TUR M: Osmany Juantorena recounts his Turkish life

Juantorena

However, there is one outstanding player, someone really of a kind, who had decided to stay in Ankara also for the upcoming 2014/2015 season. His name is Osmany Juantorena, and there is no need to say that the Cuban-born spiker – now an Italian citizen – is one of the leading figures in world’s Volleyball. 

“I can only say that I feel very lucky for what I have been able to do and achieve in my Volleyball career so far,” Osmany says.

“I have been able to play for strong and very professional teams, thereby winning many national and international titles. Right now I am very happy with where I am and I hope we can win even more with Halkbank after last year we swept all domestic competitions here in Turkey.”

Some of his former teammates – like for instance Matey Kaziyski, Raphael Vieira de Oliveira and Mitar Tzourits – have decided to leave Ankara, but Osmany has preferred to stay.

“I made up my mind knowing that the situation in Italy right now isn’t that good. Halkbank expressed the wish for me to stay and I have accepted their proposal and offer. I know this city already and also most of the players, so for me it was easier to stay here than to move somewhere else, like to Russia for example. I feel good here and the day this good feeling is gone, I will move on to the next stop of my career. This is how things work for Volleyball players.”

Osmany is very impressed with the way men’s Volleyball and the local national league have developed in Turkey:

“I think that the level has really improved. This seems to be the case year after year and I believe that this year the Turkish national league will be the best ever. Things are going to be more difficult for us this season since the competitors got stronger and we have changed a lot in our team. However, we have to think about what we all achieved last year. We really want to make the last stage of the Champions League and perform strong also in the national league. We will see… My goal is to help the team as much as I can in every situation.”

Juantorena is also pleased with the general ambiance within the team: “There is a good atmosphere here; I know most of the Turkish players from last year and also many of the foreigners joining us from my previous experiences in Italy. I am quite sure we will all have a lot of fun throughout the coming season.”

Osmany has already discovered Turkey and its culture of hospitality: “This is my second year here in Ankara, so I already know a bit more about Turkey’s culture and mentality. I especially like Turkish sweets and some other food. If I have any spare time, I like going around in order to discover a little bit more of this beautiful country.”

There is a saying that you can’t play Volleyball without a good setter. This applies even to one of the world’s best wing spikers: “We have changed our main setter and were joined by my friend Raydel Hierrezuelo, who is also from Cuba. We are all working very hard, also with our second setter Vefa Yilmaz, to find the right chemistry. In the end it is down to the coach to decide who will be in the starting six.” 

Halkbank ANKARA will make their second consecutive appearance in the CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League playing Italy’s vice-champions Sir Safety PERUGIA, Noliko MAASEIK of Belgium and France’s TOURS VB in Pool G. 

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