Havana/The lack of fuel has altered the Elite League calendar. The Crocodiles de Matanzas team was unable to travel to Mayabeque last Monday for the duel against Hurricanes. The departure was scheduled for 3:30 in the afternoon, but the players had to wait almost five hours before they were informed that the transfer to San José de las Lajas was postponed, despite it being a short trip.
Many of the members remained for hours without eating. According to the Roberto Deportes Facebook page, “the plan included arriving at the hotel, having dinner” and resting. “It is difficult to understand that, in the midst of national competitions, a team from the main category of Cuban baseball has to face such elementary obstacles to comply with its schedule,” he said.
The National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder) in Matanzas He assured that “alternatives were sought to avoid waiting time for transportation and inconvenience.” However, the efforts did not bear fruit “in the face of short time and lack of fuel.”
Journalist Álex Cuenca demanded a sanction. “While the National Commission publicly sanctions players, referees and technical directors for any infraction… Who is punished for the lack of seriousness in the logistics of the games? Which manager is removed from his position when the spectacle and the athlete’s health are damaged?”
“A competition of this importance should have the minimum conditions to develop in a stable manner,” stated the media Cuba Grand Slam.
Crocodiles face a doubleheader this Wednesday against Hurricanes. This affects the performance of the teams and sports logistics, and once again exhibits the challenges of an Elite League that advances. between blackouts and fuel shortages. “Double games usually end in a division of honors (1-1), they wear out the pitching and alter the qualifying plans at a crucial moment where you have to win or win,” added Cuenca.
“A competition of this importance should have the minimum conditions to develop in a stable manner,” explained the specialized media Cuba Grand Slam on its social networks. “If there are no necessary guarantees to complete the calendar on equal terms, it is logical that questions will arise about the organization of the event.”
With the classification of Industriales, Las Tunas and Holguín, the game between Cocodrilos and Hurricanes is significant, because, together with Cazadores, they will define the fourth semifinalist of the tournament.
The alteration in the role of games is recurrent in Cuban baseball. Last September, the National Series postponed some of the games due to lack of accommodation and transportation problems. Some fans questioned “the lack of ethics, professionalism and organization” of the Cuban Baseball Federation. “They exceed the limits, but na’, ‘that’s the fault of the blockade,” they pointed out in reference to the arguments of the federations.
