The Holguín Sultans baseball team, who recently secured second place in the Champions Club Tournament, faced a challenging ordeal on their journey back home from Pinar del Río. Their bus broke down in the middle of the night, leaving them stranded.
Around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, the delegation was left waiting at kilometer 299 of the Central Highway, near Fomento, Sancti Spíritus. This was reported by the sports group Somos los Cachorros de Holguín on Facebook. From that moment, the players were without water, food, or communication while they awaited a resolution that, according to authorities, depended on the availability of fuel to send another bus.
This incident compounded the challenges the Sultans have recently faced. Upon arriving in Pinar del Río for the finals, the players were met with inadequate accommodation arrangements. Due to poor organization, key players had to pay for private lodging, while the rest of the team and coaching staff stayed in basic conditions at the stadium's dormitories.
The same Facebook page later shared that the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) in Sancti Spíritus intervened to assist the team, providing them with food, water, and refreshments. However, there was no update on whether a solution for transportation had been achieved.
This predicament highlights the logistical shortcomings plaguing Cuban baseball, even at its highest levels, in a nation grappling with a severe systemic crisis.
Challenges Facing Cuban Baseball Teams
What caused the Holguín Sultans to be stranded?
The Holguín Sultans were stranded due to their bus breaking down on the highway, compounded by a lack of immediate logistical support to send another vehicle.
How did the team cope with accommodation issues during the tournament?
Key players had to pay for private accommodations due to inadequate lodging arrangements, while the rest stayed in basic conditions at the stadium's dormitories.
What assistance did INDER provide to the stranded team?
INDER provided the Holguín Sultans with food, water, and refreshments, although transportation issues remained unresolved at that time.