The LEON KING is BACK!
Leon has confirmed that he will play for Zenit Kazan and has signed a 2 year contract.
Leon says…
“My suspension ends this coming July and I will for Zenit Kazan for the next 2 years. I’ve heard a lot about the level of the volleyball league in Russia, which is the best the world. Zenit is a great option to pursue a career and I wanted to play in a strong league and a strong club.”
He also adds that he will try his best to be in the starting 6. Zenit already has 2 world class outside hitters, Matt Anderson and Sivozhelez.
“This is a great experience for me. Matt and Sivo are great volleyball players. I have a lot of work to do and play in the starting six. I am not afraid.”
We will for sure miss Leon on the Cuban team but the grass looks greener for sure with this new adventure in Russia.
The Russian Superleague does not stop attracting the world’s best Volleyball players. After Italy’s Ivan Zaytsev announced a couple of days ago he would move to Dinamo MOSCOW for the next season, Russia’s champions Zenit KAZAN pre-signed another world-class players to strengthen their roster for their 2014/2015 campaign. Cuba’s Wilfredo Leon – a real Volleyball wunderkind – is indeed the last addition to the roster of the Tatars.
Leon debuted with Cuba’s senior national team by the time he was only 14 and only three years later he was named the youngest captain of the Cuban squad. In 2009 he received the award for the best server of the World League Finals even though he had to be content with fourth place after his team lost the bronze medal match to Russia. In 2010 he continued his rise to the top making the final of the 2010 World Championship in Italy where Cuba lost in straight sets to Brazil. That same year Leon helped Cuba win the Volleyball tournament of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore where he scored a total of 110 points in only four matches.
Leon has been going through difficult times after in April 2013 he was expelled from the national team and disqualified for two years by the Cuban Federation after he allegedly signed a contract with a European club without their consent. Leon spent the last season practicing in Poland to keep in shape and get ready for his comeback.
“We have signed a preliminary contract with him after we were informed by FIVB that his ban from competition has been reduced to one year,” says the General Manager of Zenit KAZAN, Oleg Bryzgalov. “He is now due to come to Kazan to sign his international transfer; he will also undergo a medical check-up, spend some time here and train with our team. After that we will sign a more comprehensive contract.”
Welcome Back Leon!
One Comment
Leave a Reply