Guillermo Orduna celebrates during the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games
Lausanne, Switzerland, December 21, 2016 – Guillermo Orduna is staying on as coach to the Argentina women’s team, Las Panteras, following a year in which he led them to an Olympic Games for the first time.
The 59-year-old was appointed as head coach in 2013 and he led the team to qualification for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games via the South American Qualifying Tournament.
It is his second spell in charge of the team, having previously led Las Panteras from 1991 to 1996.
“I am very happy for the confidence they have shown in my work,” Orduna said. “Looking ahead there is a lot to aim for if we want to keep growing and developing. The Olympic Games are a starting point for the women's team, not the end of a cycle.
“It's the challenge. It is necessary to modify, to rethink, to recompose groups and to mobilize the structure. That is where the challenge is.”
The coming year is a busy one for Orduna and the team. The Pan-American Cup takes place in June, there are the South American Championships and the start of qualifying for the Japan 2018, FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.
They will also aim to improve on their performance from the 2016 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix, when they finished fifth in Group 2.
“To improve further, not only must we train more, but improve the quality of performance in training,” Orduna said. “We will have to make some changes in some positions, be more efficient, lower our number of errors and be more unpredictable in attack.”