CUBA - German connection

[Frank Cunha]

THE GERMAN CONNECTION  Reinhold Fanz coaches Cuba -- for free

Sept. 2, 2008
THE GERMAN CONNECTION
Reinhold Fanz coaches Cuba -- for free



By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

Miami -- The man who directs the fortunes of Cuba's National Team has is coaching the team for free and has some lofty goals for a team that hasn't reached the World Cup in 70 years. German native and coach Reinhold Fanz wants his side to play in South Africa in 2010.

He already has conceded the first two CONCACAF slots to the U.S. and Mexico.

"We want to take the next place, taking a leading role in the Caribbean ahead of Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica and Guatemala," he recently told the German media.

The Cubans dropped a 3-1 home decision to Trinidad Aug. 20, so Fanz and his team will have its work cut out for themselves when they host the U.S. in a vital World Cup qualifier Saturday.

"These boys are hungry," Fanz said. "They want to play at a World Cup."

Fanz respects the Americans, but realizes it will be difficult to come away with a victory.

"We will try to cause trouble to the U.S.," he said. "They are the most professional team. We probably can not stop them, but we can make it difficult to them to build up their game. Our aim is not focussed on the result, but on our on quality of play, how we solve the tactical tasks.

"To play the US will not only be a big challenge, but a highlight in Cuban soccer."

Fanz expects a big crowd at Pedro Marrero Stadium in Havana. He added that Cuba president Raoul Castro, who replaced his ailing brother Fidel in February, is expected to watch the game.

"I don't think that there will [be] any problems," he said. "I don't think these games will instrumentalized politically."

Baseball is the favorite sport in Cuba, but Fanz said he has seen a rise in the quality of play and spectator interest.

Soccer aficionados have nicknamed the team, "the Lions of the Caribbean," Fanz said.

"Soccer is on the way to become a people's game," he added. "Baseball is still No. 1, but soccer is coming close already. The self confidence is rising."

The team has lost good players the past several years. Chivas USA striker Maykel Galindo jumped ship when the National Team played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Seattle in 2005. Seven players from the Under-23 team defected to the U.S. during the Olympic qualifying tournament in Tampa in March.

But Fanz predicted no player will leave the team. The Cubans play the Americans in Washington, D.C. Oct. 11.

"Nobody will leave the country and the team," he said. "This team has a team spirit and the aim to reach the World Cup."

Fanz's German club, German Bonner SC, loaned him to the Cuba Soccer Association in February. He is not being paid by Cuba, except for his travel and living expenses.

Fanz said he doesn't smoke cigars, but he said he likes a Cuba libre -- a highball made of cola, lime and rum.

He got the got when a former Bonner SC president with close Cuban connections of Bonner SC asked Fanz whether he wanted the job.

He did and the team got past Antigua and Barbada in the CONCACAF second round in June, winning 4-3 and 4-0.

Ranked 80th by FIFA (the U.S. is No. 31), the team has lacked discipline.

"That's why the FA decided for German coaches," Fanz said. "Due to fact that Cuban players are not allowed to go abroad, the quality of play is limted. But there is a certain spirit in the team now."

Fanz held a pair of of training camps in Germany, the first in the southern part of the country May 5 for several weeks and then in the north in July for three weeks.

He invited the team to his house in Ehlershausen for coffee.

Fanz said the "main task was to form a team out of individuals. Tactical work in offense and defense under a change of air, new fresh air instead of local. We needed to get out of Caribbean to get new challenges in a different surrounding"

Prior to taking over the coaching reins in March, Fanz took a look at the players.

"There [is] good potential," he said. "I saw lots of individual skills. To work with this team is an interesting challenge for me."

Fanz's remarks came from DPA, Frankfurter Allgemeine online, Nordhannoversche Zeitung and from interviews with German football journalist Rainer Hennes.