Eugenio George: Ever onward to victory
MANZANILLO, Mexico, June 4, 2014 - The legendary Eugenio George
will be remembered as a fiercely intelligent man, as a leader on
court and a gentleman off it.
Eugenio George, who passed away on Sunday, aged 81, received a
special tribute at the
Finals Day of the VIII NORCECA International Beach Volleyball
Circuit in San Pedrito Beach, where fans and local organising
committee joined in a minute's standing ovation held in his
honour.
Eugenio George shared his last days as a mentor working with the
NORCECA Volleyball Confederation. He was an inspiration to new
generations of volleyball players, who learned a lot from him
whether it was on sand or on an indoor court.
In a country - Mexico - where June 1 is a day dedicated to the
navy, George could be considered the admiral of modern
volleyball. His leadership and revolutionary style were the keys
to the birth of the Cuban volleyball school and to his country's
success at the Olympic Games.
"Our condolences for such a big loss. We have a mourning
feeling," said NORCECA President and FIVB First Executive
Vice-President Cristóbal Marté Hoffiz, in a statement earlier
this week.
George has left an extraordinary legacy in volleyball and
sports. After the successes of the “Morenas of the Caribbean”,
the famous generation of Cuban players who seized Olympic medals
in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, as well as
World Championship titles in 1978, 1994 and 1998, numerous Cuban
coaches and specialists traveled around the world to share their
knowledge.
In Mexico, many state institutes that work as regional
ministries have at least one Cuban sports specialist as part of
international exchanges. Norka Latamblet for example, who played
with the Olympic teams under George, worked as coach for the
volleyball programme of Baja California from 2006 to 2008.
George's support and NORCECA’s vision also combined to develop
the Pan American Cup
in Mexico, which became an amazing stage for women’s volleyball.
The “Ever onward to victory” motto, which is associated with the
image of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, could also be applied to the
“revolutionary” style which Professor George created and
contributed to modern volleyball.
American Football had Vince Lombardi. Basketball had Phil
Jackson. Football had Rinus Michels, whose "Total Football"
changed the game for ever. In a world where gender equality has
become more than just a trend topic, the “Total Volleyball”
revolution was first introduced by women's teams in George’s
era.
The “Morenas of the Caribbean” were the best example of this
revolution, spectacular and unrepeatable. As a coach, Eugenio
George was ever onward to victory.
Now he is ever onward immortal. |