May 19th, 2013

SHOCKING!

We’ve received an unconfirmed report that the Cuban Federation has banned Wilfredo Leon for 4 YEARS instead of 2. When a Cuban player decides to retire from the team, he/she becomes inactive for 2 years before the athlete can obtain permission and clearance from the FIVB to play out of Cuba.

As for Leon’s case, we are extremely shocked that he’s getting this very serious punishment.

It all started when a European club team offered Leon almost $1 MILLION to play overseas. Leon asked the Federation’s permission but they did not approve his request which prompted the Federation to expel him.

He is expelled because the Federation fears that he would escape or defect if they keep him on the team while in another country.

This is such a very sad fate for Wilfredo.

Can the FIVB do something?

April 28th, 2013

UPDATE: Leon has reportedly left Cuba and is currently in Poland with his Polish girlfriend. Rumor has it Polish club team Asseco Resovia is interested to sign him up but it won’t be feasible until 2015. Cuban players who leave the National Team are required to take 2 years off before they can legally play abroad.

Cuban volleyball continues to go down the drain!

Wilfredo is NOT the only one. Rumor has it that setter Yoandry Diaz has also been expelled.

So this is what happened…

We’ve been informed by a reliable source that Wilfredo and Yoandy informed the Cuban Federation that they’d want to play professional volleyball outside their country.

Sadly, Cuban officials thought and still think that the 2 athletes are planning on leaving Cuba for good to follow the footsteps of Robertlandy Simon, Joandry Leal, Leonel Marshall and Angel Dennis.

Without taking the time to fully understand what their intentions were/are, they immediately EXPELLED or kicked out Wilfredo and Yoandry from the National Team which translates to both players missing the 2013 World League and leaving the National Team for good.

Both players are planning to take 2 years off before they can legally play volleyball again overseas. Yoandry is 28 and Leon is only 19 (turns 20 on July 31st), so they both have a lot of playing years left.

We’re just really SAD on the kind of hell that Cuban players go through.

Thoughts?

(images: FIVB)