ORLANDO, Fla.—Five members of the Cuban Under-23 national soccer team, who defected in the United States after an Olympic qualifier, will get a shot at a professional contract with second tier Miami FC, the club said on Thursday.
Cuba drew 1-1 against the United States in Tampa on Tuesday before the five players abandoned the team, putting the side's Beijing Games hopes in jeopardy.
According to media reports the players were captain Yenier Bermudez, goalkeeper Jose Manuel Miranda, defender Erlys Garcia Baro, midfielder Yordany Alvarez and defender Loanni Prieto.
The players will now begin training with Miami FC, who play a level below Major League Soccer in the United Soccer Leagues.
"They will be practising with us as of this weekend or the beginning of next week," Miami FC spokesman Marcos Ommati said.
The players had been watched on Tuesday by Miami's general manager Luiz Muzzi.
"He said that the Cubans played really well. We'll give these guys a shot. If they are good enough they may be offered contracts with us," said Ommati.
New Life
Reports said the five spent Wednesday in Lake Worth, a town near Palm Beach about an hour's drive north of Miami, while trying to figure out how to begin a new life away from their communist-ruled homeland.
Cuba, aiming for their first appearance in the Olympic soccer competition since the 1980 Moscow Games, are due to face Honduras in Tampa later on Thursday.
"This was a very irresponsible act of cowardice by these five players," Antonio Garces, a Cuban Football Association official, told Reuters in Havana.
"They have betrayed their homeland," the official said, adding he could not confirm media reports that two more players had defected in Tampa.
The Miami Herald reported that defender Yendry Diaz and midfielder Eder Roldan had defected on Wednesday.
CONCACAF, which governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, said the Cuban team can continue in the competition despite having only 13 players of their 18-man squad remaining.
"CONCACAF's sole objective is to ensure the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament is carried out in the proper manner," a statement said.
"The Cuban Delegation has informed us that they will continue to participate in the tournament. All matches, therefore remain as scheduled."
Cuba coach Raul Gonzalez has only 12 players avaliable for the Honduras match as forward Roberto Linares, scorer against the U.S, is suspended following a red card.
Feeds