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Screensize: 640 x 480 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 UserName: Password: Format Mode: Basic  Help  Prompt  Format: Font Andale Mono Arial Arial Black Book Antiqua Century Gothic Comic Sans MS Courier New Georgia Impact Lucida Console Script MT Bold Stencil Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana   Size 1 2 3 4 5 6   Color Black Red Yellow Pink Green Orange Purple Blue Beige Brown Teal Navy Maroon LimeGreen Message: * HTML is OFF * Forum Code is ON Smilies [quote][i]Originally posted by Karl[/i] [br]Cuba Miguel Company: "We aim to excel" (FIFA.com) 5 Aug 2003 For so long overshadowed by baseball, football is gaining ground in Cuba. Their successful outing at last month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup has given the beautiful game a real boost in the Caribbean island nation. On the eve of the Panamerican Games, Cuba’s Peruvian coach Miguel Company spoke to FIFA.com about their run in the regional showpiece tournament, gave a frank assessment of the challenges ahead and a fascinating insight into Cuba’s growing interest for the game. FIFA.com: What conclusions do you draw from your side’s qualification for the Gold Cup? Miguel Company: Well, I should point out that this was our third appearance, so any conclusions are made in comparison with past experience. In 1998, we did not get through to the second phase and failed to make an impression. Three years later, in 2001, we were a bit better - not in terms of the results, but in the way we played. We found a style and an identity for ourselves. What we achieved this time round is very positive because the side showed its ambition by winning its first match and qualifying for the quarter-finals. What was the atmosphere like in the dressing room after you qualified for the quarters? Joyous. This side is full of young players who know that all victories come at a price. For Cuba it was a very important result because we aim to excel, and that’s never easy. Did the game with the United States have any special significance? Not at all. We approached it from a purely sporting perspective. We went onto the pitch intent on playing with honour and I think we did that. Don’t forget we were beaten by a side that has played in the last four World Cups. Which of your players surprised you with his performances ? I don’t think you can pick out one name. Three come to mind: Odelín Molina, Pedro Faifé and Maikel Galindo Castañeda. How would you describe the Cuban style of football? Football is an illustration of people’s lives and feelings. That’s why I am attempting to get this side to play with a sensitivity that is typically Cuban. We like to put the ball on the deck and keep hold of it. If our opponents push us back, we try to be organised in defence and not panic as small teams tend to do. How do you assess the state of football on the island? We are in a period where the game is developing and gaining in popularity. Football is now part of most people’s daily lives. The domestic championship is longer than before, and kids are starting to kick footballs around in the street. Now is the time to train the youngsters and improve their technique. What is the Cuban football infrastructure like? We are lucky enough to have training pitches and, to be honest, we are not lacking in footballs. We have premises where we can conduct training courses. But we don’t have the same facilities as other countries. However, we make up for it with our behaviour. Discipline is never a problem. What is the schedule after the Gold Cup? We’re taking an inexperienced side to the Panamerican Games to begin with, and then it’s the Olympic qualifying tournament. We will retain a group of youngsters from those sides and blend them with the more experienced players to put a team together for the Germany 2006 qualifiers. Cuba at a FIFA World Cup™. Is that a pipe dream? We know it will be difficult because there a lot of countries vying for only three places, including the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica. But we all have dreams, and you have to fight to make them come true. [/quote]   Check here to include your profile signature.