Why is this such a big deal? Because this is the first time the US MNT has been on Cuban soil in 60+ years. Only a U23 team played in Cuba back in 1991 (I think) for the Pan American games and then the Orioles played a couple games back in 1995 (I think). Other than that, it has been that long since ANY American sports team has played Cuba on Cuban soil due to trade embargoes and such.
Good job to the boys for enduring tough situations and getting the job done! In situations like this, one of the things that central American/Caribbean and south American fans will do is to camp outside the hotel of the opposing team and play music and make noise all night long - trying to ensure the boys don't get sleep in order to affect the match. They throw things at the bus the boys are transported to the hotel and the stadium among other things. How's that for sportsmanship! Apparently the stadium was in such disrepair that concrete pieces were falling down, a permanent residue of dust sits on the seats, the grass is super bumpy causing all sorts of fun possibilities to occur on the pitch, and lighting was only just recently added to the stadium per FIFA mandate when the match was scheduled to be at 8PM. Before the match and in the last 10 minutes of the match yesterday, about half of the lights went out in the stadium and it was raining cats and dogs. Quite the fun affair eh? Now the rain was because the tip of Hurricane Ike was just starting to hit the eastern edge of the island. But our boys got out of dodge before they could get marooned on the island due to weather.
You may say that that isn't quite fair - but the reality of it is this. That is fine you know why? Because when we play Cuba in another month on our soil - we are doing it in NY - making the Caribbean players play in the colder weather. And when we play those dirty Guats on our soil in mid November - welcome to Dicks! A mile high and in the cold. So we have our own advantages. On the other hand, one of the issues that was a bit underhanded was that the Cubans apparently train and live in rooms at the stadium when they go to compete. When our boys went to have their closed door practice the day before the game, apparently the Cubans decided they wanted to watch - causing some tension between the team.s Not only is this unsporting - but they aren't allowed to do so - however, there was no FIFA official around so therefore there was no way to enforce the Cubans to go away.
As is the US sit atop of our group with 6 points. They play again against T & T in Chicago on Wednesday. I'll keep you posted.
No comments:
Post a Comment