Joel Apezteguía, a Cuban standing out in San Marino

March 23, 2020

Cuban Football Lives a Moment of International Growth Thanks to Legionnaires Who Put Their Country's Name on High

Cuban football is experiencing a moment of international growth thanks to legionnaires who put their country's name on high.

Recently, the name Cavafe came out in Spain; it's no secret about Onel in the Premier; and it's impossible to overlook Alonso and Chang in the MLS. This time, the story is led by an experienced globetrotter named Joel Apezteguía. A 36-year-old forward who has been making history and breaking nets in Europe since 2008.

Apezteguía was born in Havana, in Plaza de la Revolución, where he stood out with the ball at his feet from a young age. He played for Industriales and in local futsal leagues. He had to leave his homeland for family reasons and emigrate to Europe, particularly to Spain. His arrival on the old continent was marked by economic hardships and the need to work. At 24 years old, Apezteguía worked in the port, in a bar, and played football.

Thanks to his talent and the connections that abound in the sport, he managed to sign with different local and international clubs. He played for modest Spanish teams, from Moldova, Albania, and San Marino, always being a star player and goal scorer.

After eight years of changing leagues, Apezteguía arrived at Italian football. He played for Fano, Gassino, Chisola, and Anconitana. In three of them he stood out and is remembered as an unstoppable goal scorer and tireless worker. The forward remembers his time as "something very beautiful," always keeping in mind his great scoring records. In his last year in calcio, he scored 21 goals playing as a winger—a position that doesn't come naturally to him.

In 2018, the Cuban goal scorer returned to San Marino football after not renewing with Anconitana. There, Apezteguía has written his name in gold letters in the history of Tre Fiori. He is one of the team's top goal scorers in the last two seasons. In fact, he was the second-best scorer of last season's tournament. In the current league, he has a total of nine goals. Furthermore, with the Three Flowers team he won the San Marino Cup and the Super Cup, contributing important goals. And if that weren't enough, Apezteguía is the first Cuban to play in a UEFA Europa League match.

It's always difficult to talk about calling up legionnaires to the Cuban national team. The decisions of Cuba's Federation make their call to the island team a titanic mission. However, Apezteguía has been one of those players who, at least, have been sounded out by the leaders to be able to wear his country's colors. Despite the approaches, the call-up has not materialized. Will there be time to see him wearing the shirt of The Lions of the Caribbean?