Brazil legend Pele arrived in Cuba ahead of the nation's football match with New York Cosmos on Tuesday
Two of the world's most baseball-obsessed nations declared an end to a half-century of hostility six months ago, raising hopes of warmer ties between the home of the Major Leagues and the source of some of its best talent.
But the
most important act of sports diplomacy since then is taking place on a soccer
field.
On
Tuesday, the New York Cosmos become the first U.S. professional team to play in
Cuba since Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama announced that they were
re-establishing diplomatic relations.
Brazil legend Pele arrived in Cuba ahead of the nation's football match with New York Cosmos on Tuesday
Pele, who played for the original Cosmos franchise, is the north American club's honorary president
Real Madrid legend Raul (right) is put through his paces ahead of the historic match in Cuba
Cuban
officials said the friendly match against Cuba's national team was a sign of
soccer's growing popularity on the island, and an important step in the
normalization of the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba.
'In this
new era that our two countries are living, this game is another link that will
help establish the relations announced by the two presidents,' said Antonio
Garces, vice president of the Cuban Soccer Association.
While the two governments have yet to reopen embassies after nearly half a year of complicated negotiations, Havana has been flooded by a surge of U.S. tourists, as well as delegations of lawmakers, businesspeople and athletes.
A group
of retired NBA stars held a training camp for Cuban players in April and Cuban
officials have said a Major League exhibition game is planned for the near
future, although Major League officials have said no plans have been made.
The match follows the news that America and Cuba had put an end to a half-century of hostility six months ago
Raul takes part in a training session at the Pedro Marrero Stadium on Monday
The Cosmos, who are leading the standings in the second-tier North American
Soccer League, arrived Sunday night, and were training ahead of Tuesday
afternoon's match at 30,000-seat Pedro Marrera stadium, which is to be
televised nationally in Cuba.
They were
accompanied by honorary president Pele, the legendary Brazilian star who played
for the original Cosmos franchise as his career was ending. Asked about the
bribery scandal that exploded last week in soccer's global governing body, he
declined to criticize FIFA or its head, Sepp Blatter.
'We are
players and we want to provide joy to the public and people. What happens with
executives doesn't interest me,' he said. 'He's a man who has been there 25
years. You have to respect him.'
Raul and former Spain international Marcus Senna train ahead of the match, which will be televised in Cuba
The New York Cosmos team stretch out their muscles at the 30,000-seat stadium
Senna's side will kick of a new era in sporting relations between America and Cuba
While
Cuba is far from a soccer powerhouse, the sport hasn't been spared the waves of
departures that have robbed the island's teams of many top-ranked athletes.
Forward Maykel Galindo left in 2005 and went on to play for several U.S. teams.
Midfielder Osvaldo Alonso abandoned Cuba two years later and now plays in
Seattle.
Cuba's
relatively weak international soccer performance hasn't stopped the sport from
spreading on the island, with growing numbers watching professional games on
television and playing on dusty fields and neighborhood streets.
'Soccer
is a people's sport that's gained a lot of popularity in recent years, in Cuba
and the United States, and without a doubt it'll help tear down barriers and
open doors,' Garces said.
The last
professional U.S. soccer team to visit Cuba was the now-defunct Chicago Sting,
which played in 1978 after President Jimmy Carter moved to warm ties with Cuba
and open the interests section in Havana that both countries want to soon
convert into a full embassy.
No comments:
Post a Comment