A small board full of holes is the only one the Cienfuegos volleyball players have to train on, which affects the quality of the athletes' preparation.
A report from the telecentre Perlavision denounced the situation of the premises of the School of Sports Initiation School (EIDE), the only one that volleyball players have to prepare, and which for years has shown serious and increasing deterioration.
"You have to be very careful not to fall into the gaps," said a young athlete.
"Here we can't do various exercises because the balls could go away, there could be injuries," said another.
"The auxiliaries that we have to attack through zone 4 cannot open, and we cannot block through zone 2 either. Furthermore, when it rains, due to the conditions of the roof, water leaks," explained a third.
The teenagers' concern was shared by their coach, who pointed out that due to the limitations of the terrain there are many deficiencies when it comes to working on defense and movement.
"Athletes often feel a little insecure because we are full of holes as we can see here, and that prevents us from better preparation," he lamented.
Despite the critical conditions, the Cienfuegos volleyball players have just qualified among the four best positions in the last national championship, where both the women's and men's teams competed for medals. An achievement that is due solely to the demands of the instructors and the efforts of the athletes.
Now, athletes and coaches demand a decent board that meets the demands of modern volleyball and the results they have achieved.
The deterioration of sports facilities is throughout the country, and it is not only in volleyball.
In August 2023, the newspaper Granma denounced that the leaks have destroyed the 19 de Noviembre Multipurpose Room, in Pinar del Río, where the poor condition of the roof destroyed the wrestling, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics gyms and "threatened the board with death", the consequence of which was the suspension of practices and competitions due to the rain.
Danielly Sánchez, provincial director of Sports, admitted that basketball, handball, volleyball and indoor soccer were interrupted by constant leaks every time it rains, since the Multipurpose is the base of the main tournaments.
The situation has worsened in the last year and the promised help and solution "has not arrived and will not arrive," the board said.
In March of that year, the weekly We will win, from Guantanamo, explained the deplorable state of the Rafael Castiello Multipurpose Room, which endangered the celebration of the Superior Basketball League, of which the province was the headquarters.
The information stated that it was necessary to carry out repair work on the floorboards and the electrical and plumbing systems, in addition to painting the interior and exterior surface of the property.
Although the room was closed for two years due to the pandemic, enough time to undertake the necessary restoration and maintenance, the apathy of the authorities led it to its current state.
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