Roberlandy Simon
Of course, the interview is in Spanish language, but we have separated some of the most interested parts just for you…
“I started to play for the national team at age of 17. My first international experience was in a friendly match against Russia and continued in Argentina when I made my debut in the World League… Being a captain of the team was never my decision and then it was a difficult moment of my career, but I worked hard and quickly adapted to my new role. Now, I think it was a beautiful part of my life as an athlete,” said Simon about his beginning in Cuban team.
“The reasons that led me to leave the home? One day I woke up and I said to my mother: – Mom, I cannot do this anymore. I got tired of all the problems and wanted only one thing, to improve our lifestyle a little bit, because we could not live like that. At the same time Wilfred Leon was carrying water daily in the room in order to take a bath. So I went and asked for help and now I am here,“ he started the story about his departure from the homeland.
“It was difficult step for me because I’m Cuban and I feel bad for young children in Cuban. I could not accept proposals to play for other country. I said: – No! I am Cuban and I do not care what they say or what are they offering to me. In the end, the internal problems led me to quit from the national team. Now I am calm, maybe I did not get the right decision, but my life is now calmer and I feel good with this development, I do not have problems,”, added Piacenza middle blocker.
“Many people see me differently now, asking me in the street why I left the national team and my answer is that this is a question for other people and has nothing to do with me. I left the national team because I wanted, this is answer to these people.”
On the question what does Cuba means to him, he answered: “What does Cuba means to me? Cuba is my country, I was born there. I do not know how to describe Cuba, I’m 100% Cuban and wherever I am, I find myself Cuban and everybody knows it. I live now a happier life, but I feel the problems of my country like I am there. I still want to go to my country but I cannot play for it if some things do not change.”
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