The Cuban men’s volleyball teamparticipating in the World Challenger tournament, based in South Koreawill present a list of 12 players, since Roberlandy Simón and Liván Soria could not make the trip after giving positive tests to COVID-19.
Both players also complied with the medical protocol prior to the trip, required by the organizers of the event in which the Cubans will seek qualification for the Volleyball League of Nations next year, according to information from the Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV) transmitted in a note of the sports portal Hit.
Adjustments in the Cuban payroll for the volleyball challenger tournament The exclusion of Robertlandy Simón and Liván Osoria is due to the fact that they have tested positive for covid-19 during the protocol required by the organizers. #Cuba #volleyball #VolleyballNationsLeague https://t.co/j9yLaoki0A pic.twitter.com/EJuxFfzyG7
— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) July 22, 2022
These are two sensitive casualties in the squad led by Nicolás Vives, since Roberlandy Simon He is considered one of the best central defenders in the world and has extensive experience at the highest level of this sport, while Soria is another of the team’s mainstays in that position.
In this way, the defense of the net will once again depend heavily on the performance of Roamy Alonso, who was chosen as the best blocker and Most Valuable Player of the Challenger tournament of NORCECA recently held in the Mexican state of Nayarit, where Vives’ disciples were crowned without losing a game.
Miguel Angel López, Marlon Yant, Michael Sánchez, Osniel Mergarejo, Adrián Goiede also stood out in that fight, who now repeat on the list that will enter the Asian contest.
points out Hit that the only novelty in the team is the incorporation of attacker Miguel David Gutiérrez, with outstanding performances in the current season, who did not play in the recent regional fair in Mexican lands.
The Cuban men’s volleyball team has never managed to reach the highest level of the Nations League, but currently has an important group of talented players, who have begun to raise their level with the incorporation into foreign leagues.
In addition, others who had left the FCV, to continue their professional careers individually, have been admitted back to the national team, as is the case of Simón himself, and also of Michael Sánchez.
The Cuban men’s volleyball team won the subtitle in the 2010 World Championship, held in Italy, in addition to being a bronze medalist in the 2012 edition of the World League -a tournament similar to the current League of Nations-; but, since then, he has not achieved any relevant result at the highest level, nor did he manage to qualify for the most recent Olympic tournament in Tokyo 2020.
