Andy Lans – Translating Cuba

Dariel García, a New Cuban in the German Handball Bundesliga

The Santiago-born wingman became the fifth person born on the Island to play in Germany’s top division.

In Germany, Dariel García will have a one-year contract, with the possibility of competing again in the EHF European League. / Instagram/mttrommler

14ymedio, Andy Lans, Matanzas, August 29, 2026 – A new Cuban in the best handball league in the world! Dariel García Rivera has become the fifth person born in Cuba to play in the German Bundesliga when, this Thursday, he saw action in the opening round of the 2026-2027 season.

The 29-year-old wingman played exactly 19 minutes and 41 seconds in his team MT Melsungen’s 31-33 loss to Füchse Berlin. The young man from Santiago de Cuba also took the opportunity to score his first goals in his new league, with two goals from three shots, before the crowd at the Max Schmeling Hall in the German capital.

Dariel’s signing with Melsungen is no coincidence. Between 2018 and 2026, he played eight seasons in Spain’s ASOBAL League. He played the 2018-2019 season with Ciudad de Logroño, wore the colors of ADC Guadalajara between 2019 and 2021, and then established himself with CD Bidasoa Irún for five campaigns. His record at the highest level of Spanish handball stands at 197 matches and 501 goals. Now, in Germany, the Cuban international will have a one-year contract, with the possibility of competing again in the EHF European League, a continental competition in which he has accumulated 46 appearances and 128 goals throughout continue reading

his career.

The young man from Santiago de Cuba also took the opportunity to score his first goals in his new league, with two goals from three shots

The presence of Cubans in the German Handball Bundesliga began with the legendary Julián Durañona, who was part of THSV Eisenach between 1997 and 2000, played for TuS N-Lübbecke in 2000-2001, and returned to the league in 2002-2003 with HSG Wetzlar. In total, the man who would later become an Icelandic international scored 596 goals in 136 matches in the competition.

In the 2001-2002 season, Guantánamo native Julio Fis experienced one of THW Kiel’s 23 titles, making it the most successful institution in the Bundesliga. The naturalized Spaniard contributed 83 goals in 25 matches on that occasion.

Another Cuban who became an international for Iceland, Jaliesky García, played six seasons in Germany’s top division with FRISCH AUF! Göppingen between 2003 and 2009, contributing 498 goals in 150 matches.

Rolando Urios González, son of the legendary Granma-born pivot Rolando Urios, had a brief stint of seven Bundesliga matches with Füchse Berlin between 2017 and 2019. Currently, at 27 years of age, he continues his career in Spanish handball.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Cuban Volleyball Players Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo Signed by Sporting Lisbon

Both athletes had requested to leave official sports over nonpayment of more than $100,000 earned on international circuits

Cuba’s state sports apparatus lacked the mechanisms to get them the money earned through their sporting achievements. / Instagram

14ymedio, Andy Lans, Matanzas, 13 August 2026 / In the summer of 2024, they thrilled all of Cuba by reaching the round of 16 in beach volleyball at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In the summer of 2026, the Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon presents them as brand-new signings for its indoor volleyball team. On a one-year contract and, as a source confirms to us, completely independent of the Cuban Volleyball Federation. That is, in short, the story of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo, who seem bound by the same sporting destiny, whether on sand or on a hardwood court.

But what happened between 2024 and 2026? Unlike what happened with other promising Cuban beach volleyball pairs, Díaz and Alayo received greater opportunities to compete abroad. They played on major circuits, made more than one podium finish, reached ninth place at the 2025 Adelaide (Australia) World Championship, and made it into the world ranking’s Top 10. However, Cuba’s state sports apparatus lacked the mechanisms to get them the money earned through their sporting achievements.

According to the Facebook page CubanSp1ke, which specializes in Cuban volleyball, the debt had reached $107,000, and this was reportedly the main reason both athletes had already requested to leave Cuban sports back in February of this year.

“We’re in a new country, and if I had come alone, the emotional side might have weighed more heavily. With Noslen here, it’s easier”

In statements to Sporting Lisbon’s official website, the Villa Clara native and the Artemisa native affirmed a bond forged through spikes, blocks, and digs. Jorge Alayo said: “We’re in a new country, and if I had come alone, the emotional side might continue reading

have weighed more heavily. With Noslen here, it’s easier.” For his part, Noslen Díaz stated: “We’re still together in this new stage of our lives, and that’s fundamental. Each of us has support to count on.”

Thanks to his finishing ability and skill at blocking, Jorge Alayo, 25 years old and standing over 1.90 meters, will be moved to the opposite hitter position. Meanwhile, Noslen Díaz, 23 years old and 2.07 meters tall, will take on the outside hitter position, aiming to give the team offensive and defensive balance.

“Our program is very attractive both nationally and internationally, and this was an opportunity with two extraordinary, very young beach volleyball players who wanted to make the jump to indoor volleyball”

Joao Fidalgo, coordinator of Sporting’s volleyball program, explained the recent signings: “These signings are somewhat different from the usual ones, and we acknowledge that, but we’re also alert to every possibility the market offers us. Our program is very attractive both nationally and internationally, and this was an opportunity with two extraordinary, very young beach volleyball players who wanted to make the jump to indoor volleyball. When we learned of this, Sporting moved quickly to understand the conditions that would make it possible. We analyzed in detail the type of transition for each of them, and we’re very excited about both of their arrivals. We firmly believe this path will be best for both parties.”

Throughout its history, Sporting Lisbon has established itself as one of Portugal’s most important sports institutions. Its volleyball team is the current national champion, and its soccer and handball teams, to name just a couple of examples, are also of the highest caliber.

Translated by GH

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Cubans in the MLB All-Star Game: Stories of Boats, Escapes, and Exile

The votes these Cubans received for the so-called All-Star Game were no coincidence. Each of them put up the numbers necessary to earn a place in Philadelphia.

Miguel Vargas decided to leave with his father, Lázaro Vargas, when he was 16 years old. / Chicago White Sox

14ymedio, Andy Lans, Matanzas, July 20, 2026 – Yordan Álvarez left Cuba and established residency in Haiti. Randy Arozarena boarded a boat from Pinar del Río to Mexico. Yandy Díaz also left by boat, traveling from Holguín to the Dominican Republic. Aroldis Chapman defected from Team Cuba while the team was in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Andy Pagés completed a route through Guyana, Curaçao, and Haiti before arriving in the Dominican Republic.

Raisel Iglesias managed to leave the Island more than a decade ago after a failed attempt, while Miguel Vargas decided to leave with his father, Lázaro Vargas, when he was 16 years old. The father of Sal Stewart Jr. and the mother and paternal grandparents of Nick Martínez also left Cuba. All of them, on the grass at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, represented the Cuban exile community at the 96th Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game.

The game, held on July 14, ended with a 4-0 victory for the American League over the National League

The game, held on July 14, ended with a 4-0 victory for the American League over the National League. The standout offensive performances by the Cuban players were hits from Yordan and Randy, along with a tremendous home run by Miguel Vargas in the eighth inning. Pitchers Nick Martínez and Raisel Iglesias each retired one inning, while Aroldis Chapman recorded two outs, one of them by strikeout.

The votes these Cubans received for the so-called All-Star Game were no coincidence. Each of them put up the numbers necessary to earn a place in Philadelphia. Most ranked among the league’s statistical leaders before the All-Star break.

Yordan Álvarez stood out with the Houston Astros. He led all of MLB in continue reading

slugging percentage (.633), on-base percentage (.426), and OPS (1.059), while ranking second in home runs (31) and RBIs (71), and fourth in batting average (.318). Those last three figures positioned him to compete for the American League Triple Crown.

Yandy Díaz continued adding to his legacy with the Tampa Bay Rays. The veteran slugger, son of former second baseman Jorge “La Araña” Díaz, finished the first half leading the American League in batting average at .322. As if that were not enough, he ranked sixth in the league in hits with runners on base (53) and second in hits with runners in scoring position (30). He batted .393 with runners on base and .441 with runners in scoring position, demonstrating his ability to deliver in crucial moments.

Another Rays player, Nick Martínez, carried the tenth-best earned run average of the season at 2.65 over 105.1 innings. The Cuban-American right-hander had eight wins and two losses, 62 strikeouts, only 19 walks, and a 1.12 WHIP, proving that no matter how old the wind gets, it still blows.

It is not far-fetched that many analysts view Miguel Vargas as the most offensively gifted third baseman in Major League Baseball. Among players whose natural position is third base this season, the emerging Chicago White Sox star led in runs scored (64), walks (56), and extra-base hits (42). He also ranked second in doubles (20) and RBIs (59), and third in home runs (21) and stolen bases (11).

Meanwhile, Cuban-American Sal Stewart Jr. has set the standard among rookies by leading them in extra-base hits (41), RBIs (65), and doubles (22). The versatile Cincinnati Reds infielder has already become one of the leading candidates for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

The versatile Cincinnati Reds infielder has already become one of the leading candidates for the National League Rookie of the Year Award

Randy Arozarena enjoyed another outstanding first half with the Seattle Mariners, combining power and speed. He demonstrated this by tallying 21 doubles, one triple, and 11 home runs, along with 19 stolen bases in 24 attempts. His .380 on-base percentage also highlighted his ability to reach base.

With a demanding franchise like the Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder Andy Pagés has handled the pressure well. His 66 RBIs ranked seventh in all of Major League Baseball. Some of his most impressive achievements also came with runners on base. In those situations, he ranked third in MLB in home runs (13) and first in extra-base hits (25).

What more can be said about the ageless Aroldis Chapman and Raisel Iglesias? Both closers once again justified why they are the top two Cuban pitchers in career saves in the world’s premier baseball league. Chapman, pitching for the Boston Red Sox, became in 2026 the relief pitcher with the most strikeouts in MLB history, and arrived at Citizens Bank Park with 19 saves, an outstanding 2.20 ERA, and 36 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Raisel recorded the same number of saves with the Atlanta Braves, posting a 2.23 ERA along with 36 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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A Cuban Soccer Talent Lands in Panama

Didier Reinoso, 19, will join Veraguas United FC in that country’s First Division.

Didier Reinoso has a one-year contract, according to sources consulted by 14ymedio. / Didier Reinoso/ Instagram

14ymedio, Matanzas, Andy Lans, June 30, 2026 / Cuban soccer player Didier Reinoso, known as Bodoque, landed in Panama this past Sunday, June 28, to join Veraguas United FC in that country’s First Division. According to information obtained by 14ymedio, he has signed a one-year contract, and his incorporation into the first team is expected.

Bodoque, as he is nicknamed, is a skillful left-footed player born in 2007, capable of playing as a winger or attacking midfielder. He also stands out for his good dribbling, vision of play, and long-range shooting. With his native Havana, he won national championships at both junior and senior levels; however, the greater weight of his resume comes from his performances with Cuban national teams.

With Cuba’s under-17 team, he took part in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship held in Guatemala in 2023, where he scored three goals on eight shots, with one assist, eight key passes, and seven fouls drawn in 351 minutes across four matches. The following year, he again wore the jersey of the Caribbean Lions in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship held in Mexico. From that event, it is remembered that Reinoso scored the decisive penalty in the quarterfinal shootout against Honduras, settling the match 5-3 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. That penalty secured qualification for the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile, since by reaching the semifinals, Cuba earned one of the four available berths to the world tournament, in which Reinoso also saw playing time.

Although Bodoque received offers to play in European soccer, those around him favored this option in Panama so that the player could complete his development in a mid-level league. At the same time, the young Cuban forward will look to build up his physical strength. He is represented by the agency IDUB Global, the same agency that manages renowned figures such as Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Cuban international Jorge Aguirre.

Translated by GH

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Cubans Are Runners-up in the Asian Handball Championship with Qatar

Frankis Carol Marzo was the team’s second-best scorer, while Rafael Capote added eight goals and two assists

Frankis Carol Marzo records four titles in five participations at Asian Championships with Qatar / Instagram

14ymedio, Matanzas, Andy Lans, February 03, 2026 – Qatar’s handball team, with the Cubans Frankis Carol Marzo and Rafael Capote, finished second in the Asian Championship after losing their eighth consecutive final of the tournament with a score of 29-26 to Bahrain.

In this edition of the competition, held in the United Arab Emirates during the second half of January, Qatar beat Oman (27-15) and South Korea (32-31). Then, the Main Round gave them a pair of wins against Saudi Arabia (32-25) and the host country (25-20), but with a defeat against Bahrain itself (31-28). These results allowed them to enter the semi-final, where they won 27-26 against Kuwait.

Carol and Capote, both 38-year-old wing players, were able to bring Qatar into this edition of the competition. Carol Marzo was the team’s second-best scorer, with 29 goals, for a 57% ERA. He also recorded eight assists and three steals. His most outstanding match was in the Main Round against Bahrain, with 11 goals. In the case of Capote, with participation in five out of seven games played, he scored eight goals and two assists. However, it is worth noting that these Caribbean continue reading

exponents have already come a long way in this national team.

Frankis Carol Marzo signed for Catarí handball in 2021, after a decade at Sporting de Portugal. He currently plays in the Kuwait league. With the selection of Qatar he records four titles in five participations in Asian Championships, in addition to presence in the Worlds of 2019, 2021 and 2025.

Rafael Capote escaped from the Cuban national team during the Pan American Games Rio de Janeiro 2007

For his part, Rafael Capote escaped from the Cuban national team during the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. He played professionally in Brazil, Italy and Spain until he moved to the Catarí league in 2013. There he was nationalized in 2014 to become a key part of that selection. With the Arab team he has participated in seven Asian Championships, between 2014 and 2026, of which he was champion six times; he attended six Worlds, with a final reached in 2015, and in some Olympic Games in 2016, again in Rio.

Years ago, the deliberate nationalizations of players by Qatar sowed controversy in public opinion of handball. The nation hosted the organization of the 2015 World Cup, and based on the naturalized players, set out to put together a representation full of stars. European elite ballers were usually lured into the Qatari league with exorbitant sums of money, and if they agreed to represent Qatar, they received extra bonuses for becoming nationalized. Over time, the International Federation tightened its eligibility rules for selections to regulate this phenomenon. Thanks to this, and the long-term investment in its internal infrastructure, today there are more Qataris by birth in its national pool.

For many, a selection of Qatar full of nationalized handball players was a serious alteration of the nature of competitions between countries, in which each seeks to bring the best of themselves. However, it is not uncommon for an athlete to come to feel genuinely grateful to and identify with a nation that can value him more than the land where he was born.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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The Most Cuban Season Ever for Pisa SC in Italy’s Series A

Young players Francesco Coppola and Brando Bettazzi, both born in Italy to Cuban mothers, have received several call-ups this season for the cup and the league.

Francesco Coppola is a 20-year-old center back, 6’5″ tall / Instagram

14ymedio, Matanzas, Andy Lans, January 12, 2026 — Players Francesco Coppola and Brando Bettazzi, both born in Italy to Cuban mothers, have received several call-ups to Pisa SC’s first team for the Coppa Italia and the current edition of Serie A, the top level of Italian football [soccer].

Pisa SC’s season has not been one for fireworks. After earning a commendable promotion in the previous campaign, the team currently finds itself in the relegation zone this season.

The squad includes well-known veterans such as Colombian international Juan Cuadrado and former Real Madrid player Raúl Albiol. However, a wave of injuries has also allowed head coach Alberto Gilardino, former AC Milan striker and member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup winning team, to add a Cuban flavor to the pitch.

In Francesco Coppola’s case, he comes from a very sports-oriented family. His older brothers, Domenico and Alessandro, have also been involved in football. Francesco played in Juventus’s youth system between 2019 and 2022, arriving from Torino. Nevertheless, it is in Pisa SC’s youth ranks that the now 20-year-old, 6’5″ tall center back has made his greatest progress. continue reading

It is in Pisa SC’s youth system where the now 20-year-old, 16’5″-tall center back has made his greatest progress.

In the 2023–2024 season, the young player became indispensable to the Under-19 squad, and in 2024–2025 he was sent on loan to Vis Pesaro of Serie C to gain experience at senior level. He started 35 matches in Italy’s third division and scored three goals, proving he was ready for more demanding professional challenges. Pisa had called him up for several Serie B and Serie A matches before, but his debut in Italy’s top flight did not come until the past week. On January 6, Coppola started and played the full 90 minutes in a 0–3 loss to Como, and on Saturday the 10th he came on at 90+4’ in the 2–2 draw against Udinese. Without a doubt, very important steps in his career.

Meanwhile, Brando Bettazzi is an 18-year-old left-footed attacking midfielder, physically strong, with a mother from Havana. His résumé includes six years in Empoli’s youth system. Later, in 2021, he began with the amateur club Margine Coperta, until in 2023 Pisa signed him for its Under-17 team. From 2024 to the present, he has played 38 matches with his current club’s Under-19 team in Primavera 2, scoring five goals and earning consideration for the first team. Gilardino has not yet given him his Serie A debut. In league play, he has had to watch matches from the bench. However, he was given nine minutes with the senior side on September 25 in the Coppa Italia, in a 0–1 loss to Torino.

Coppola and Bettazzi are eligible to represent the Cuban national team because their mothers were born on Cuban soil, as established by current world football regulations. Cuba, as has been reported, has relaxed its policies on calling up players born abroad to the senior national team. Nevertheless, in the cases of Francesco and Brando, early exposure to top-level football may further fuel their dream of representing their motherland.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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Without Money To Attend the U21 Handball World Cup, Cuba Plans To Summon Players Hired Abroad

The best junior handball players continue their training at the Cerro Pelado High Performance Training Center in Havana.

Everything indicates that Inder’s priority is the Junior Pan American games / Federación Mexicana de Balonmano

14ymedio, Andy Lans, Matanzas, 23 March 2025 — After Cuba’s sudden classification for the U21 Handball World Cup, to be held in Poland between June 18 and 29 of this year, sources in the sector tell 14ymedio that national participation in the event could be in danger due to lack of a budget. This has been made known to the group of young men who are preparing in Havana, without further details.

In 2024, the Cubans obtained third place in the IHF Trophy (International Handball Federation) in the category for North America and the Caribbean, which guaranteed them a ticket to the Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025. But by not accessing the final of the tournament, they were momentarily without the possibility of attending the U21 World Cup. On March 16, the champion of North America and the Caribbean, the United States, repeated the title in the Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Junior Trophy, and therefore, the classification quota to attend Poland 2025 was extended to another country, mainly because of the geographical area in question. In this case, to the bronze, Cuba.

Although the best junior handball players in the category continue their preparation at full speed at the Cerro Pelado High Performance Training Center in Havana, “they should” consider the possibility of not attending the World Cup event. Everything indicates that, for the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder), the priority is the Junior Pan American games. continue reading

Each Federation must pay 500 Swiss francs for registration in the tournament, in addition to a deposit of 5,000 francs

It would not be the first time that the sports monopoly in Cuba shows off its inability to solve the presence of its delegations in certain competitions. For example, in view of the Intercontinental Qualifier for the 2022 World League, the Women’s Waterpolo Team was notified that “there was no budget for the plane ticket.” However, after a Facebook post by Lisbeth Santana and the echo of several independent media, the money for the trip to Peru appeared as if by magic.

The code of competitions of the International Handball Federation (IHF), in its section of Junior and Youth World Cups, is transparent with respect to the economic demands of these competitions. According to Article 6, each participating federation must pay 500 Swiss francs ($566) for its registration in the tournament three months before the start of the championship, in addition to a deposit of 5,000 francs that the IHF can use to pay fees, fines or financial obligations of the corresponding federation. For their part, the organizers of the event will also charge a sum of accommodation determined by the number of members of the delegation, the days of stay and the exchange rate of the venue. And as if that were not enough, travel and visa expenses will be borne by the national federation in question.

The Cuban Handball Federation plans to “go whole hog” with the incorporation of players hired abroad

14ymedio was also able to learn that the Cuban Handball Federation plans to “go whole hog” with the incorporation of players hired abroad, if Inder gives the go-ahead from a logistical point of view. Taking into account that those eligible by age for the U21 World Cup must be between 16 and 21 years old, the most reliable options for Cuba are:

Freddy Lafontán Álvarez: 19-year-old winger of Vitória SC of the Portuguese First Division. He represented the Four Letters in the Senior World Cup held in Croatia, Denmark and Norway in 2025.

Reylán González and Jorge Abraham Luis: Both work in Artística de Avanca, also from the top Portuguese circuit. Reylán is a 20-year-old winger with a lot of activity in the first team. Jorge Abraham is signed with Porto, but he is on loan. He plays center and is 19 years old.

Translated by Regina Anavy

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