Osvaldo Alonso - Defection changed Cuban's soccer player life forever

KURTIS LARSON, QMI Agency

Former Cuban international Osvaldo Alonso walked into a new life five years ago.
In a decision that changed his world forever, the Seattle Sounder, who travelled with Cuba to the U.S. ahead of 2007’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, quite literally walked away from his country and family — two things that matter most to one of Major League Soccer’s top holding midfielders, who to this day wishes he could play for “his country” in tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Canada at BMO Field.
“We went to buy stuff for our families,” Alonso said of the day he defected at a Houston-area Walmart, just before the islanders were set to play Honduras in the region’s continental tournament. “I saw the opportunity to walk away, so I did it.”
After starting Cuba’s two prior group matches — a 2-1 loss to Mexico and a 2-2 draw against Panama — Alonso failed to show at Reliant Stadium ahead of Cuba’s final group game.
“My plan was to stay in the U.S.,” Alonso said. “I found somebody in the street. I asked if they spoke Spanish ... I asked to speak on the phone and I called a friend in Miami.” More >>