TEAM COMPOSITION

CUB / Cuba - Team Composition

Team manager	Pavel Pimienta Allen
Head coach	Orlando Samuells Blackwood
Assistant coach	Idalberto Valdes Pedro
Doctor	Julio Miñoso Molina
Therapist / trainer	Joan Cantero Alado
Journalist	Carlos Alberto Gonzalez

	No.	Name	Lastname	Shirt Name	Birthdate	Height	Weight	Spike	Block
C	1	Wilfredo	Leon Venero	Leon	31.07.1993	202	96	350	346
	2	Lian Sem	Estrada Jova	Estrada	12.12.1982	196	83	339	335
	4	Yassel	Perdomo Naranjo	Perdomo	23.03.1993	201	96	355	325
L	6	Keibel	Gutierrez Torna	Gutierrez	06.05.1987	178	80	305	295
	7	Yordan	BISSET ASTENGO	BISSET	21.10.1994	194	89	336	314
	8	Rolando	Cepeda Abreu	Cepeda	13.03.1989	198	77	359	344
	12	Yenry	Bell Cisnero	Bell	27.07.1981	188	84	358	328
	13	David	Fiel Rodriguez	Fiel	28.08.1993	204	93	374	369
	14	Raydel	Hierrezuelo Aguirre	Hierrezuelo	14.07.1987	196	87	340	335
	16	Isbel	Mesa Sandobal	Mesa	02.06.1989	204	89	358	331
	18	Yosmany	Díaz Carmenate	Diaz	08.01.1988	196	89	358	328
	19	Fernando	Hernandez Ramos	Hernandez	11.09.1989	196	78	358	339

C=Captain L=Libero

Team profile

Cuba made their debut in the second edition of the FIVB World Cup in 1969, which was held in the former German Democratic Republic. Since then the Central Americans have taken part in six World Cups, in which they boast an impressive record of one gold medal, three silvers and a bronze.

Cuba missed the last two FIVB World Cups, which means the current generation of volleyball players has almost no experience at the tournament however this new bunch of “young guns” led by the inspirational Wilfredo Leon won’t be overawed by the occasion. They have proven in recent years to be up to the task having finished fourth in the FIVB World League on two occasions, been runners-up at the FIVB World Championship (in 2010) and ascended to the throne at the 2011 NORCECA Championship, which earned them a place in this year’s FIVB World Cup.

With such great natural talent and a highly valued technical staff, there’s no doubting that the glory days of the 90s won’t be far away again. Youth is on their side and with such an astute coach in Orlando Samuels at the helm, the combination is exciting to say the least and the future is bright, especially when you consider that many of the current squad featured in the team which won silver at the FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship in 2009.

Coach profile

One of the most successful coaches in the world will again take the helm of Cuba at this year’s FIVB World Cup. He has already experienced success at this tournament in 1989 while more recently he led a young side to silver at the FIVB World Championship 2010. Experience, a deep strategic knowledge, top-level analysis and complete dedication summarize Samuels’ career which spans more than 20 years for Cuba. Not one to remonstrate during a match, his wise words and deft touch are the mark of a true professor at the peak of his power.