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VenezuelaPress release
Argentina well represented on the coaches bench
Jon Uriarte for Australia and Carlos Cardona for Puerto Rico, both from Argentina, shake hands after their match
Tokyo, Japan, June 3, 2012 - Three out of eight teams in the FIVB Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament have coaches born in Argentina. Iran is coached by the legendary coach Julio Velasco, Australia by former Argentinian top player Jon Uriarte while Puerto Rico is led by coach profile Carlos Cardona.
"The first win of a big championship is always the best feeling if you ask me as a coach," he said. "I will never forget my first gold in the European Championship in Stockholm 1989 with Italy, and of course the World Championship gold medal in Rio de Janeiro 1990 the year after."
"They seek themselves in international volleyball and want to know everything, listen to new ideas and of course make their own prescription of what they learn," he revealed. "I think that is one of the reasons why Argentinians are so involved in top volleyball in the world"
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Julio Velasco was 30-years-old when he moved from Argentina to Italy and is up until now one of the most decorated coaches in the world
"The first win of a big championship is always the best feeling if you ask me as a coach," he said. "I will never forget my first gold in the European Championship in Stockholm 1989 with Italy, and of course the World Championship gold medal in Rio de Janeiro 1990 the year after."
He thinks that Argentinian coaches are, in general, very open minded.
"They seek themselves in international volleyball and want to know everything, listen to new ideas and of course make their own prescription of what they learn," he revealed. "I think that is one of the reasons why Argentinians are so involved in top volleyball in the world"
And he is equally passionate about his latest challenge in Iran.
"There is a lot of talented players in the team of Iran and my duty is to take out the best of every player and make them a team so they can perform by their best for their country."
Australia coach Uriarte is a former Argentine player who represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, winning bronze. He also won bronze at the 1982 World Championship held in Argentina that year. He also played eight seasons in the highest volleyball league in Italy A1.
"I have followed these players since they were 16 and entered the special training program set up by the Australian Federation," he said. "I was appointed the first time of Australia in 2000 in advance of the Olympic Games in Sydney and also for the 2004 Games in Athens, so hopefully we will make it again. It doesn't put me under pressure it´s just a great pleasure and more a challenge to try to get the team to an Olympic Games again."
Carlos Cardona, now coach of Puerto Rico is also the former coach of the Puerto Rican women's team. He went from Argentina's National League to Italy's League A-1, developing teams like Grottazzolina, Petrolifano and Gioia. He agrees with Velasco on why Argentinian coaches work all over the world.
"I guess we are multitasked and open for foreign influences, we are all immigrants and open to different tasks," he explained. "We can easily adapt our selves to various cultures, I think thats one of the secrets behind Argentinian coaches appearing in top volleyball."
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