Speaking to Prensa Latina, Pablo Elier Sánchez, director of the Caribbean team, highlighted the evolution of the team, from the World Cup qualifying process to Qatar 2022 in the months of March and last June, and after the incorporation of Cuban footballers belonging to other international leagues.
“This allowed the confluence of 23 players with a constant dynamic of training and competitions, despite the current epidemiological crisis as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision represented better results, behavior and image of the national team on the field, “said the coach.
The coach recalled that the players summoned belong to recognized leagues in the world, in the case of Onel Hernández, midfielder of the UK Premier League and Carlos Alberto Vázquez (Cavafe), central defender of the Spanish club Bergantiños FC.
According to the coach, the call-up also includes Jorge Luis Corrales, a defense player for FC Tulsa in the USL Championship in the United States, and Modesto Méndez, a defender for Fort Lauderdale CF in the USL League One, also in the northern country.
Other athletes involved are William Pozo-Venta, winger or striker for Strommen, in Norway, and José Apezteguía, forward for Sammarinese Tre Fiori, from Italy; as well as players from Central American confederations from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
“These changes also place us, to a certain extent, as a benchmark for the specialty in the area. The Cuban Football Association no longer trains, it only summons the team and concentrates it a few days before. Hence the importance of the FIFA dates for the dispute of friendly matches and selection officials, “he said.
In Sánchez’s opinion, the matches scheduled in that calendar are the only way for young competitors to interact as a national team and improve their performance, in search of a place for a World Cup and reported on the upcoming FIFA date, scheduled in the month of January.
msm / dgh
