Cuban volleyball players sign contracts to play in foreign leagues

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 8 (acn) Cuban volleyball players Javier Jiménez, Osniel Melgarejo and Daymara Lescay signed contracts in Havana with professional teams from Italy, Greece and Peru, respectively.

Jimenez will play in the strong Italian league with the Molfetta, while Melgarejo will be part of the Greek POAK, according to the online publication JIT.
This is the second time Jimenez will be hired to play abroad, since last year he played in Greece, and this is the first time for Melgarejo.
Meanhwile Daymara Lescay extended her contract with the Peruvian Jaamsa, in the capital city of that Andean nation, Lima, under the DT Juan Carlos Gala, who held that position previously with the Cuban national team.
Lescay sait this is a great experience for her, since the Peruvian players have a long tradition in this sport among women and have great expertise. ¨My goal is to play on regular basis, therefore I have to train hard and avoid injuries, ¨she added.
An executive of that team, Adrián Gagó, said it is good to have such a disciplined and hardworking athlete in his team. ¨She is very focused on what needs to be done, has a promising future, and is one of the athletes we need¨
Greek Dimitrologopaulos Dimitris represented the two teams that hired the Cuban men, and praised their skills and strengths. ¨It is a shame we can have Jimenez this time (in Greece) since he goes to Italy, but there is not much difference between them, just the fact that Melgarejo is younger, at only 18, he said.
The Vice-President of the Cuban Volleyball Federation, Omelio Castillo, who signed the contract on behalf of the players, reported they will be in the clubs for some six months.