Five Cuban Players Missing from Olympic Qualifying

Five members of the Cuban Under-23 national team have gone missing from the team hotel following the squad's 1-1 tie against the United States on Tuesday night.

Five players, including standout goalkeeper Jose Manuel Miranda (pictured), left the team hotel in Tampa and haven't been seen since Tuesday evening.

The disappearances have left Cuba with just 13 players for its next match, against Honduras on Thursday. CONCACAF could as Cuba to forfeit the tournament but Cuban head coach Raul Gonzalez has already stated that he has no intention of having his team forfeit.

I am calling it now, Jose Manuel Miranda will be the starting goalkeeper for Chivas USA in 2009. And that noise you hear? It is the stampede of MLS general managers rushing to the fax machine to get in their "discovery" claims on these players.

The possible defection shouldn't come as a complete shock but I will admit to having thought that there would be less interest in defecting considering how tough a time the Cuban players who defected during the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup had trying to find professional deals. The funny thing is that it just so happens that one of the Gold Cup  defectors, Lestor More, just signed with the Charleston Battery last week.

What do you think of this development? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[smorebs]

I called this with my friends last night!

[smokarz]

i am surprised that only 5 had disappeared. i would expect all 18 to be gone by now. lol

[rpks08]

I think everybody called this. hahaha. I hope the Chicago Fire pick up Miranda, but Gallardo is at Chivas, which means they have the upper hand.

Cuba providing American fans quick, cheap, and desperate talent for 48 years. I would like to point out I am a Cuban, who wants to end this embargo and show Cubans free trade. This will spark something within the small country.

[Wes]

A few will reappear and rejoin the team. It always happens.

[RedLine55]

What, no coaches?! I feel cheated.

[JH6]

Ives,

What happens to the US result if Cuba forfeits the tournament? Seems like the US is getting screwed if Honduras and Panama both get a free three points. It shouldn't be an issue if we had just taken care of business but that could kill us if we don't beat Panama.

[Speedball]

smorebs, your pronostication abilities are outstanding. What do you predict happening tonight, darkness?

[Isaac]

I wouldn't be surprised if a player or 2 had family that lived in the area. Bienvenidos a Tampa.

[PJHardy]

Welcome to the USA. "Give me your tired, your poor......", you know? At least these guys aren't criminals or smuggling drugs. If you're a decent person, welcome. (If you can play soccer, all the better)

[Onionsack]

Crap i missed the defection pool by 1. I had 6. Hey, i guess there is still time.

[Kim]

So, 5 Cubans. Add that to the 10 missing Americans from last night, and there's 15 young soccer players wandering the streets of Tampa/St. Pete.

[smorebs]

I predict to tonight, not only darkness but, also clouds and a low of 29.

[ctsoccer13]

The funny thing is that the announcers predicted this last night as well. I distinctly remember them saying that some of the players would probably be missing in the morning.

[arelcao akleos]

Damn, why couldn't they have done this BEFORE the match? [especially the keeper
:( ]

[dwbpnm]

Watching the game last night I was actually thinking that it was a huge disadvantage for the US to play Cuba first before any defections occur.

[Landis]

Jose Manuel Miranda looked fairly solid in the net, but a starter in a year? His positioning looked off and he seemed a step slow. What I especially noticed was his poor distribution- he had two or three punts that were totally shanked low slicing balls that barely made it to midfield. He reminded me of Dario Sala in regard to time wasting.

[markspence02]

I'm not surprised. For those who defect from Cuba, a MLS developmental contract may actually be a financial windfall.

[Ted]

I fully support this. A few will turn up, but for some of these young men, it's the only way for them to get out of a potentially bad situation. It takes a lot of courage to do this.

[jevanvoo]

all joking aside, it's kind of sad for the team, they played so much better than was expected last night, and to make it to the olympics would be huge for them, and for Cuba. For the players that didn't defect, with only 13 at this point, will they be able to realize their dreams of making it to the games? Not saying they shouldn't have the opportunity to live outside of a dictator's rule of course, but just looking at it from a team stand point.

[Jamie Z.]

I'm all for granting these players asylum and totally support their decision to defect. But my question is this: since Cuba are in the habit of losing half their squad every time they play a game abroad, why haven't they taken further steps to prevent it from happening?

[Tim Crawford]

I agree with jevanvoo. I mean it's just sad that people have to quit their countries to get jobs. I really hope they know what they're doing . . .

[kpugs]

Big surprise, I tihnk Dom was the first person to bring this up yesterday.

I feel bad for the Cuban national sports teams, but don't blame the players. It's just sad for them that under the current regime baseball is the only sport where they still have a chance at winning someting big on the international level.

[flyingoose]

i don't blame them. i figured it would happen sooner or later, just not this soon.

[RK]

They don't all automatically get good contracts, you know -- one guy recently defected and signed in Charleston.

Has anyone checked Ybor City?

[EASTLACHIVA]

Actully, GALINDO is at Chivas, not Gallardo who is Argentine and plays at DC United.

We want Miranda, Guzan is leaving, so why the hell not? Chivas USA Goalkeeper Perkovich is from South America, so he can speak Spanish. It's prefect!

Oh yeah, he's rough around the edges, but you never know, Miranda can be a steal.

[therealfan]

If Cuba has to forfeit the rest of their games, will our tie be withdrawn from the record?

[Sandro]

I agree with Jevanvoo. But it is a sad thing that they have a dictator ruling that country and to them it would be better off for themselves and their families. It is a bit selfish but I guess to them it is more a matter of survival. I am sure their families back home have very little, and are provided very little by the government, etc.

I heard on ESPN360 that this team came in late to the tournament. I am assuming this may have been the reason.

[L Train]

Big ups to Speed. It made me spit out some of my fem Caramel Machiatto. Or however you spell it.

[wendel]

i love america! woot!

[gary]

Columbus honorably requests a striker if one defected, ok?

[Geoff]

haha i agree with smokarz comment up at the top.

[Dominghosa]

Da*n, I should have bet the over....

[Graditos]

Quick! get those discovery claims running..

[J]

I heard Chicago put discovery claims on the whole Cuban team two days ago

[LJ]

Alexi, if you're listening, this is your only chance of fitting talent into that 3 man team of yours.

----Defector 1--Ruiz------
Def. 2 ---Donovan----Klein
----------Beckham----------
Def3--Valentin-Xavier--Def4
-----------Def. 5---------

Yeah, I'd say that's about right.

[CD]

Guess I was wrong...

"CD,
Do you know anything about Cuba's team?"

They speak Spanish, their communist,they play in the Cuban domestic league and they won't be able to go out of the team hotel without an escort.

Posted by: CD | March 10, 2008 at 11:21 AM"

[Tim]

I guess I'm not suprised. I do wonder how this will affect the rest of qualifying if they don't show back up. It wouldn't be fair if Honduras and Panama were given points. The only fair thing to do would be to delete the US result, and nobody gets any points from Cuba.

[reygb]

welcome your tired, poor,... As long as they are not from Haiti...

[Sandro]

Ives,
Any idea on what CONCACAF/FIFA decided? Is the Cuban team still practicing at 4pm. Would be tough for Cuba to play the rest of the games with only 13 players and actually only 12 can play the next game cause one Cuban player got a red card and he wasn't one that defected. How does it impact US if any?

[aristotle]

LJ:

Don't exaggerate, L.A. has 4 players! They actually have a very good goalkeeper. That's why they were willing to part with Cannon.

[CD]

As anyone checked Mons Venus.

[Nath]

The U-17 Haitian team did the same this a few months ago. I'm not sure if they were disqualified.

NYRB needs a goalkeeper

[reygb]

Only one intentionally tried to defect. Not sure where he is now, but was not welcomed with open arms, and was threatened with jail and/or deportation. The full team (-1) went on to play in the U17 world cup earning 1 point in a tie with France and loosing to Japan and eventual U17 world champions Nigeria.

[Thom]

They swam to Bal Harbour in North Miami and washed on the causeway about noon today.
Don't believe me? Then read it yourself.

http://cbs4.com/local/Bal.Harbour.Cuban.2.675664.html

[red4ever]

regarding questions as to why more precautions to prevent defection are not taken; i believe one higher up alleged that if they wanted to go they would not go out of their way to stop them.....i suppose to soften their image....i think they also really think cuban communism is that amazing that no one should want to leave...

[KingSnake]

Why do the Cubans get a free pass, but not the Mexicans who are also only trying to feed their families?

[mike ruze]

See what happens to you when you dont let the US have there way....the CIA makes you dissapear!!!!

Of course im kidding...if the CIA wanted to help the US theyd have Peter Nowak and every US player not named Freddy Adu dissapear.

[1982]

In the 1970s the entire Cuban National Team disappeared a day before they were to play a game against the NY Cosmos. This is always interesting, yet never surprising to hear.

[Felix]

As someone with Cuban lineage myself, I find it all very sad. From the perspective of that every time Cuba travels to the US at least one of their players defect. So from a Cuban side of it, how can they grow their national team if every time there is a international tournament, players are bolting on them. Also, how rough things are in Cuba that these guys are willing to go through such measures (also keep in mind they are leaving their families knowing it'll be years until they see them again) to make a decent living.

[Felix]

I forgot to add, there is no way that Cuban goalkeeper doesn't land somewhere in MLS.

[David Berger]

Hilarious.

[Tim F.]

Come join the Red Bulls!!!!

[atticas]

but they have free healthcare!!! why would they want to leave?!?!

[Keith G.]

One this doesnt look good for the US, if Cub forfits the rest of the games I dont think the US are going on. Maybe they dont deserve to go on any ways after a game like that.

I think that everyone knew this was going to happen, the question always is how many. I will also bet taht atleast 3 of the players are picked up whether it is with the USL or MLS.

[papa bear]

@Posted by: Kim | March 12, 2008 at 02:43 PM

comment of the day right there. :) too funny.

@Posted by: KingSnake | March 12, 2008 at 05:01 PM

I pray you are being facetious. Mexican people have a democratic means by which to improve their country and can LEGALLY apply for citizenship/visas here if they so choose. Cubans are allowed to sit down and shut up and take whatever El Presidente says.
The Cubans have no choice in their country's future, the Mexicans choose not to exercise it. BIG difference.

I'm not sure why everyone is super amped. Outside of the goalkeeper and the defender (can't remember his name) there weren't too many kids on that team who were super impressive. Though I guess most could make OK reserves.

And people thought expansion would thin out the talent pool. Just sked more games with Cuba.

[David Martinez]

ah yes, I have WRITTEN proof that I predicted this! NICE!

Are any of em a LB?

[chrisla]

too bad they didnt leave before the game so the us couldve won :(

[mike ruze]

This is another ploy by Juan Carlos Osorio to circumvent the rules.

He even consideres Intl law to be "silly".

[Mike]

Nice! I love the people who try to say it's not that bad in Cuba and that Fidel Castro is misunderstood. Is there another nation in the world that has players defect like this?

[LA Metro]

This could be problematic for the US. Now, unless they win their last two games, they probably don't finish first--there's no way Cuba takes points off anyone at this point.

[Red Card]

First of all, this is sad that these players have to leave their families and loved ones in order to have a career in soccer. There is no telling when they will see them or be with them again.

Secondly, there are 13 players left. But ONE of them was RED carded. That will leave only 12 players available. This is assuming that the RED carded player did not defect.

[blog]

This picture should be a candidate for the Caption Competition! ;D

[K. Bowen]

"As someone with Cuban lineage myself, I find it all very sad. From the perspective of that every time Cuba travels to the US at least one of their players defect. So from a Cuban side of it, how can they grow their national team if every time there is a international tournament, players are bolting on them."

They could quit being a communist prison state. They could let more of their players play and make a living abroad, like a normal modern country.

[Mauricio Cruz]

K. Bowen, how naive are you?

The previous poster argued that the PEOPLE THEMSELVES don't have a choice in changing things. As is clearly evident, they DESPERATELY want to live in a modern country, but they CANNOT, thus these players choose to defect once they get to the states.

It pains me as a Cuban-American myself to see the lies continually perpetuated about the Cuban state. Fidel has somehow tricked many into thinking the USA and their embargo policy has been to blame, when in actuality, Fidel's oppressive regime is at the root of all problems.

[Joamiq]

LOL @ Speedball!

[Ranks]

Two more left tonight so now there is a total of 7 of them that left, They actually had an interview with one of the during the half time of the Canada Vs Mexico game.

[Brendan]

That leaves 11, but only 10 that can play their next match.

[Sandro]

Wow two more left? any word on what happens to Cuba now? they will only have 10 left for the next game and as it stands no substitutes for the next two games.

[Zach D.]

This is bush league. Don't get me wrong I am happy for those that left the Cuba team to find a better life here in the US. But I think the US national team gets screwed here. While i agree they should have played better and won the game I don't think it is right for the rest of the team to get a possible "very easy" three points. Because lets face it with 7 players leaving, I believe most if not all were starters, they will be playing a completely other team.