Cuba Suspends Star Players

March 28th, 2012 UPDATE: Cuba has submitted its preliminary roster for the 2012 Women’s World Volleyball Grand Prix and guess who is NOT on the list? The powerful and perhaps Cuba’s most powerful hitter and best scorer, KENIA CARCASES!

Rumor has it that Hierrezuelo and Carcases will head to Poland in less than 2 years. From what we know, Cuban players who wish not to play for the National Team anymore are required to become inactive for 2 years before the government allows them to leave Cuba.

Anyways, the good thing about this 2012 roster is that middle blocker Rachel Sanchez has rejoined the team after getting suspended last year due to her intent to escape Cuba “unacceptable behavior”.

Cuba is not even in the 2012 Olympics yet and it appears clearer now that the world’s most powerful women’s team in the 90s will most likely be absent for the very first time since boycotting the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Without Carcases, Cuba will have a tough time qualifying for the Olympics and of course winning a spot for the Final Round at this year’s Grand Prix. The good thing is that this is just the preliminary roster for the Grand Prix. In case Cuba qualifies for the Olympics, then they can update it by adding Carcases.

What is going on Cuba? Fix the Drama!

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Sad news from Cuba!

For the second year in a row, volleyball fans in Cuba will NOT be able to watch and cheer for their men’s team because the Hall in Havana is still under construction.

WTH! Really?

It’s been more than a year and that damn hall is still not ready?The “Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva” is the ONLY venue in Havana which can host such world class tournament. From what we know, Dominican Republic has offered to host on Cuba’s behalf. Joining Cuba in the city of Santo Domingo will be Russia, Serbia and Japan from June 15th- 17th.

Here’s another SHOCKING news!

Two players have received disciplinary actions and have been removed from the training squad.

One is the setter from the men’s team, Rayder Hierrezuelo, and the star from the women’s team, Kenia Carcases. Take note, both players have been instrumental in Cuba’s success within the last 2 years.

Rayder was also suspended from the team last year but rejoined the squad at the 2011 World Cup. If you want to know more about the incident, click HERE to read the Full Report.

We’re actually more shocked on the case of Carcases.

She is Cuba’s go to hitter and the most effective spiker on the women’s team. Without her, we have a feeling Cuba will have a difficult time qualifying for the Olympics. The women’s team are scheduled to travel to Tijuana. Mexico and compete at the NORCECA Olympic Qualification tournament in May. As of press time, the girls are in Peru to train.

Maybe Carcases planned to DEFECT?

Who knows!

In the last year or 2, some of the best players from Cuba like Robertlandy Simon, Rosir Calderon, Nancy Carrillo and Joandry Leal left the team due to undisclosed reasons and now here’s 2 more players joining the list.

We can totally understand why Osmany Juantorena & Aguero left Cuba and became Italian citizens.

THOUGHTS?

THOUGHTS?

THOUGHTS?

(images: FIVB)