Havana - Cuban volleyabll player Javier Jimenez will go back to Europe to play pro, a way opened by him, and now followed by other players like Rolando Cepeda, Osmany Uriarte, Sulian Matienzo and Melissa Vargas.

"This was an intense experience, it helped me to grow, as an athlete, in technical aspects, mental aspects," commented Jimenez to the press, when he talked about the possible contracts of Cuban players in the European legaues.

Just as the the season before, Jimenez will play for Greek pro team PAOK, together with Rolando Cepeda (captain of the Cuban male volleyball team).

The same way, Uriarte will have play with a Turkish team. Vargas and Matienzo will play in the Czech pro league, as confirmed by the Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV) recently.

As much Cepeda as Uriarte estimated that playing at another better level, will help them to increase the performance of the Cuban team later, when the moment comes for greater commitments with the national team.

Cuba finished in the last place of Group C of the World Volleyball League, with a team of young players and cadets forced to renew, because of the exodus of prospects and consecrated players.

According to Ariel Sainz, president of the FCV, the measure seeks to raise the level of the Cuban volleyball, and contribute to the welfare and personal and professional fulfillment of the players.

He said that players retain 90 percent of their income, and the rest will go to the coffers of the FCV, to enhance the development of this discipline.

Contracts are signed in Havana with all the legal warranties, and be negotiated only between the clubs concerned and the Cuban Institute of Sports, to avoid shady dealing.