Learning to co-exist

According to official figures, soccer clubs have a membership of 25,000, while 46,000 are registered with baseball clubs.

"Baseball is the national sport and no one is going to change that," said soccer coach Mederos. But he stressed "we have to learn how to co-exist with baseball" as is the case in neighboring countries Venezuela and Panama.

Hit by defections and a lack of international competition, the Cuban national soccer team has been on the wane since 2004, when it drew home and away with Costa Rica, one of the Caribbean region's best teams.

But as it prepares to participate in the US Gold Cup in 2019, there are signs that attitudes are changing among Cuba's sports administrators.

The National Institute of Sport, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER) is gradually opening the door to athletes who emigrated and remain active, and no longer uses words like "traitor" or "deserter" when referring to exiled players.

For the first time, INDER has given approval for Mederos to include foreign-based players in the national team. Other sports are looking on with interest.

It's a move that could eventually pave the way for some of the island's other sporting exiles to return.

Coach Mederos believes it's a move in the right direction. "We're taking positive steps," he said.

Agence France-Presse