Note from the author: I realize this is a very sensitive topic considering the political situation in Cuba. While I am not Cuban American, I have many friends who are. I am aware of the culture and the circumstances in which many Cubans come to America. In that I believe I can genuinely sympathize with the plight of Cuban people. This piece in no way supports the regime nor does it discount the issues more urgent than Cuban athletes defecting to America. It does however seek to bring light an issue that is solvable for the betterment of the players and the national team. No soy de Cuba pero la isla es en el corazón.
(Editorial) – The Cuba Men’s National Team went into their second group league game with 15 players available. Cuba is a long shot make it out of the group. They need to win against Guatemala for any hope at a best third finish.
Before the tournament began, Walter Benitez told reporters that Garcia wants “to live the American dream.”
Six players and Head Coach Raul Gonzalez Triana were reportedly held up in Antigua due to “logistical issues.” All seven have missed the first two matches of the group stage. It is unclear if Gonzalez and the six players held up in Antigua will be available for tonight’s group finale or if any of them have defected as well.
Prior to their second match, midfielder Arael Arguellez followed suit. “[Arguellez left] after the match against Mexico. We had got to the hotel, we had dinner and he left,” Benitez said.
Defections have been a theme for Cuban athletes representing their country on American soil, especially in recent years. Soccer and baseball are the most notable sports for these occurrences. This includes Seattle Sounder Osvaldo Alonso (defected in during the 2007 Gold Cup) and Los Angeles Dodger Yasiel Puig (defected in 2012 to sign with the Dodgers).
There were no reported defections during the 2013 Gold Cup, but this was an anomaly compared to other past tournaments.
Prior to a World Cup Qualifier in Toronto in 2012, four players and a team psychologist defected to the United States. Three of those players currently play for the Charleston Battery in the USL.
In the 2011 Gold Cup, forward Yosniel Mesa defected after a loss to Mexico in Charlotte, NC. He climbed down the fire escape of the team hotel and ran to a car his family members were waiting in.
During a 2008 Olympic Qualifying trip in the United States, seven U23 players defected. Two of those players are current members of the Orange County Blues in the USL.
In 2013, MLS Insider did a piece on Alonso, his journey to Seattle, and the risks of defecting from Cuba. With the current state of the country and the inability for players to make a living and a better life for themselves at home, they are willing to risk everything find asylum in the United States.
Several of these defectors have found starting jobs in the USL. Alonso has paved the way for future Cuban soccer players to make it in MLS and play at a high level. To date, none of these defectors have been allowed back into their country or national team. The Football Association of Cuba continues to hold Alonso ineligible to play for the USMNT.
With the risk of losing players to defection and Cuba already being a relatively weak team in CONCACAF play, should the federation do something to remedy this?
Obviously the country will continue to participate in tournaments. The money grab is too tempting for the nation to refuse to even show up for the group matches. CONCACAF will pay the 9th-12th finishing teams $100,000 for this Gold Cup.
But for the sake of their national team pool and its players, they need to do something about this issue. The national team has been a hot mess this Gold Cup and this is no way to run a program (not that the government’s plans for running the country are any better). Let the players who’ve defected back into the national team or cut them loose and let them move on with their careers.
The federation could also allow certain high profile national team players to go abroad to play professionally. This would incentivize player playing well for the national team to get an opportunity go to other countries and leagues to develop and make more money.
The long term solution is very much tied to drastic political change in the country.
Not much is known about the Cuban professional league to the point where one could question if it still exists. News out of the country is hard to come by or validate (be it sports related or otherwise). The league has not had a participant in the CONCACAF Champions League since 1990. They have not had a representative in CFU (Carribean Football Union) Club Championship since 2007. The league currently has no qualifying slot in Champions League.
In any case, it’s fairly safe to assume the quality of the league is not very good considering the quality of the national team.
Part of the reason players have defected is the inability to improve their lives by playing soccer domestically. Improving the league would give these players better opportunity. This would improve the national team program, could result in a decrease in defections, and could stimulate the local economy. Put money into the league and the national team programs. Perhaps they could allow non-Cubans to come in and play in the league. Allow defectors to come back if they play in the league.
The leadership view of soccer players is unfortunately similar to that of baseball players: “Ballplayers were paid the same measly salary as everyone else. In that way, they were the perfect examples of what a good Cuban should be — gifted, yet not materialistic.”
Provide opportunities within the country to decrease the number of defections. Allow those who have defected to come back to the national team (thus their defection is reduced to choosing to go abroad to play professionally).
Many of these suggested changes would be unprecedented considering the politics and are thus unlikely.
Players are defecting at almost every competition. The team is not competitive. The events off the field are a bigger story than the events on the field. The question then remains: What can be done to remedy these Cuban soccer defections?
