Cuba to be in 'top form' in Toronto to recover continental title

Cuban baseball team are preparing to recover the first place in Canada's Panamerican Games in July, said coach Roger Machado.

"The team will be on top form and ready to face the challenge of recovering the continental title," said Machado to digital publication Cubadebate on Thursday.

The Cuban coach, who took up the reigns May 21, showed he was happy with his teams' training sessions which have been taking place in Havana's Latin American Stadium.

Machado confirmed there are no injuries among the shortlisted team members and he added that they are currently working on correcting tactical weaknesses such as runners advancing in bases, the run from second to home and the reaction speed when the opposing team throw the ball.

"It is a good group but they lack competitive experience (...) and they suffer with speed," said Machado.

Machado added that as part of the preparation process, the team will have some friendly games against a team from Nicaragua on June 20 and 25 in Cuba.

They will also play a friendly against U.S. university students planned to take place between July 1 and 6 in Northern Carolina, U.S.

From the U.S. the team will then travel to Toronto where the Panamerican Games will take place.

Cuba hopes their national baseball team will re-take the title in Toronto which they lost in the last Panamerican Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011. The Canadians currently hold this title.

The baseball tournament will take place between July 11 and 19. Colombia, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the United States will all be competing alongside Cuba and Canada for the title. Endi