Havana/Between blackouts and fuel shortages, the Cuban Baseball Federation confirmed the start of the IV Elite League for next May 2. “Baseball is a conquest of the revolution, a symbol of identity that we must defend,” he told Latin Press the director of the FCB, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardothe man who has taken Cuban baseball to occupy its worst ranking world.
The event, according to Pérez, is under constant construction. “You can’t expect it to be perfect right away. We need to include the best Cuban players and others who play in foreign leagues.”
The 40-game role will face Crocodiles of Matanzas, Lumberjacks of Las Tunas, Cachorros of Holguín, Industriales of Havana, Hurricanes of Mayabeque and Cazadores de Artemisa. The tournament, the Federation recognizes, represents “a colossal effort in the midst of the adverse panorama” on the Island. Despite this, it is committed that “it will be played in each of the stadiums of the six teams.”
For the Sports Chago journalist, Yaser Vizcay Alcántarathe FCB and the State “have pulled off a tournament that is not essential for day-to-day development,” when “the Cuban people are suffering one of their worst crises.”
Last September, the National Series postponed some of the games due to lack of accommodation and transportation problems.
Vizcay insisted that “we should not lose sight of the fact that a country that does not have oil to maintain infrastructure and basic services to the population on a regular basis should not spend the few remaining resources on a League that will not meet its objectives.” Furthermore, he added that the last National Series and the failure in the World Classic were knockout forceful and “the Champions League with the Matanzas team put a seal on what is a secret shouted out loud, we have hit rock bottom.”
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 FCB. “They exceed the limits, but na’, ‘that’s the fault of the blockade,” they pointed out in reference to the arguments of the federations.
The Federation, as usual, blamed the United States for the economic, commercial and financial crisis that the Island is experiencing. To which it added that “the intention is to strangle” a nation with “the energy siege.”
It’s not just transportation, Elite League players have also been victims of robbery. In April of last year, the Industrial team He suffered the theft of “sports objects” while getting ready for the match against Santiago de Cuba. The implements were stolen from the club’s bus that was in Parque Céspedes, in the heart of the eastern city.
The qualification stage will take place between May 2 and June 19, with subseries of four matches. In it play-off contemplates a transfer day after the second and fifth challenges, “they are agreed between June 21 and 30.” The final will be from July 2 to 10.
