship which runs in Thailand between August and September, will mark the Volleyball Lionesses’ fifth appearance in the competition since its debut in the global showpiece in Japan in 2006. 

Cameroon will enter the event with eyes of getting a first ever qualification to the second round of the competition. 

After the 2025 World Championships journey in Thailand, the trainer’s attention will be shifted to the African championship which has been established as his biggest target as Cameroon eyes continental dominance and global glory.

Cameroon won three successive African women’s volleyball championship titles in 2017, 2019 and 2021 but missed out on the trophy in 2023. 

The 2023 failure particularly stopped Cameroon from qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games.

The team is looking to bounce back to winning ways as it eyes the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the United States. 

FECAVOLLEY hailed 

Since the announcement of Paulo Milagres’ arrival, FECAVOLLEY under the coordination of its president, Bello Bourdanne, has been hailed for the choice.

A section of Cameroonian volleyball professionals and experts have notably stated that the move highlights how committed the federation’s leadership is in its long-running drive to take Cameroonian volleyball to the next level.

“Milagres brings an impressive track record that perfectly matches Cameroon’s ambitious goals. His arrival marks the beginning of what could be a transformative period for women's volleyball in the country,” one of the professionals stated. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3462 of Monday June 02, 2025