Cuba kicks off World Cup initiative
"We hope to make it," said soccer coach Hector Noa Cuadro, who began playing at the age of 13 in the province of Guantanamo after seeing Argentina win the World Cup in 1978.
He said young Cuban soccer players have good physical strength but need to improve their technical abilities, including dribbling the ball, using passing combinations and sharpening their shooting techniques.
On a recent morning, Cuadro stood on the sidelines at the Pedro Marrero National Soccer Stadium in Havana and scrutinized the moves of more than a dozen young players, nearly all boys except for Alfonso, the eighth-grade girl, and her twin sister.
"That's it! Let's move! Look alive!!" various coaches yelled as the players scrimmaged in green and bright orange vests.
The objective that day was for players to develop their offensive game by organizing attacks and penetrating through defenses.
Reniel Bonora, who has coached the under-20 men's team, looked on with approval as he spoke about the challenges of transforming soccer into a popular sport in Cuba despite the US embargo, a lack of resources and an economic crisis that has led to food shortages.
A couple of years ago, Bonora said he opened two factories to produce cleats and balls for the local women's team he coached because he didn't want to lose talented players due to a lack of equipment.
