One of the most gentlemanly and correct coaches I have ever met is Jorge Garbey, prominent technician of the cuban volleyball. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of talking with him and now we have met again at this time when many are wondering what will happen to world sport when, finally! The coronavirus is a gloomy memory!
At the moment, many football competitions have set a start date for the end of May and June, maintaining social distance, with measures such as not greeting each other when a goal is scored; There are even those who maintain playing in an empty stadium as they propose in the MLB.
But what happens to those athletes who dreamed of Tokyo 2020 and are now moving their minds and hearts to 2021, even taking into account that some sports have yet to complete their pre-Olympic tournaments?
What does Jorge Garbey think about it?
The first thing to take into account is how the athletes are maintaining themselves, physically and mentally. Physical condition at the end of the quarantine is essential. Remember that in Cuba they are in their homes; abroad too, but they depend on their clubs and what they have been guided by. In all cases, the athlete and what they have done and do in this pandemic are fundamental.
A veteran is not the same as a newcomer, adjustments have to be made but he knows that. The volume of work and specificity in individual training are basic.
There must also be differences if they are individual or collective sports.
Of course, in individual events each coach knows his disciple, what he has to do, the physical shape he is in. In groups, you have to control one by one looking for a common objective, giving them less or more volume of work as the case may be. They are not all the same.
The first week I would start at 50%, with simplified game actions and gradually increase the volume and intensity of the work. I would keep it like this for four weeks.
Next, in the specific case of volly (f) they would practice pre-sports games: basketball, soccer, working on resistance in 20 or 30 minute races. Special speed on the ground and with technical but simplified elements: many forearm and hand volleys, a lot of attack and defense, serve - receive.
We already know what Jorge Garbey would do in this situation that could be the cause of the loss of an Olympic quadrennium.
I hope it doesn't happen. It would be a hard blow for universal sport.
Garbey, what about your current life?
I live in Tampa. I am still linked to volleyball, giving individual classes to young people who seek to grow in their sport. I am also a coach of the women's team at the SCF University of Florida and I have the category of instructor of the FIV (International Volleyball Federation).
You were in the Dominican Republic and Colombia before living in the United States but, without a doubt, it was in Quisqueya where your work stood out.
I went through Cuba Deportes to the Dominican Republic, I directed the national team of that country in the Pan American Games, the NORCECA and the 2003 World Cup and in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Jorge Pérez Vento and I were practically the pillars that built the good volly that these girls now have, already qualified for Tokyo.
Can Dominican volleyball be considered a faithful copy of the Cuban school?
Of course. Add to Pérez Vento and me other Cuban coaches who took care of school-age girls. Many of those who play today, who are respected in the world, started with me.
Examples abound: backup attackers Bethania and Priscilla, passer Niverka; Annerys, central and Mambrú, opposite.
The Dominican Federation currently opted for a Brazilian coach, Marcos Kwiek, who maintains the Cuban school although they no longer use the 4-2 (like Cuba does) and use the libero but the conception of the game is that of maestro Eugenio George.
I had a very good time with those players. I remember one day, we were training and Bethania was afraid to jump the Swedish box. They all did it and she cried and said that she had classes, that she had to go. I told him that until he jumped he wouldn't leave and... finally he jumped! It seemed like he had won a medal. Today they thank me for that because they have to be taught to overcome their fears, to know how to impose themselves. I learned that with Eugenio and Ñico: nothing is impossible!
After the Dominican Republic, in 2009 I directed the Colombian national team that placed fourth in the South American Championship.
What do you think if we leave your retracement and talk about your work in Cuba?
I am from Santiago de San Luis, I am 66 years old and have four brothers. My parents, Juan Manuel and Silvia, led me to be what I am, a good man. I have five children and one adopted child and I am married to Linda Ibáñez.
Your first steps in sports?
My first coach was well known, as he prepared all the boys in the neighborhood, Pablo Hermes Salazar (Tata); Then I passed into the hands of Jonás Carbajal and Lázaro Infante, both EIDE coaches. Already in the national ESPA my trainers were Sergio Gómez, Justo Morales and Nelson Poyato.
He joined the national preselection in 1972, after the Munich Olympic Games along with Raúl Viches, Jesús Cala and Leonel Marshall. I stayed on the team for ten years. He was an auxiliary attacker. I participated in the 74 Central Caribbean Games, 79 Pan American Games, 80 Olympic Games, the 1974 World Championship, the 77 World Cup and four World Universiades from 1973 to 1981.
Actually that time was happy for our voly (m); Those boys laid a solid foundation that, although it may not seem like it, is maintained, since Cuba currently has more than three teams playing in foreign clubs, on their own or under the aegis of Cuba Deportes.
As a coach you abandoned the men to join a luxury women's team with maestro Eugenio George, Ñico Perdomo, Jorge Pérez Vento and Luis Felipe Calderón.
In fact, I started with the girls in 1984 and concluded in 2003, before leaving for the Dominican Republic. I was part of that directing team in three Olympic Games, Barcelona 92, Atlanta 96 and Sydney 2000, that is, I had a hand in the preparation of the girls in the three titles; In addition, in the World Cups of 1994, 98 and 2002 and in the World Cups and Pan American Games 91 and 95, Central American and Caribbean Games 98 and in all the Grand Prix from 1993 to 2000.
Unfortunately, only two coaches were traveling and one of my biggest disappointments was not being able to attend the Olympic Games in Cuba as a coach, which I did achieve with the Dominican Republic.
By the way, I tell you that in Athens the Cubans fell to the Americans 0-3 and Eugenio and Calderón were very worried because if the northerners beat the Dominican, the Cubans would not advance. That was a topic of conversation between the three of us and I told them: 'don't worry, the Quisqueyanas are going to win' and... in a tremendous game, that's how it was! In this way, the Espectaculares continued on their way to their third Olympic place.
You mentioned Eugenio. What did the father of Cuban volly (f) mean in your life?
Eugenio was an important person in my professional development, he chose me for his work team, trusted in my potential and gave me tools to develop as a coach at the highest level; He was also a great friend.
How do you rate that tremendous cast of the Spectacular Morenas of the Caribbean?
Las Morenas del Caribe was a team to which we gave all our passion for volleyball; We form a work group with a lot of discipline, sacrifice, with very talented people and the desire to be winners. These achievements are our life and are the history of Cuban sports; For me, dreams achieved.
What do you remember from those times? You who have always been so serious, so upright.
I was very demanding but in the end we were a family; Many of our brunettes came to the team as teenagers and grew up, and we stayed together for a long time between training, trips, and competitions. Achieving so much success was also due to the great connection that the players and coaches had, in addition to Eugenio being a great leader who knew how to keep us united.
My role was mostly field work and analysis of the opponent to provide information on game strategies, the well-known escauteo.
Without a doubt, a tremendous task, the basis of victories or defeats. But I know that Eugenio used you for everything he needed, I know for sure.
Shall I tell you an anecdote? In 1991 we played a tournament in Germany. There were China, Holland, Germany and us. In the first game, which was against the locals, it was very cold, snow was falling and although it was not our best game, we won.
When we left the field, Eugenio told me that upon arriving at the hotel the girls had to run 40 minutes in the snow. I told myself, surely he forgot, we had dinner and traveled an hour to the hotel and when we were arriving, the teacher reminded me. I replied that it was very cold and he replied: 'Garbey... 40 minutes! In the park around the hotel'.
And what did the girls say?
I told them that the Chinese, who had a very good team, had run for 40 minutes in the snow and ours went there without a word, with that terrible cold, and the next day we beat China 3-0. That day they beat the best team on the planet.
For you, the best Cuban players of all times?
Centrals: Regla Torres, Magaly Carvajal, Lázara González, Lucila Urgelles, Ana Ibis Fernández and Norka Latamblet.
Passers: Taismary Agüero, Marlenis Costa, Imilsis Téllez, Lily Izquierdo and Ana Maria García.
Assistants: Mireya Luis, Josefina Capote, Rule Bell, Mamita Perez, Mercedes Pomares and Yumilka Ruiz.
Coaches: Eugenio George and Ñico Perdomo.
Garbey, your opinion of the current situation of Cuban sports. How can we regain the lost places?
Every Cuban athlete who is playing in any international league and has adequate performance must be accepted in the national preselections, regardless of the ways they have gone to play abroad. They are all Cubans, it is not a political problem but an economic one as well as wanting to measure themselves at the highest professional level.
The Cuban volleyball school will always be providing talents but I believe that it is necessary to go deeper into the selection of the players, in the physical and strategic work.
Volleyball worldwide has changed and, therefore, work strategies must also be modified, without forgetting the strength and experience of our school, which led us to achieve those great results, which led them to be recognized throughout the world. the planet as Professor René Navarro baptized them, the Spectacular Morenas of the Caribbean.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled in: