The Peruvian sports community is in mourning following the passing of Juan Carlos Gala, the Cuban coach who led the men's volleyball teams of Peru for nearly eight years, guiding them to their most successful era in decades.
The Peruvian Volleyball Federation (FPV) confirmed the news through its social media on Wednesday, July 22, with an official statement expressing its condolences and paying tribute to the figure of the Cuban coach.
An unexpected loss
Gala had stepped down from his position as head coach of the Peruvian men's national team just four months before his death in March 2026 due to health reasons.
His successor on the bench was coach Marcos Blanco, but Gala's physical decline was faster than expected, and his departure took the volleyball community in the country by surprise.
He was born on August 22, 1966, in Jaruco, Mayabeque Province, Cuba, and trained as a Physical Education Instructor before starting a technical career that took him from the National School of Volleyball in Cuba to regional stages across South America.
Cuban Roots and Arrival in Peru
Gala began his career as a coach in 2005 with the Cuban male youth team, with which he won gold at the ALBA Sports Games in Monterrey in 2007 and in El Salvador in 2008.
In December 2009, he assumed the technical direction of the Cuban women's national team, the historic "Morenas del Caribe," during a rebuilding phase for the team following its period of global dominance.
His arrival in Peru occurred in March 2018, when the FPV hired him to lead all the men's categories, with the mission of restoring international visibility to a sector that has historically been overshadowed by the success of Peruvian women's volleyball.
Five medals in eight years
Under his leadership, the Peruvian men's national team won five international medals between 2022 and 2025, as detailed by the FPV in its farewell statement:
- Bronze medal at the Bolivarian Games U23 in Valledupar, Colombia (2022).
- Bronze medal at the ODESUR Games in Paraguay (2022, senior category).
- Bronze medal at the Pan American U23 Cup in Havana, Cuba (2023).
- Silver medal at the Pan American U23 Cup in Suriname (2024).
- Bronze medal at the Under-21 Bolivarian Games in Lima (2025).
In addition to her work with the national team, Gala coached national clubs such as Rebaza Acosta, Deportivo Géminis, Jaamsa, and Deportivo Wanka, helping to raise the competitive level of the local league.
The recognition of the federation
In its official statement, the FPV did not hold back in its praise for the Cuban coach.
"The Peruvian Volleyball Federation deeply regrets the passing of Juan Carlos Gala, who was the coach of the men's national teams of Peru," the organization stated at the beginning of the announcement.
The federation emphasized that his contribution went beyond the results: "Gala performed an extraordinary job leading the national teams and played a pivotal role in expanding the frontiers of men's volleyball in our country. His work not only translated into results but also in shaping a new mindset: he succeeded in instilling a winning belief in each of his players."
The statement also emphasized the collective impact of his management: “Under his leadership, Peru's men's volleyball regained prominence on the regional stage and made it clear that consistent effort yields results.”
The FPV concluded its message with a farewell directed to those who knew him: "From the Peruvian Volleyball Federation, we express our deepest condolences to family, friends, players, and the entire volleyball community. May he rest in peace and enjoy God's grace."
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