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Two Cuban Soccer Players Go Missing From Virginia Hotel
posted 4:13 pm Sun October 12, 2008
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CRYSTAL CITY, Va. - Two Cuban soccer players have gone missing from a Crystal City hotel.
Sources say the two disappeared Friday from the Double Tree Hotel and have been missing for more than 24 hours.
On Saturday night, while Cuban fans cheered on their national team at RFK stadium, some fans, like Liana Miranda, couldn't help but wonder where two of the team's icons vanished to. It is believed 24-year-old Pedro Faife and 26-year-old Reynier Alcantara defected soon after the team arrived in the D.C. Area.
According to sources close to the team, the Cuban soccer team checked into the Crystal City hotel Friday afternoon and that is when Cuban coach Reinhold Franz noticed the players were gone, missing a final practice that night. The two men never showed up for the much-anticipated world cup qualifier against the United States Saturday night.
According to American policy, refugees who escape the communist island of Cuba are granted asylum once they reach U.S. Grounds, a policy D.C.'s Latino Liaison, Ted Loza considers unfair to other nations.
Cuba diplomats, dawning their nations colors, refused to comment about the apparent defection; however, the Pearson Family, visiting from Chicago, empathizes with the Cuban stars. "We are so proud to be American. I can see why...but after what the stock market did last week they better think again," Kevin Pearson said.
Sources say the two disappeared Friday from the Double Tree Hotel and have been missing for more than 24 hours.
On Saturday night, while Cuban fans cheered on their national team at RFK stadium, some fans, like Liana Miranda, couldn't help but wonder where two of the team's icons vanished to. It is believed 24-year-old Pedro Faife and 26-year-old Reynier Alcantara defected soon after the team arrived in the D.C. Area.
According to sources close to the team, the Cuban soccer team checked into the Crystal City hotel Friday afternoon and that is when Cuban coach Reinhold Franz noticed the players were gone, missing a final practice that night. The two men never showed up for the much-anticipated world cup qualifier against the United States Saturday night.
According to American policy, refugees who escape the communist island of Cuba are granted asylum once they reach U.S. Grounds, a policy D.C.'s Latino Liaison, Ted Loza considers unfair to other nations.
Cuba diplomats, dawning their nations colors, refused to comment about the apparent defection; however, the Pearson Family, visiting from Chicago, empathizes with the Cuban stars. "We are so proud to be American. I can see why...but after what the stock market did last week they better think again," Kevin Pearson said.
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ABC 7 Talkback: Two Cuban Soccer Players Go Missing From Virginia Hotel
watergrrl
6:15 pm on 10/12/08
d-e-f-e-c-t-i-o-n
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