体坛英语新闻：Cuba gets ready for World League

HAVANA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Cuba' s national volleyball team Sunday intensified its preparation towards the World League, to be played from May 31 to July 7, including the qualification and final tournaments.

Orlando Samuels leads the team of young Cuban players, who have a two-session daily training in Havana' s Sport City Coliseum, which will be also seat of the qualifying games.

Wilfredo Leon, setterm and Yohandry Diaz, who is one of the most experienced players, will not play in the Cuban team. Cuba is in Group B together with Russia, current Olympic champion and Italy, 3rd position in world ranking. Pool B also includes Serbia, Iran and Germany.

The goals of repeating the third position achieved last year in Sofia, Bulgaria, or even be part of the finals to be played in Mar del Plata, Argentina, are not an easy task, but coach Samuels and his collaborators are working hard in the team' s preparation towards Volleyball World League 2013.

During the qualification tournament, the Cuban team will play as locals against Russian, Serbians and Iranians, while it will play visitors in Italy and Germany.

Cited by local sports daily Jit, Samuels said it is positive for Cuba to play local during the qualification tournament, for the team will count with the support of the Cuban fans and because it is a compromise after two years of not playing in Cuba.

As part of the training, one Cuban group will travel to Buenos Aires next May 25, with Samuels and his collaborators, to play against Argentina. This will be the first match after 11 months of preparation.

Samuels has achieved two silver medals during nine leagues (from 1991 to 1993 and from 2007 to 2012) and he is trying, with all his experience, to make the team give the best.

Pool A includes Brazil (1st in world ranking), Poland (Champion in the 2012 League and 4th in world ranking), United States (5th), Bulgaria (8th), Argentina (9th) and France (16th).

Egypt (13th), Canada (18th), Japan (19th), South Korea (22th), Finland (31st) and Holland (41st) are part of Pool C.

Cuba reached 3rd position in the World League 2012, while it achieved 4th in 2009 and 2010, getting closer to repeat the 1998 championship.

The island has been regaining ground in men' s volleyball after a phase where defections and retirement of players weakened the national team.