Cuba appoints new coach for men's volleyball team

Havana, July 25 (IANS): The Cuban Volleyball Federation (CVF) has appointed former player Rodolfo Sanchez as the new coach of the national men’s volleyball team, replacing Orlando Samuels.

“The CVF has designated Rodolfo Sanchez as the new coach of the men selection in substitution of Orlando Samuels,” the official Radio Havana Cuba reported Wednesday, without specifying the causes of the substitution, reports Xinhua.

Sanchez was a member of the Cuban team in the 1990s, and recently led the Cuban squad to the seventh place at the World Cup U-19 in Mexico.

Cuba’s men’s volleyball team has been seriously hit during the past few years by the exodus of some of its main figures, including Osmany Juantorena and Robertlandy Simon, now stars of the Italian League.

CVF officials expressed that local sport authorities would be willing to discuss with some former players, who deserted and now play for foreign leagues, the possibility to return temporarily to the national team.