Cuban coach Alexander Gonzalez shouts instructions to his team during a World Cup Qualifier match in Toronto, Ontario
Several players have left the Cuban men’s football team that faced Canada in a World Cup qualifying match Friday, Cuban coach Alexander Gonzalez said.
“As with any Cuban sport team that travels around the world, they are all chasing the American dream,” Gonzalez said after Cuba lost 3-0 to Canada.
“And it’s difficult to try to keep the team together … Obviously it’s a difficult situation for the team and it’s tough for me to talk about it.”
The Cuban team arrived in Toronto with 15 players but they only had 11 when they played because four men had left the team, he said. One of those was sick he added, but Gonzalez didn’t want to go into details.
Canada dressed 10 substitutes for the game. Cuba’s bench was empty except for its coaches.
©2011 AFP