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Mexico's Santos recruit 4 players from Cuba

Xinhua, November 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Reigning champions of the Mexican League, Santos Laguna, have signed four players from Cuba's national team after losing to the Caribbean nation in a friendly match here, local media reported on Sunday. 

   From December, forward Maykel Reyes, midfielder Arichel Hernandez, defender Adrian Diz Pe and goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez will join the Mexican side, Alejandro Irarragorri, president of Santos Laguna, told Cuban media.

   They all gave a good performance in the match on Saturday where Cuba beat the Mexican club 1-0. 

   Irarragorri highlighted the four selected players' strength and for that reason he hoped to see them in Santos Laguna's colors soon. He also hoped these signings would open the door for future recruiting. 

   A good biotype, high level of instruction, happiness and a good attitude are all virtues that Cubans and all good footballers possess, according to the Santos president. 

   Santos Laguna, coached by Spaniard Pako Ayestaran, are the heavyweights of the Mexican first division even though this season they haven't been doing well as they are currently in 16th position out of 18 teams with three victories, five draws and eight defeats. 

   Despite Saturday's defeat, Santos Laguna made history as the first Mexican club to visit Cuba since 1947, when Leon played in the same stadium. 

   The Cuban team is preparing for the upcoming clash with Panama on Jan. 8 in the Central American nation, looking to secure their place in the 2016 Centennial Copa America tournament to be held in the United States in June. 

   On Sunday, the Cubans set off for Nicaragua where they will play two more preparation matches and then they will move onto Costa Rica. 

   With the Santos signings, this is the first time that soccer players from the Caribbean island have been contracted by a professional club abroad. 

   Cuba began allowing foreign professional clubs to hire their athletes two years ago. It is now authorized for sports such as baseball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling.

   Canada, Argentina, El Salvador, Uruguay, Greece and Germany, among other countries have all benefited from this new authorization.  Endi