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SALT LAKE CITY — The Cuban National Soccer Team was in Salt Lake on Friday night, but former countryman Yordany Alvarez isn't with them. He's in Dallas where Real Salt Lake plays on Saturday.
Several years ago Alvarez was part of the Cuban soccer program. Until one night he made a break for freedom.
For Alvarez life is a series of moments in time that now have taken him to a new place.
"My dream come true, yeah I'm happy because I'm playing in the MLS," Alvarez said.
The moment that changed everything was five years ago at a hotel in Tampa, Florida. Alvarez had a plan and the plan was to be put into action following an Olympic qualifying game against the U.S.
Five Cuban teammates were going to make a run for it.
"We were trying to get out through the back door," Alvarez said via an interpreter.
My mom, when I called my mom after I'm here in the U.S.A., I called my mom and my mom's crying, 'why'd you do it, you can never go back.' Nobody in my family, nobody knew.
–Yordany Alvarez after leaving Cuba
Alvarez and teammates turned a corner and saw the door for freedom, but couldn't open it.
What Alvarez was leaving behind was a world frozen in time. A Cuba with a rigid economy and a socialist mantra, but he also left family. Alvarez said he left family, playing with your country or everything.
"Think of the sacrifice of leaving your family and knowing you may never see them again," said Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey. "That to me is incredible. I hope our country still has the ability to afford new immigrants a chance at success, a shot at the American Dream. Hopefully playing professional sports is the first steps for Yordany."
But first he had to get out of that Tampa hotel. Waiting out front was a teammate's grandfather who was about to get a surprise. He thought it was just going to be one guy — then five came out. His teammate just said that's my grandpa, everybody get in.
What about Alvarez's family that he left behind in Cuba?
"My mom, when I called my mom after I'm here in the U.S.A., I called my mom and my mom's crying, 'why'd you do it, you can never go back,'" Alvarez said. "Nobody in my family, nobody knew."
It was a tough secret to keep leaving from his family, but no one knew that he was leaving. However, his family wasn't that mad. Alvarez said that his family wasn't mad, but said, "good for me, you make that decision, it's your decision."
That decision eventually lead Alvarez to Real Salt Lake, after stints with lesser teams and a few tryouts with other MLS clubs. Now he's getting noticed.
"It's like a new beginning," Alvarez said.
While playing for the Cuban National team Alvarez said he was making around $8-10 per month. Now when he goes to the grocery store he still just buys what he needs, "get in, get out."
Saturday will have the Cuban National Team takes the pitch U.S. Men's National Team, which includes Kyle Beckerman — the man Alvarez backs up for RSL.
Had that moment in Tampa not happened, Alvarez would likely be playing that match for his country. Was it worth it?
"A little bit," Alvarez said, then added. "It's a lot, it's a lot."
