• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 08 / 08 / 2011

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2011.08.07 - 11:56:53 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu / Havana, Cuba.- Cuba´s volleyball female´s squad, which is divided into two groups, is travelling to the Thai city of Nakhonpathon to make its debut in a three-match series against its opponents from Russia on Friday, Thailand on Saturday and Peru on Sunday at the 2011 Volleyball Grand Prix tournament for women.

Cuban squad´s main players and their coach travelled last Sunday to Thailand and the rest of the team departure yesterday. Therefore, the first part of the team would arrive in time for the inaugural matches and the other part of the squad will be arriving tomorrow.

To arrive in the tournament all the team together would have been the ideal situation, but it was not possible. However, at least the regular players of the Cuban squad will have 24 hours to recover from their long flying hours, as well as to get used to the new change of schedule in that nation.

The Cuban squad will play a nine-match series during the first round of the competition that includes two matches against Thailand and Argentina, a match against Russia, Peru, South Korea, Poland and Brazil.

The competition in Thailand is part of the Grand Prix circuit which continues in the Poland city of Zielona Gora, then the Cuban team will has to return to Thailand, but in Bangkok if our team won, it would be among the first seven places of the event, then it would have to participate in the final round to be held in China from August 24th to the 28th.

We consider highly possible that our team could achieve its qualification for the finals. However, it will be a difficult path for our prestigious female volleyball team.

After playing its inaugural games, the Cuban team will face off Thailand, South Korea and Argentina in Poland, then they will return to face off the local team of Thailand, Brazil and Argentina once again, thus concluding the aforementioned round of competition.

The most difficult matches for the Cuban female squad are probably those against the Russian and Brazilian teams. However, if our team won the other seven matches, it would be a magnificent performance and lost-win record and our team would be in the final round of competition to be held in China, but the competition program could certainly be more complicated.

The Peruvian female team, for instance, is a good example taking into account its current high-level performance, thus becoming in a difficult rival in the tournament. We could also say exactly the same about the teams from Poland and Thailand that our team will have to face off twice before their local public. However, if we won three matches and lost six ones, then it would be unlikely to advance into the finals.

Even though our team has not participated in this Grand Prix since two years ago, we consider highly unlikely to have a poor performance during the tournament.

If our team´s performance is the best we all expect from them, then we could finish with a favorable result during the qualifying round.It is a fact that just taking part in the prestigious tournament is a victory, particularly if our team advanced into the final round of competition.

We have other very important competitions during the current year; however, we have already won the ticket for the 2012 Grand Prix.

With a great effort and finding solutions for all the problems, the Cuban female team has been recovering to date.

By Alina Cabrera and translated by: Juan Carlos Caballero Puig