Coaches at the U18 Gatorade Cup in Peru. From left to right: Mauro Silvestre, Evelyn Carrera, Alexandre Ceccato and Walter Lung.
Lima, Peru, May 7, 2015 - The coaches of the teams competing at the Final Four Girls’ Gatorade Cup in Lima from May 7 to 10 spoke about their expectations on the eve of a competition which features three squads qualified for the FIVB U18 Girls’ World Championship next August in the Peruvian capital.
The coaches of Argentina, the Dominican Republic and Peru are fine-tuning their teams as they shape up their sides for the world event, while the Baja California, Mexico coach has the more modest goal of preparing her team to participate at a national Olympic festival.
The tournament coaches gathered at the general technical meeting held on Wednesday night, when it was announced that all the matches will be televised by local station Frecuencia Latina.
Mauro Silvestre of Argentina said: “Our goal is to take advantage of the four international matches offered by this tournament as part of the growing process and preparation of the team for the World Championship in August. We would like to complete the testing of some new systems and some new players we have brought here. Before coming here for the Gatorade Cup, the players took part in our national league and won the U18 Pan American Cup and the Baja California Cup.”
Alexandre Ceccato of the Dominican Republic said: “I have had almost two years with this team that took part in the U18 Pan American Cup. This tournament will give us the opportunity to fine-tune and prepare the team with the addition of some new players - all that with the objective of achieving the best result possible in the U18 World Championship also here in Lima.”
Walter Lung of Peru: “I have been working with my team for one month and their spirits are high. As part of their preparation, some of the girls are fresh from playing in the National Superior League and the U18 Pan American Cup. I hope the team can adjust to my methods of training to attain the best possible position in the tournament.”
Evelyn Carrera of Baja California: “Before coming to Lima, we played the Baja California Cup and this is a very important tournament for us since it is for our preparation for the national Olympic festival in Mexico that begins on May 15. We have been working with this team for nine months and this is their first international competition - one that will be helpful for future competitions outside of our country.”