Cuba Calls in Arozarena for Gold Cup Qualifying
Published on June 28, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
ST PETERSBURG, Fla - Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena has been named to the Cuba Men's National Team squad that will take part in the last stage of Concacaf Gold Cup Qualifying in July.
Arozarena will travel to South Florida this Thursday to join the Cuban national team camp ahead of the team's match against French Guiana on Saturday, July 3 at DRV PNK Stadium is Fort Lauderdale. Should Cuba win that match, it would advance to face the winner of Montserrat and Trinidad and Tobago on July 6. That match would also be played in Fort Lauderdale and would determine one of the three remaining open slots for this year's Gold Cup tournament, which is set to kick off on July 10.
This is Arozarena's first time being called up by Cuba's senior national team, though he has spent time with the country's U-20s squad in the past.
"I'm so happy for the opportunity" said Arozarena. "I can't wait to be there with the national team. I was waiting for this for so long. The rumors started like three years ago but I'm so happy now because it's finally official."
Arozarena, 24, has yet to make an appearance for the Rowdies since signing for the club in March. He was the last player to join the Rowdies in the off-season but has impressed enough to earn a spot on the bench every match so far this USL Championship season. Prior to joining to the Rowdies, Arozarena was with C.F. Cafetaleros de Chiapas and Venados FC in the third tier of Mexican soccer. Before he and his family moved from Cuba to Mexico, Arozarena also played for his hometown team Pinar Del Rio.
Arozarena is the younger brother of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, who became a star in his first year with the Major League Baseball club in 2020 when he set postseason records for hits and homeruns and was named MVP of the American League Championship Series. Randy and Raiko each played baseball and soccer as kids growing up in Cuba before committing to their respective sports fulltime. The older brother left Cuba at 19 to play professional baseball in Mexico, with Raiko and the rest of the family following soon after that.
The Rowdies return to Al Lang Stadium this Friday to kick off the Fourth of July weekend against the Charleston Battery. Charleston sits sixth in the Atlantic Division standings but have won three of their last four and will be looking to make a statement against the first-place Rowdies. Following the final whistle of Friday's match, fans will be treated to a fireworks show hosted by the Rowdies.
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