Wilfredo Leon and Yohandry Diaz have made the news again. They have left the island to land in a place as far as Rzeszow in southeastern Poland. After silence following the split from the national team, they have decided to leave behind all to start their careers as professional volleyball players.
They have come to Poland accompanied by their representative Andrzej Grzyb, sporting director of the Asseco Resovia Rzeszów, looking for a club that sponsors and haul them back to the public arena. This week they have attended several meetings to discuss options in the contracts received by Grzyb.
According to local press, it seems that Leon and Yohandry are currently anchored in Rzeszow Asseco Resovia, since their agent is one of the principals of that entity. Days ago they attended a game of the European Champions League between that Polish team and Jastrzębski Węgiel.
“Both Leon and Diaz have permission for two years. They could be in any club. Our desire is to be in the best teams in the world ” Andrzej Grzyb told Radio Rzeszow.
That is a request that will not be at all a chimera. Who wouldn’t want to have Wilfredo Leon in its starting sextet? With his devastating service, with his great power that scares net through each of the rivals when he jumps to smite the ball over blockers, or just dropping it in one empty territory with subtle finesse.
Leon is world renowned for his versatility on the court and despite his very short age (only 20 years, since he was 14 he was in the national team) he carried Cuba on his shoulders during the last five years of World Leagues and international tournaments.
I cannot say the same about Yohandry Diaz, although his passes are not entirely deplorable neither we can assert that his fingers are of silk. Diaz is now the squire of Leon, where Wilfredo goes he will go. Both asked for their dismissal, but people always cared more about Leon. Now both have gone to Rzeszów and the crosshairs are set on León.
Still, Diaz will have no problem to fit in any European club, maybe not in the wealthy ones who will go outrageously with mouth open after Leon. Diaz is not Raul Diago as a setter or Javier Gonzalez from the serve, but has plenty of drive.
Remembrance:
Wilfredo Leon and Yohandry Diaz requested their dismissal from the national team in May 2013 and the Cuban Federation rejected because they “were in a crucial stage of the preparation towards the World League.” Players emphasized their determination and their attitudes were considered “serious misconduct” and they were punished, Ariel Sainz , national commissioner of Cuban volleyball explained.
