Tokyo, October 25, 2007: Japan and the Dominican Republic share more than a passion for volleyball.
In both countries, baseball is an integral part of daily life - so no wonder thehead coach of Dominica’s women’s volleyball team, Beato Cruz, earned a rather special nickname on his last visit to Japan.
During a training camp at Ageo, Saitama Prefecture, before this year’s World Grand Prix, Japanese staff called him “Sammy” in tribute to the famous Dominican baseball slugger, Sammy Sosa.
“It’s a nice name,” said “Sammy”, with an appreciative smile. “Sosa is a big star in his sport, so it is very flattering that people in Japan think I look like him. Hopefully we can be as successful as Sammy Sosa.”
The Dominican Republic’s women’s volleyball team is also proving to be popular around the world, so much so that they were awarded one of the two wild cards by the FIVB to compete in the 12-team World Cup. The other went to Poland.
In announcing the wild cards, the FIVB said in a statement: “Many aspects were considered for this choice, like the increasing level of Volleyball development in these countries and the good position in their Continental Championships.”
The Dominicans finished third in a tough NORCECA zone covering North and CentralAmerica and the Caribbean, beating Canada in the tie-break set to take the bronze medals behind champions Cuba and runners-up the United States.
Ranked 16th in the world, Cruz and his team are looking forward to the World Cupchallenge after a disappointing Grand Prix in which they failed to reach the final round in Ningbo, China, winning only one of nine games.
“Our goal at the 2007 World Cup will be to finish among the top six teams,” he says.
“We need to accomplish that goal if we are going to advance in our qualificationto the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.”
Their Grand Prix preparations were affected by a string of injuries, but they will come to the World Cup fresh, and with a good blend of youth and experience.
Bethania De La Cruz, 18, was the best scorer at the NORCECA Championship, and Carmen Rosa Caso was the best libero. They also have one of the top young middle blockers in the Americas in Cindy Rondon, who will turn 19 on November 12.
And in captain Cosiri Rodriguez, who stands out with her striking hair colour and volleyball tongue stud, the Dominicans are sure to make a big impression.