The Cuban Professional Baseball Federation (FEPCUBE) announced that his team, made up of Cuban players living in the United States and the rest of the world, will have the phrase in its name “Homeland and Life”become a symbol for the freedom of Cuba.
The team will participate between January 25 and February 1 in the next Intercontinental Baseball Seriesto be held in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia.
The announcement was made by Mandy Llanes Jr., president of FEPCUBE, during a meeting held this week with the press and fans in Miami.
“As we all have to have a first and last name, the world is finding out now: the team is going to be called ‘FEPCUBE, Patria y Vida'”said the president of the project, which seeks to bring together the best Cuban baseball players from exile, including the stars of the Major Leagues.
Llanes explained that those two words – which will appear on the players’ uniforms – symbolize the desire for freedom and democracy that Cubans share and that they represent the team’s commitment to a free Cuba.
“Homeland and Life: what you have done uniting the community under that call. People of all ages, not just those who follow your music. But it also moved older people. It has moved the world and made them tremble. It is an honor for us to be associated with your brand,” Mandy added in reference to Yotuel Romero, who was present in the room.
“We need everyone who attends Colombia, that those who see us on social networks or television screens, know that it is the FEPCUBE, that we represent free Cubans and that we are from Patria y Vida,” added the director, who explained that The choice of the name was not easy and generated debate.
In fact, in mid-October a publication on Twitter reflected that the name with the most votes up to that point for the team was “Cuba Libre” with 28.5% of the votes, while “Patria y Vida” had only 7.1%.
Other proposed names were Cuba, Cubanos, Cubans, Cuba Sugar Kings, among others.
However, Llanes explained that, After several consultations, surveys and debates, the directors of the FEPCUBE opted for the name “Patria y Vida”.
The team will be led by Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, who will serve as general manager; and Brayan Peña, who will be the manager. Both will be in charge of selecting the players who will make up the cast.
“The responsibility is going to be very great and we hope that they behave and play up to that moment,” said El Duque Hernández.
“We have enough quality to form a team that goes out to play with love, with dedication, in the most correct way possible,” he added.
The team’s participation in the Continental Baseball Series -formerly the Latin American Series- has generated expectations as it is the first time that a team without ties to the state-run Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) participates in an international tournament.
Teams from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Mexico and Colombia, the host country, are expected to participate in the Continental Series.
The Latin American Baseball Series emerged in 2012 and the first edition was held in 2013. The founders were Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. In none of the previous editions did a Cuban team participate, so the FEPCUBE team will be the first to represent the island in the contest. The event was last held in 2019.
The renowned Continental Baseball Series has sparked the interest of stars such as Aroldis Chapman, Randy Arozarena and Jorge Soler. However, there is uncertainty about the participation of some players due to their contracts with Major League teams.
