While the chances were slim and depended on the performance of other teams, Villa Clara managed to improve their position “match by match”. Proving to be unstoppable in their progress over a total of 18 weekend matches, the team was crowned National Champion for the fourteenth time, ratifying its position as the winner of the greatest number of titles in the history of soccer in Cuba.
Throughout the competition, Villa Clara was hot on the heels of Guantánamo and Havana, the leading teams for most of the tournament, who continuously alternated at the top, but were unable to definitively secure first place.
For a long time, Villa Clara remained in fourth place in the league. It was during the 16th match of the season that the team briefly took the top spot, but a resounding 0-5 defeat a week later against the outgoing champion, Camagüey, saw the team move back down to third place, two points below Havana and one behind Guantánamo.
But the instability of these two teams during the concluding stage, together with a pending score to settle against a weak Isle of Youth squad, was the necessary formula for the central region of Villa Clara to reach the summit of Cuban soccer.
On the pitch of the El Rodeo de Nueva Gerona stadium, in the capital of the Isle of Youth Special Municipality, Villa Clara’s eleven secured a 0-0 draw against the host, enough to take first place with 36 points. Guantánamo finished with the same total, but Villa Clara took the trophy given its two victories over this team from the easternmost end of the island (2-2 and 2-0).
The renewed squad, in which some historic names no longer feature, had the goal of finishing among the top three of the national soccer tournament. While the first part of the season did not bring the expected results, their performance during the second half was remarkable.
The success of the squad coached by Idalberto Raúl Mederos centered on a group of players who excelled at the right time. One of these, the talented midfielder Arichel Hernández, fulfilled his responsibility to organize the offense, as well as contributing six goals.
But the biggest star was 21-year old Yoelvis González, with a total of eight goals. The midfield efforts of Osmani Capote and Roberney Caballero were also notable, with the latter providing the winning goal in the 18th match against Granma (1-0).
Second place Guantánamo also deserves recognition, having demonstrated the sustained growth of soccer in the province in recent years, with already visible results. While the team’s best players (Hanier Dranguet, Alexei “El loco” Zuaznábar, Alián Urgellés and Yudiniel Basil) are over 30 years of age, they retain the necessary talent to achieve new successes, as long as they are accompanied by young and promising figures, such is the case of forward Randy Valier, who provided a total of six goals during the championship.
For the fourth consecutive time, Havana took third place, demonstrating its competitive persistence in recent years. However, third position leaves its supporters somewhat dissatisfied, who watched on as the cup slipped through their fingers during the final clashes at home.
The most negative aspects of this championship were the performances of Camagüey and Cienfuegos, champion and runner-up of the previous tournament, respectively, who played well below expectations.
Cienfuegos finished at the very bottom of the league and will be relegated to the second division for the coming season. Meanwhile, Camagüey’s spot in the first division is hanging by a thread. The team needs the Isle of Youth to lose their postponed match against Santiago de Cuba which, incredibly, is still lacking a fixed date. It is worth mentioning that this match has been postponed twice already due to problems regarding transportation to the Isle.
Should the Isle of Youth secure the three points against Santiago, Camagüey would fall to eighth place, meaning relegation, and the conclusion of a tournament that has proved very close from start to finish.
