The Cuban teams began to leave their fingerprint in the World Volleyball in the middle of the 60’s when the new government of this country developed an ambitious program of sports development.
From 1966 to 2007 the Women’s teams which were called “Las Morenas del Caribe”, commanded by the teacher’s teacher Eugenio George, dominated the region with supreme facility. They obtained three Olympic consecutive titles, three World championships, four World Cups, two Grand Prix and a Grand Champion. In addition they have achieved 12 Silver medals in this type of competitions.
The Men’s teams also were among the best in the planet achieving 15 NORCECA championships, 5 Pan-American ones, a golden medal in World Cup of 1989 and one in The World League of 1998 besides being a finalist 16 times in these championships including the World championship of 1990 and 2010.
The Cuban volleyball was in the top of the World Volleyball, when suddenly desertion and the “requests of fall“ of the National Team began. The reasons of this phenomenon are different, but we can emphasize two principal ones:
1. The attractiveness of the Professional leagues of other countries
2. Small salaries that these athletes got for their achievements, for what they took the decision to look for a better quality of life.
Nowadays, the Cuban volleyball has lost almost everything, to such a point that does not even dominate in their geographical zone. Top players are dispersed in different leagues of the world. For mentioning some names, we have in women’s, the setters Ana Yilian Cleger and Lilianne Marcillán, Giselle Silva, Yanelis Santos, Wilma Salas, Kenya Carcasés, Nancy Carrillo, Daimí Ramirez and Rosir Calderón. For the males, Leonel Marshall, Javier Gonzalez, Roberlandy Simón, Osmany Juantorena, Joandy Leal and Wilfredo León among others.
To form a National Team is a very complicated work when the goals are to be kept among the best in the world. There must exist a program of development well-structured with good bases. From the identification of the athlete up to their ideal formation, it takes years of arduous work. And it is because of it, that losing one or more athletes already prepared, breaks with the parameters established to achieve the wished goals.
Certainly it is very difficult for any Coach to obtain good results when the team is unstable and in addition, when probably in a short time, any of the emergent stars could ” request the fall ” of the National Team or take the desertion way , then reappear, probably two years later, in the list of some professional club. (NBThis paragraph and some information taken of article of Mi Columna Deportiva).
Whisperers are listened on the interest of the Cuban Federation of Volleyball of bringing for international high-level competitions athletes who are playing in the exterior in order to return to the golden route. Let’s give some Time to the Time and the future will show us its ways.
Las Morenas del Caribe in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxRjd2sucqo
