Pro Volleyball Foreign Player Tryouts Kick Off in Prague to Find 'Next Silva'

The fate of the upcoming V-League season, South Korea's premier professional volleyball league, hinges on the foreign player tryouts currently underway in Prague, Czech Republic. This crucial event, organized by the Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO), brings together aspiring foreign talent for both the men's and women's divisions, with the hope of discovering the next game-changing stars. The tryouts, which commenced on June 7th (local time), include medical tests, physical measurements, and practice matches, culminating in the draft on June 10th.

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I am well aware of Silva's presence. Silva is one of the best players in the V-League, and many people around me praise Silva. Silva's success story has been a great motivation for me.

This year's tryouts have seen a reduced number of participants compared to the initial applications. A total of 40 players—17 men and 23 women—are vying for a spot in the league. The decrease in numbers is largely attributed to scheduling conflicts, as many players' domestic league postseason schedules overlap with the V-League tryouts. This situation highlights the growing international recognition of the V-League, but also presents challenges for player recruitment.

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I will do my best in the remaining two practice matches. I want to be crowned champion just like Silva.

Among the women, Cuban opposite spiker Yensy Kindelan has emerged as a significant prospect. The 21-year-old, who has played in the Romanian league for the past two seasons, has impressed with her powerful attacking style, drawing immediate comparisons to the highly successful Cuban player Gyselle Silva, who has been a dominant force in the V-League. Kindelan herself acknowledged Silva's impact, stating, 'Silva's success story has been a great motivation for me.' GS Caltex coach Lee Young-taek also praised Kindelan, noting her similar attacking prowess and powerful serves, suggesting she could be the 'next Silva.'

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Based on the video, Kindelan has a powerful attacking style like Silva. She seems to be a player who utilizes attack angles well, and her serves are also spike serves. Overall, she seems like a similar player to Silva.

The men's tryouts, however, have been met with some disappointment, as several highly anticipated players, including former Samsung Fire Bluefangs player Georg Grozer and ex-V-League players Matej Koks and Mateusz Krauk, ultimately withdrew. Despite these absences, players like Jender Ketrzynski (Canada) and Henan Buijac (Brazil) have shown exceptional athleticism in physical tests, generating excitement among scouts. The league's existing foreign players are also eligible for contract renewals, with Silva and Lethicia Momma Basoco among those seeking to continue their V-League careers.

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Players who participated in at least one day of the tryout schedule are eligible for final selection according to current regulations.