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Cuban volleyball player Hernández Cardonell: "I am back in South Korean volleyball with Samsung KR"

"The situation in Cuba is very complex, complicated; the Cuban Federation abandons many of the players"

Voleibolista cubano Yosvany Hernández Cardonell © Cortesía del entrevistado
Cuban volleyball player Yosvany Hernández Cardonell Photo © Courtesy of the interviewee

A couple of years ago I spoke with Yosvany Hernández Cardonell, one of the many volleyball players who are scattered around the planet, making the game of super reflexes their own.

The man from Cienfuegos spoke to me a lot about his beginnings in the Pearl of the South, the poverty of his family, and the humble and respectful education he received.

Yosvany, I left you when you were going to start playing with Guaguas de Gran Canarias, after completing a successful period in the South Korean professional league. From there until now, where has your gallant figure of two meters, one centimeter and 100 kilos moved? of weight?

In fact, after playing in the strong professional volleyball team in South Korea with Korean Air Jumbo, with which we won the title, and doing so with Guaguas de Gran Canaria, I went to China; There I played with China CN, with which we won the championship and the best player of the tournament was chosen.

It was a super nice experience since there were top-level players like my compatriot Osmani Juantorena as well as several members of the United States national team and a very good Polish volleyball player from his country's national team.

After China CN I went to play in the best league in the world, the Italian one with Volley Monz and right now I am back in South Korean volleyball with Samsung KR experiencing another season full of beautiful moments. Here in Korea another super player is playing, Yisel de la Caridad Silva and an excellent volleyball player, Leonardo Leiva; every game against him is extremely fun

I found out that the family grew.

Ha ha ha. Yes, my wife Valentina Dantonio and I are very happy with the coming into the world of Victoria, the name of my beloved mother, who is now four months old. Together with Lorenzo, already eight years old, we formed a happy family; I couldn't be more grateful to God.

You were one of the players that the Cuban Voly Federation tried to add to the preparation for the Olympic qualifiers.

Yes it's correct. My representative spoke with the technical director, there were many conversations about it but in the end I chose to spend time at home with my family. I am almost never with them; I go out to play in August, I return home in April and it seems very unfair to me that I have to go out to play again even though I would have liked to represent Cuba in the Olympic Games. I would have loved to be an Olympian but I like being a great father much more; that is my purpose.

At 33 years old, do you think about becoming a coach in the future?

Well no, not until now, but in the future I would like to be able to transmit our beloved Cuban volleyball.

Yosvany Hernández Cardonell continues to be a man of solid principles who knows that there is a long way to go in Cuban sport so that the glories that gave so much for his country and that are ignored when they retire can be recognized, forever.

Cuba is an inexhaustible source of talent, not just volleyball players, so more should be invested in all sports; To go no further, the National Volleyball School is a real disaster. When it was inaugurated, gyms, food, clothing, Mondoflez synthetic pitch were a pleasure... now?

With the volleyball players that we have spread around the world, I reiterate what I told you before, we were world leaders; At least we would have three top-level Cuban teams of both sexes. It is time for them to be professionals and improve their conditions, adapt them to their potential and class.

The situation in Cuba is very complex, complicated; The Cuban Federation abandons many of the players. I maintain my criteria: after you give health, time, love... what do you receive?Disinterest, abandonment, laziness. When you are no longer at the desired level, you are discarded as a product that has no value.

What do you think?

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Julita Osendi

Graduated in Journalism from the University of Havana in 1977. Journalist, sports commentator, announcer and director of more than 80 documentaries and special reports. Among my most relevant journalistic coverage are 6 Olympic Games, 6 World Athletics Championships, 3 Classics


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