Eugenio George Laffita, considered by the International Federation of Volleyball as the best women’s teams coach of the twentieth century, died in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 81 from cancer.
The outstanding and renowned coach directed and led to glory the Morenas del Caribe, that won three gold medals in Olympic Games (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and two World Championships (gold in Leningrad 1978 and Sao Paulo 1994 and silver in 1986). In recent years he served as President of the Cuban Volleyball Federation.
They got back to back titles in the World Cup in Japan, 1989, 1991, 1995 and 1999, and silver medals in the 1977 and 1985 versions, the title in the Grand Champions Cup in 1993 and silver in 1997, two gold medals and four silver in Grand Prix.
Master of generations, since 2005 he was inducted to the Hall of Fame of Volleyball and deserved among many other awards as the Golden Collar Order of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB by its French acronym) granted by the NORCECA Confederation, which was until his death president technical committee and coaches.
Eugenio George is already a legend, because his greatest merit is to have given the people the thrill of victory, and the taste of the glory. Havana people could pay posthumous tribute from 8:00 am Sunday in the Calzada and K Funeral Parlor.
