The Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) and the Little League Baseball International They said this Thursday in Havana that they are working to improve the agreement signed in 2019 between both organizations.
The president of Little League, the American Stephen Keener, and the head of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB), Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, confirmed in a joint press conference that the new document includes a strong commitment to develop the programs in Cuba children’s baseball through equipment and technical advice, according to a report of the Latin Press Agency (PL).
Stephen Keener, president of Little League Baseball International, spoke today at #Havana with Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, head of the Cuban Baseball Federation. Valued important topics of mutual interest!!! pic.twitter.com/loGs8w2grs
— Cuban Baseball Federation (@CubanaBeisbol) January 12, 2023
Keener, visiting Cuba with two other executives of the entity he directs, advanced the possibility of supporting the construction of a children’s stadium on the island, adding that the amount of aid offered and other details of the collaboration will depend on the needs expressed by the Cuban side.
For his part, Pérez Pardo considered that “this meeting transcends sport because bridges and not walls are created through sports exchange,” PL specifies.
The agreement now intends to extend to women’s softball with programs similar to those of baseball for girls in the categories 12-14 years old, and up to 16.
Both organizations also discussed the possibility of Cuba being the scene of an international little league event, probably the Caribbean regional tournament in 2025.
“The country that always showed the most passion for our programs was not part of the organization and that fortunately changed in 2019,” Keener added, quoted by PL.
“What we do is provide opportunities for many Cuban children in a healthy activity that can teach them many life lessons and make them better people for their society,” he added.
After joining the Little Leagues, the FCB has developed the competitive structure for this event and was represented by the Santa Clara team in the regional fair, held last year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
In that tournament the Cuban team reached the final undefeated, but gave way with a 1-3 score against Curaçao A, who ultimately got the only ticket offered by the tournament for the Little League World Series in the American city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
According to reports, a Cuban team would access the 2023 and 2024 World Series thanks to the established rotation system.
