After folding from immense pressure from the Cuban government and its sport entities, the Colombian government will not allow FEPCUBE (Federation of Cuban Professional Players) to use the colors of Cuba, it’s anthem or the words,”Patria y Vida (Homeland and Life) on its jersey. The team will instead play under the moniker of the “Dream Team”, because the Colombian government and sports ministry said they would not allow the team primarily comprised of Cuban exiles and Cuban-Americans to any of the things associated with Cuba stated above.
The late-great José Martí must be rolling over in his grave because of the latest display by that government in largest of the Antilles of not only abuse of power but sheer cowardice, which is nothing new for that abusive regime, it is what the Cuban people in exile and on the island have been dealing for the last 60-plus years. What surprises me more is that a so-called democracy like Colombia agreeing with and fulfilling the wishes of the outlaw regime in Havana.
In what seems to be another despotic and irrational move from the regime 90 miles away, it will once not allow a band if its citizens to fly the flag or sing its anthem simply because they do not agree with the country’s politics. The communist island pulled this same stunt on July 26th in Japan when it denied Robeisy Ramirez the right to wear the flag on his trunks and enter the ring with the Cuban national anthem. Does Cuba have the authority and legality to do such a thing? Well in its allied country like Colombia it does, unfortunately.
The @fepcube team has just announced that its new name will be the Dream Team, they will play under that name in Colombia in the @ipbseries.#FEPCUBE #CubanBaseballDigest pic.twitter.com/CSqx4uYFuL
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 13, 2024
The Co-founder of our sister page Pelota Cubana, Yordano Carmona said it best when he uttered these key word, “It is incredible that the tentacles of the Cuban dictatorship can reach so far.” The tournament will run from the 25 of January to the first of February. Six teams will be present in the Series, representing the leagues of Colombia, Curacao, South Korea, Japan and the United States, in addition to the participation of the FEPCUBE.
There will be three games per day, the first contest will start at 9:00 a.m., the second at 2:00 p.m. and the third at 7:00 p.m. The FEPCUBE team will play its first three games in the afternoon slot at approximately (02:00 p.m.) against the teams from Japan, Korea and the United States; Then they will clash against the host country Colombia on January 29th (07:00 p.m.) and will close the qualifying stage of the tournament against Curacao (02:00 p.m.). The top four teams will face off in the semifinals and winners of those contests will face-off in the tournament’s championship game.