Cuba men's national volleyball team
The Cuba men's national volleyball team (Spanish: Selección masculina de voleibol de Cuba) is the national team of Cuba. Cuba in the 1976 Summer Olympics won the bronze medal. Other achievements of the team winning one World League, one World Grand Champions Cup and fifteen NORCECA Championships. Cuba have attained two silver and two bronze World Championship medals and have won the NORCECA Championship 15 times.
Nickname(s) | Los leones del voleibol cubano(Lions of Cuban volleyball) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Association | Federación Cubana De Voleibol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confederation | NORCECA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Nicolas Vives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIVB ranking | 18 (as of October 2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Uniforms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Summer Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 7 (First in 1972) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | 3rd (1976) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 14 (First in 1956) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | 2nd (1990, 2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
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Results
Olympic Games
World Championship
World Cup
World Grand Champions Cup
World League
- 1991 – Silver medal
- 1992 – Silver medal
- 1993 – 4th place
- 1994 – Silver medal
- 1995 – Bronze medal
- 1996 – 4th place
- 1997 – Silver medal
- 1998 – Gold medal
- 1999 – Silver medal
- 2000 – 8th place
- 2001 – 5th place
- 2002 – 13th place
- 2003 – 13th place
- 2004 – 7th place
- 2005 – Bronze medal
- 2006 – 7th place
- 2007 – 7th place
- 2008 – 10th place
- 2009 – 4th place
- 2010 – 4th place
- 2011 – 8th place
- 2012 – Bronze medal
- 2013 – 13th place
- 2014 – 21st place
- 2015 – 18th place
- 2016 – 22nd place
Pan American Games
NORCECA Championship
- 1969 – Gold medal
- 1971 – Gold medal
- 1973 – Silver medal
- 1975 – Gold medal
- 1977 – Gold medal
- 1979 – Gold medal
- 1981 – Gold medal
- 1983 – Bronze medal
- 1985 – Silver medal
- 1987 – Gold medal
- 1989 – Gold medal
- 1991 – Gold medal
- 1993 – Gold medal
- 1995 – Gold medal
- 1997 – Gold medal
- 1999 – Silver medal
- 2001 – Gold medal
- 2003 – Bronze medal
- 2005 – Silver medal
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2009 – Gold medal
- 2011 – Gold medal
- 2013 – Bronze medal
- 2015 – Silver medal
- 2017 – did not participate
- 2019 – Gold medal
America's Cup
Central American and Caribbean Games
- 1930 – Silver medal
- 1935 – Bronze medal
- 1938 – Bronze medal
- 1946 – Gold medal
- 1950 – Silver medal
- 1954 – Bronze medal
- 1962 – 4th place
- 1966 – Gold medal
- 1970 – Gold medal
- 1974 – Gold medal
- 1978 – Gold medal
- 1982 – Gold medal
- 1986 – Gold medal
- 1990 – Gold medal
- 1993 – Gold medal
- 1998 – Gold medal
- 2014 – Bronze medal
Team
Current squad
The following is the Cuban roster in the 2020 Men's North American Olympic Qualification Tournament
Head coach: Nicolas Vives
No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | 2019-20 Club | 2020-21 Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Osniel Melgarejo | 18 December 1997 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | Bolivar Voley | Chaumont VB 52 |
3 | Julio Cardenas | 4 September 2000 | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 72 kg (159 lb) | Obras San Juan | Tourcoing LM |
4 | Marlon Yant | 23 May 2001 | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) | Chaumont VB 52 | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
5 | Javier Concepción | 26 December 1997 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | Obras San Juan | Indykpol AZS Olsztyn |
6 | Jose Carlos Romero | 1 May 1999 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | Obras San Juan | GFC Ajaccio Volley-Ball |
7 | Yonder Garcia(L) | 23 February 1993 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | Ciudad Habana | Free Agent |
9 | Livan Osoria (C) | 5 February 1994 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | 95 kg (209 lb) | Ciudad Volley | Cambrai-Volley |
13 | Robertlandy Simon | 11 June 1987 | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | 114 kg (251 lb) | Cucine Lube Civitanova | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
11 | Lyvan Taboada | 4 October 1998 | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | Ciudad Habana | Free Agent |
12 | Jesus Herrera | 4 April 1995 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | Bolivar Voley | Chaumont VB 52 |
14 | Adrián Goide | 26 June 1998 | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | Sancti Spiritus | Haliliye Belediye Spor |
15 | Yohah Leon | 24 January 1995 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 95.5 kg (211 lb) | Bolivar Voley | Free Agent |
17 | Roamy Alonso | 24 July 1997 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | Consar Ravenna | Chaumont VB 52 |
18 | Miguel Ángel López | 25 March 1997 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 70 kg (150 lb) | UPCN San Juan Vóley | Sada Cruzeiro |
Dream Team Squad
After 2001, many players defected from Cuba seeking better life conditions. Some of them excelled during their pro career, being more often considered the best of their positions. The following list follow 15 men throughout that period of time, that one way or another make history and were called Dream team squad.
Head coach: Gilberto Herrera
No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | Spike | Block | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wilfredo Leon Venero | 31 July 1993 | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | 373 cm (147 in) | 346 cm (136 in) | Sir Safety Perugia |
13 | Robertlandy Simon | 11 June 1987 | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | 114 kg (251 lb) | 389 cm (153 in) | 326 cm (128 in) | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
4 | Yoandry Leal | 31 August 1988 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | 107 kg (236 lb) | 362 cm (143 in) | 341 cm (134 in) | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
5 | Osmany Juantorena | 12 August 1985 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 370 cm (150 in) | 340 cm (130 in) | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
14 | Raydel Hierrezuelo | 14 July 1987 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | 340 cm (130 in) | 335 cm (132 in) | LPR Piacenza |
9 | Michael Sánchez | 5 June 1986 | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) | 365 cm (144 in) | 340 cm (130 in) | Korean Air Jumbos |
19 | Fernando Hernandez | 11 September 1989 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | 358 cm (141 in) | 339 cm (133 in) | Halkbank |
15 | Oreol Camejo | 22 July 1986 | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) | 354 cm (139 in) | 326 cm (128 in) | Zenit Saint Petersburg |
1 | Leonel Marshall | 25 September 1979 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | 383 cm (151 in) | 353 cm (139 in) | LPR Piacenza |
7 | Angel Dennis | 13 June 1977 | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | 360 cm (140 in) | 330 cm (130 in) | Sporting CP |
14 | Ihosvany Hernández Rivera | 6 June 1972 | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | 103 kg (227 lb) | 368 cm (145 in) | 349 cm (137 in) | Retired |
2016 Finland rape incident
Eight members of the Cuban national men's volleyball team, including the team's captain, were held in Tampere, Finland on suspicion of aggravated gang rape of a 35-year-old Finnish woman[1][2], as of July 2016. Two of them were discarded of the claims later.[3] The incident took place in the Hotel Ilves at Tampere where the Olympics-bound Cuban team were staying. The arrested players were scheduled to play in the Cuban team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[4]
On 16 August, the six team members still remaining in custody were charged with aggravated rape at Pirkanmaa District Court[5] and the proceedings started on 29 August.[6] On 20 September, four of the men, Osmany Santiago Uriarte Mestre, Rolando Cepeda Abreu, Ricardo Norberto Calvo Manzano and Abraham Alfonso Gavilán were given five-year jail sentences while Luis Tomás Sosa Sierra is facing a prison term of three and a half years.[7] All men appealed, and on 30 June 2017 the Turku court of appeal decreased the length of all sentences and lifted the sentence of Sosa Sierra.[8]
According to the New York Times, the Cuban Volleyball Association stated early on that the athletes’ behavior was counter to the “discipline the sense of honor and respect that govern our sport and society.”[9]
In June 2017, all players convicted for aggravated rape appealed, and sentences were reduced in the case of Osmany Uriarte, Abraham Alfonso, Ricardo Calvo and the ex-captain Rolando Cepeda Abreu. Sosa was released as he was found not guilty due to lack of evidence, and he received a compensation from the government of Finland for the quantity of 200,000 euros, due to damages against his person and in his sports career.[10]
Kit providers
The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Cuba national volleyball team.
Period | Kit provider |
---|---|
2000– | Adidas Puma |
Sponsorship
Primary sponsors include: main sponsors like Honda.
References
- Kuubalaisten raiskausjutussa on käynnissä viimeinen päivä – Tämä jutusta tiedetään Archived 2016-10-11 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish) Aamulehti
- Syyttäjä: Kuubalaiset käyttivät joukkoraiskauksessa väkivaltaa ja kuvasivat teon (in Finnish) Iltalehti
- "Two Cuban volleyballers released, six still held". Yleisradio. 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- "Members of Cuba's volleyball team detained on rape suspicions". Yleisradio. 2016-07-03. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- Mansikka, Heli (2016-08-16). "Kuubalaisia lentopalloilijoita vastaan nostettiin syyte – kaikkia kuutta epäillään törkeästä raiskauksesta" [Charged pressed against Cuban volleyball players – all six suspected of aggravated rape] (in Finnish). Yleisradio. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- Jansson, Kaisu (2016-08-29). "Kuubalaisten lentopalloilijoiden oikeudenkäynti alkaa Tampereella" [Cuban volleyballers' trial begins in Tampere] (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
- Viidelle kuubalaispelaajalle vankeustuomio - raiskasivat naisen törkeästi Tampereella (in Finnish) Iltalehti
- https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9699240
- http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/09/21/world/europe/finland-rape-cuban-volleyball.html
- "Finnish woman's gang rape was filmed — documents reveal what happened that night in the Tampere hotel" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.