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July 28, 2022
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Misael Villa: “If there is an opportunity to play ball, I will not waste it”

misael villa, Cuba, béisbol, series nacionales

Madrid Spain.- Artemiseño pitcher Misael Villa recently arrived in the United States after making the migratory route from Nicaragua. The 29-year-old left-hander believes that if there were an agreement with the Major Leagues, the constant exodus of Cuban players would slow down a bit. On this subject, the decision to emigrate and its objectives, Misael Villa spoke with CubaNet.

“You have just arrived in the United States. Could you tell us about the route?

I left Cuba with my ticket to Nicaragua on June 30 and arrived in the United States on July 13. Exactly thirteen days of crossing. It is impressive for the places you go through. I passed through four countries: Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and my final destination here, the United States. The crossing is very hard but thank God everything went well and I was able to get there without any problem.

I was always determined. I came with a positive mind. The only fear I had at times was that since we were crossing countries illegally, I was afraid that the police might catch me, turn me back and lose all the distance I had traveled.

―Emotions, experiences… during the tour.

I had many emotions. One of the strongest emotions was seeing the number of people who are doing the same route that I did, both Cubans and from other countries. Many people trying to achieve my same goal.

-When did you make the decision to leave Cuba?

The decision to leave Cuba was very difficult to make because I have all my family there. I have a very close family framework, which has always supported me in everything. I took it since I started the relationship with my partner who lives here (United States). When things were working and everything was going well… I knew that at some point I had to make the decision to meet with her. We all have to make our life.

“You had left Cuba before. Why do you decide to emigrate now and not then?

I had left Cuba in 2015. I spent a year in the Dominican Republic, training, preparing myself. It went well for me, but due to problems beyond me, fundamentally paper issues, I decided to return to the country.

On the other hand, emigrating is difficult. It is a decision that many see as easy but it is difficult to leave your land, your customs, the family that surrounds you and that is also why I did not decide before.

―What are your goals now that you have arrived in the United States?

My goal is to focus on myself as a person, on my family, on creating my family. If an opportunity to play baseball arises, I’m not going to waste it, but the goal is to get ahead, help my family in Cuba, as an ordinary human being. If something related to perfect baseball comes out, if not, I’m open to other possibilities, work and move forward with my future.

―In Cuba you participated in eight National Baseball Series. What moments do you stay with?

Yes, I participated in eight National Series, all with the Artemisa team. I was in reinforcement with several teams like Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, with Industriales on two occasions, but all the national series I played were with the Artemisa team.

I had many good times. One was not in a series, but in a sub 23 championship in which we managed to be champions and I had a very outstanding performance. It is something that I keep well guarded. As for the National Series, one of the best moments was series 57, when we went to the second round and I was able to win the decisive game in that wild card playoff. Being a reinforcement in other provinces was also a good experience, as was the semi-final playoff with Industriales, because I had a good result. These are things from my time in the National Series that I keep well inside.

― What do you think are the biggest problems faced by an athlete in Cuba?

One of the biggest problems that athletes in Cuba face is the poor conditions when it comes to preparing for events. There are not the required conditions, the implements… and that is a shock because you cannot prepare one hundred percent. We (the players) always tried to give one hundred percent, but even so, if the conditions are not there, the result does not come out.

-Regarding current Cuban baseball, what do you think are the biggest problems that this sport has, which are increasingly reflected in the results?

We have had a drag problem for years, constantly the main players and figures leave the country and the ball is left behind, because these athletes who come with a quality of lower categories do not fully develop, in National Series for example, because they leave Cuba.

And this happens not only in baseball, it happens in most sports.

-What do you think would have to happen in Cuba for the players to stop emigrating constantly?

I think it would help to reach an agreement with the Major Leagues (MLB) so that all those quality athletes, who have a level, can play in the MLB without having to leave the country.

We are all Cubans. All those who have left at some point want to visit their family in Cuba. Many want to reconnect with their neighborhood, with what they left behind. I think that would be an option; Playing in the MLB would slow down the exodus of Cuban players a bit.

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