Cuban volleyball player arrives late after "odyssey"
After visa difficulties, Cuban volleyball international Jose Israel Masso Alvarez has finally arrived at VfB Friedrichshafen. The volleyball Bundesliga club announced on Monday that the new signing should have arrived at the beginning of November after playing in international matches. However, an "odyssey of emails, appointments and phone calls with the authorities" only came to an end last week. The Cuban arrived in Friedrichshafen on Friday.
"It took us a lot of effort to get Masso here," said VfB managing director Thilo Späth-Westerholt. In the past two years, the Cuban played for Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon. At VfB Friedrichshafen under coach Mark Lebedew, he is now set to improve the situation at the middle blocker position.
"At times I was really desperate because it was so complicated to get this visa. I was really afraid that I wouldn't make it," said Masso.
Masso will now contribute to VfB Friedrichshafen's Volleyball Bundesliga team, having played effectively as a middle blocker for Sporting Lisbon in the past two years. Despite facing challenges obtaining his visa, which involved a lengthy "odyssey" of emails, appointments, and phone calls with authorities, Masso was able to join VfB Friedrichshafen's team after his arrival in Friedrichshafen last Friday.
Source: www.dpa.com
