Cuban Soccer Defectors

I've told a few people about the Cuban soccer players that defect whenever Cuba comes to the US to play soccer. I follow the US Mens Soccer team, and they're currently in the qualifying rounds for the 2010 World Cup. Currently they are in the group stage with 3 other teams, Cuba, Guatemala, and Trinidad & Tobago, the top 2 teams advance to the next round.

Back in March the Cuban Soccer Team was in Florida to play Honduras in an under-23 Olympic qualifier. 7 players escaped from the hotel they were staying at, seeking political asylum. Again last weekend Cuba was here to play the US team in the World Cup qualifying and 2 more players defected.

Its a very sad situation, i feel, that Americans tend to take their freedom for granted, demanding more of this great country when they already have so many blessings. These players are all risking their lives to escape a country that has a terrible past, and their stories are very remarkable. Please read the links, they're very interesting.

"Of course, my heart will be in Cuba with my family, but I want to have the freedom to better my life, to play professional soccer, to be the best I can be, and for that we had to make this sacrifice," Bermudez said in The Herald. "The key now is to get the legal paperwork out of the way as quickly as possible so we can get on with our plans."