Saturday, 25 May 2013
Back to FIVB's homepage
RSS RSS l Contact l 

Organiser website

 Press Release
Cuban Leon is the Benjamin of Men’s Volleyball Family

Cuba's Wilfredo Leon alongside with former star setter Raul Diago, current President of Cuban Volleyball Federation
Rome, Italy, October 5, 2010 – Cuban Wilfredo Leon is the youngest among the 336 athletes taking part in the FIVB 2010 Men’s Volleyball World Championship, a record that doesn’t seem to impress the young spiker, a permanent fixture in the starting six of Coach Orlando Samuels Blackwood.
“I have been playing in the national team since I was 14”, comments Wilfredo, who turned 17 on July 31. “I started playing volleyball when I was 7 in the so called Sport Centers in Cuba,”
“That’s where all the children of the same age play together and it is there where scouts usually go to find prospects players for different sports,” evoked Leon.
We had the chance to talk to the marvelous young man considered as the Benjamin of the men’s Volleyball Family who fell in love at first sight with volleyball,
“That is how I was found and somewhat discovered and from that moment I started training a lot as I know that only the best ones can make it,” says the native of Santiago de Cuba known in the volleyball world as “The Lion King.”
Leon does a mental trip to those days when he was selected for the boys’ team when he was only 13 and only a couple of months later he got an invitation to train with the senior squad.
Leon doesn’t try to hide how proud he is about playing in the Cuban National Team, one of the squads with most medals and a long list of successful moments.
“In Cuba we train 8 hours a day, there is a championship that only lasts one month and there are no private clubs. The teams from the different regions play against each other,” Leon says.
The most hilarious occasion of his short but already brilliant career occurred during this so called “challenges between regions.”
“Two years ago my region didn’t want me in their team as they considered I was too young to play in the Championship”, says the amused youngster. “That is how I ended up playing with another region which in the end won the title.”
There is, of course, a significant difference between the Cuban Regional Championship and the World Championship in Italy.
“What I like about Italy is that volleyball is loved and followed by the fans. There is also an immense respect for the players”, adds the Cuban.
“Yesterday, for example, I had say ‘No’ to a girl that wanted my T-Shirt. I had to explain to her that I needed it till the end of the Championship. Instead of getting angry at me she smiled and told me I was good anyway.”
In this visit to Italy, Leon has been focused exclusively in playing volleyball while trying to help his team to finish in a podium position.
“It is a shame I haven’t had time to see a lot of Italy, other than the volleyball courts,” Leon says. “It is a beautiful country with a lot of history and the people are also wonderful.”
Download highresolution

Contact:
FIVB Press Department Director - Richard Baker
Mobile. +39 334 914 1332
Email: press@fivb.org
More press releases
11/11/2010 Exhibition of men's World Champs on display in Rio de Janeiro
26/10/2010 President Lula congratulates Brazil's world champions
18/10/2010 FIVB applauds 'clean' World Championship
14/10/2010 Brazil welcomed back home/ FIVB President congratulates Italy
14/10/2010 Brazil stay at No1 after World Championship success
13/10/2010 Champions Brazil return to Rio fanfare
11/10/2010 Brazil Men's World Champions for third time running
11/10/2010 Murilo named MVP of FIVB World Championship
10/10/2010 FIVB Men's Volleyball Championship Play-by-Play
10/10/2010 FIVB Men’s World Championship Italy 2010 final preview
10/10/2010 Brazil and Cuba set up final showdown
9/10/2010 Semifinal wins for Russia, USA, Argentina and Czech Republic
8/10/2010 First FIVB Men’s World Championship semifinals get underway
7/10/2010 Legend Bernardi turns temporary TV pundit
7/10/2010 Florence rivals looking to the future
7/10/2010 Modena quality to match Rome, says USA's Knipe
7/10/2010 Brazil, Italy and Cuba join Serbia in semifinals
6/10/2010 FIVB President visits the Pope
6/10/2010 Frenchman Pujol ready for a second stint in Italy
6/10/2010 D-Day arrives in Rome and Florence
5/10/2010 Minister of Youth joins FIVB President at Youth Village
6/10/2010 Serbia advance to semifinals as Italy beat USA
5/10/2010 Cuban Leon is the Benjamin of Men’s Volleyball Family
5/10/2010 Serbia v Russia, USA v Italy highlight key games on day two of WCH third round
5/10/2010 Olympic and world champions take step towards semis
4/10/2010 Race for World Championship semifinals underway
4/10/2010 Nelson Mandela Forum centre stage
3/10/2010 Real World Championship starts now – Blain
3/10/2010 Final 12 confirmed as second round concludes
2/10/2010 Third round places on the line on final day of FIVB Men's World Championship second round
2/10/2010 Volunteering for the good of Volleyball
2/10/2010 Brazil & Bulgaria through as Poland knocked out in FIVB Men's World Championship second round
1/10/2010 Czech Republic trying on Cinderella's boot in Italy
1/10/2010 Serbia given boost by Stankovic support
1/10/2010 Key day as FIVB Men's World Championship second round reaches crucial stage
1/10/2010 Brazil beats Poland as FIVB Men's World Championship second round begins
30/09/2010 Round Three venues confirmed for FIVB Men's World Championship Italy 2010
30/09/2010 Puerto Rico and Germany to meet in crucial battle
29/09/2010 Argentina and Italy dominate the coaching scene
29/09/2010 Bagnoli confident but Anastasi offers caution
29/09/2010 "We will keep on dreaming," says Mexico coach
29/09/2010 Ancona-based rivals look ahead to second round
29/09/2010 Ancona welcomes contenders for Pools L and N
28/09/2010 2006 medalists highlight pool combinations for FIVB Men's World Championship second round
28/09/2010 Success for Cameroon, as they join eight others in confirming a spot in FIVB Men's World Championship second round
28/09/2010 Friends and rivals: The life of two setters.
27/09/2010 Cameroon's Ndaki credits Japanese Volleyball for his progress
27/09/2010 Marlon forced to wait for medical response
27/09/2010 Japan still enjoyng Italian experience despite results
27/09/2010 “We will play until the last point in this World Championship,” says Mexico coach Azair
27/09/2010 Puerto Rican Feñito Rodriguez defies Father Time playing at 41
27/09/2010 Battle for survival in Italy
27/09/2010 “Our real goal is London 2012,” Says USA coach Knipe
27/09/2010 Nine teams book FIVB Men's World Championship second round spots
26/09/2010 Julio Velasco - the man of challenges
26/09/2010 High expectations for Poland's mentor Daniel Castellani
26/09/2010 World Championship Volleyball in demand in Verona
26/09/2010 FIVB Men’s World Championship 2010 – Day Two
26/09/2010 FIVB Men's World Championship opens amongst spectacular scenes
25/09/2010 Mexico acknowledge tough assignment
25/09/2010 Lastest News and Numbers from the FIVB Men's World Championship 2010
25/09/2010 Weber looking for perfect blend for Argentina
25/09/2010 You can make a travel to the past in Modena
25/09/2010 Bulgaria's Prandi Returns to Native Italy
24/09/2010 Pool D coaches convinced of tight competition
24/09/2010 Coaches Feel Pool E Has Four Great Teams
24/09/2010 Iran hoping for first World Championship victory since 1970
24/09/2010 Verona is ready to roll
24/09/2010 "Get ready for the most competitive and exciting World Championship in history" says Castellani
24/09/2010 Italian coach Bagnoli confident of his Russia Team
24/09/2010 Teams seek support in Italy
24/09/2010 First leg for Bernardinho
24/09/2010 U.S. ready to recover from World League disappointment
23/09/2010 Poland and Serbia with "special" supporters as they embark on their World Championship campaign
23/09/2010 USA eager to repeat achievements of golden generation
23/09/2010 Stamp exhibition in Reggio Calabria celebrates Volleyball World Championship
23/09/2010 The secret identity of Riad
23/09/2010 Salvatore relishing new challenge
23/09/2010 Skorek remembered for glory days in Modena
23/09/2010 World Championship wait nearly over
19/09/2010 Iran deal Puerto Rico defeat
23/09/2010 Egypt eager to advance to the final round of World Championships
22/09/2010 Brazil defeated twice by Germany one week ahead of World Champs
22/09/2010 Argentina welcomed in Brolo
21/09/2010 Bulgaria score tournament win in France
18/09/2010 Canada defeats Bled in world championship tune-up
16/09/2010 Czech Republic sweep Canada in Men World Champs warm up
16/09/2010 Stephane Antiga "I’m look forward to the start"
16/09/2010 Argentina join Spain and Bulgaria in France on way to Men’s World Championship
14/09/2010 Czech Republic take the honours in opening friendly with Canada
13/09/2010 Italy and Germany tie warm up series 1-1
11/09/2010 Canada ready to make some noise at Men’s World Championship
7/09/2010 Castellani expects surprises at World Champs
6/09/2010 Russia pick up pair of wins over Germany
6/09/2010 Argentina set to name World Champs squad
6/09/2010 Brazil beat Poland in friendly
2/09/2010 Germany and Russia set to square off
31/08/2010 Mexico drop into FIVB headquarters
30/08/2010 Argentina pick up wins over Australia and Tunisia as they continue World Champs preparation
31/08/2010 Men's World Championship teams announced
30/08/2010 Italy score win over Bulgaria in World Champs preparation
28/08/2010 Cuba wins WCH warm-up series over Canada
28/08/2010 Cuba wins WCH warm-up series over Canada
27/08/2010 Canada score vital win over Cuba
27/08/2010 Argentina, Australia and Tunisia continue World Champs preparation
27/08/2010 Female referee pioneer Bjelic to make Volleyball history
25/08/2010 Canada and Cuba continue World Champs preparation
19/08/2010 Argentina step up World Championship preparations
18/08/2010 Poland beat Brazil in tie break thriller
17/08/2010 Brazil to play in four-team tournament in Poland
6/08/2010 India, Chinese Taipei, cause big upsets in Asian Men’s Cup
4/08/2010 Bernardinho names preliminary squad for World Champs
4/08/2010 Iran and Australia top pools at Asian Men’s Cup
3/08/2010 Kazakhstan pull off shock win over Japan
2/08/2010 Asian Men's Cup Championship kicks off in Iran
2/08/2010 2010 FIVB Men’s World Champs announce TV schedule change
30/07/2010 Puerto Rico shines at home with third straight gold medal
29/07/2010 Puerto Rico and Venezuela to clash for the gold medal
28/07/2010 Mexico and Dominican Republic join Venezuela and Puerto Rico in semifinals
27/07/2010 Puerto Rico and Venezuela move into semifinals
26/07/2010 Puerto Rico and Mexico set up pool-deciding clash in Central American and Caribbean Games
8/07/2010 Canada beat Australia in FIVB World Champs preparation
25/06/2010 FIVB Men’s World Championship Italy 2010 match timing confirmed
23/06/2010 100 day countdown to FIVB Men's World Championship Italia 2010
3/06/2010 Japan aiming for top eight finish in World Champs
1/06/2010 FIVB Men's World Championship Media Accreditation
14/04/2010 Japan name preliminary squads for upcoming season
16/03/2010 Tickets for the FIVB Men's World Championship go on sale
5/03/2010 Czech star Stokr picks up MVP award for February in Italy's Serie A
1/02/2010 Men's World Championship's "Volly" joins Italian Cup festivities
1/02/2010 FIVB Men’s World Championship Italia 2010 in Reggio Calabria will be "a great event"
21/01/2010 Italian coach looking forward to "coming home" during World Champs
20/01/2010 Venezuela announce Gilberto Herrera as the new coach of the men's national side
28/10/2009 2010 Men's WCHs Road to Final & 1st Round Calendar confirmed
28/10/2009 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships Italia 2010 Drawing of Lots Completed
27/10/2009 2010 Men's World Championships Drawing of Lots Live on FIVB website
26/10/2009 2010 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships Drawing Of Lots to take place on Wednesday
25/09/2009 Drawing of Lots dates confirmed for 2010 World Champsionships
31/08/2009 24 Men's teams qualify for Italy 2010
22/08/2009 Berths at Italy 2010 rapidly filling up
13/06/2009 World Championship mascot to make debut in Verona
25/05/2009 Mexico, Bahamas, Kazakhstan keep on trucking
1/04/2009 Pope Benedict XVI receives FIVB 2010 Men's World Championship organisers as children play Volleyball in St. Peter's Square
23/01/2009 FIVB approves preliminary-round tournament dates for 2010 World Championships
13/01/2009 Easy for Montenegro in Guba as ticket for next round swiftly granted
6/01/2009 Romania Men qualify for next round of 2010 FIVB World Championship
5/01/2009 Latvia advance to next round despite Sweden defeat
5/01/2009 Belarus move to next round despite courageous Brits display
16/12/2008 NORCECA tournaments see five teams qualified for third round of FIVB Volleyball World Championships
14/11/2008 FIVB sets tournament calendar for 2010 FIVB Men’s and Women’s World Championships
13/10/2008 Blue swallow unveiled as mascot for 2010 FIVB Men’s World Championship in Italy
29/09/2008 FIVB 2010 Volleyball World Championships: Drawing of lots completed in Turin
29/09/2008 Campeonatos Mundiales de Voleibol FIVB 2010: Distribución de Lotes completada en Turín
25/09/2008 Italy gets ready to host Drawing of Lots for 2010 FIVB Men’s and Women’s Volleyball World Championships’ preliminary rounds: Record 215 national teams await outcome
6/05/2008 Record number of more than 200 National Teams already registered to play in 2010 Volleyball World Championships
5/02/2008 The 2010 FIVB World Championships begin: the Federations have received the entry forms
5/02/2008 Los Campeonatos Mundiales 2010 comienzan: las Federaciones han recibido formularios de inscripción
12/10/2007 16 Italian cities bidding to host FIVB 2010 Men’s World Championship

  Photo gallery