Goal Factory: 

Amid the excitement of the World Cup in Russia, a group of boys train –in the minor categories- for the national finals of the most universal of the sports. 

They have put up their headquarters in the best possible place. The Provincial Football Academy has the best possible conditions required for a preparation; they are also quite close to “La Bombonera”, leading stadium of this sport in Artemisa.

Founded in 1990 -thanks to the support of FIFA- and located on the outskirts of San Cristóbal; one of the squares with the longest tradition in Cuban football. It was the main architect of the great triumphs of Pinar del Río football of yesteryear; and the incipient results of Artemisa, as the national subtitle sub 23 last year. 

“This institution has the objective of preparing athletes over 17 years old, with the physical and technical conditions to integrate our preselection. We divided them into two categories, under 23 and older, and from there we made up the teams for the national championships,” declared Carlos Manuel Moreno, director of the Academy. Our province rejoices to have a facility to prepare its high-performance football players, and also raise their level within this exciting world;it is located in a middle point between Havana and Pinar del Río; this facilitates the preparation encountersbetween those two strong rivals. 

“The location also allows us to build training bases on ‘La Altura Beach’ in Bahía Honda and ‘Soroa’ hills. Today the squad is 25 players under 23 and 15 older; so young people are the base of our teams”, adds Moreno 

"The accommodation and food conditions for athletes are not optimal, but we can classify them as good. The provincial authorities give us all their support in this regard; as well as in transportation," explains Pablo Sainz Morales, deputy director of the facility. 

The Goal Project and the future. 

With funds from the FIFA Goal Project, this facility was set up in its early days. The director explains that everything that needed foreign currency to buy was provided by the International Federation.Now they have taken up that policy for the necessary repairs. 

"The promotion of women's football in the territory is also in the plans. There is willingness on both sides to build new dormitories for the girls; once again they will facilitate the equipment, but the construction work would be carried out by us and with our resources; therefore we must wait for its approval by the Government,” adds Moreno. 

FIFA demands that all the resources delivered by them reach the athletes and improve their living conditions; therefore they cannot be used for civil works. "We still have a large part of the donations made at our opening," recalls the director. 

After maintenance received during 2016-which did not cover everything necessary- they hope the installation of ceramics in bathrooms and kitchens, and also the electrical system may be included in the economy plan in the coming years; as well as the arrangement of all the deteriorated carpentry. 

Good results today, better tomorrow. 

The aspiration of the managers and coaches of the Academy is to provide all possible conditions to their athletes; so that they only care about their sports performance. Little by little, the work has paid off: the silver medal of the sub 23 and the classification to the first division -a couple of years ago- demonstrate it.

For the next course, they already have the necessary balls for training, and footwear for boys is guaranteed; although the quality is very bad. "In this sport shoes are broken very often, we do not aspire to professional footwear, but we want the shoes to last as long as possible; since only a pair is givenfor a year," explains Pablo Sainz. 

Sainz himself-who directed the province's teams in national tournaments-, assures that -after the work of these years- a great result is to come for football in Artemisa; since: “the base of our team is the sub 23 and they already had theirs. Little by little, they will continue gaining level”. 

This is also predicted by Esteban Martínez-one of the coaches-, because he trusts on the quality of his boys; and says a sample is that 11 have been selected as reinforcements, among the first division teams. 

With many challenges ahead, encouragement and certainty of triumphs; the coaches and workers of the Provincial Football Academy do not rest in their efforts to train better football players; capable of the most beautiful gambits and the best goals for Artemisa.

Text: Osnel Velasco Hernández.