The baseball game between the Matanzas Cocodrilos and Camagüey Toros, scheduled as part of the National Baseball Series, was abruptly called off this Tuesday due to a theft at the stadium. This incident has been labeled as "unacceptable" by sports officials and both teams involved.
Local sources such as Radio Cadena Agramonte and the official page La Banda Yumurina reported that unauthorized individuals entered the Matanzas team’s dugout and locker room before the match commenced. They executed a deliberate raid, leaving several players without their personal belongings and sports gear.
"This was not a minor theft; it was a deliberate plundering that left several players completely stripped of their essentials," stated a release from La Banda Yumurina. The report emphasized that "some athletes were left with literally nothing, except for the uniforms they wore during warm-up."
Items stolen included custom gloves, bats, protective gear, sports shoes, mobile phones, wallets, and personal items of significant sentimental value, confirmed journalist Luis Carlos Céspedes Fernández from the Cadena Agramonte station.
In response, the Matanzas team management, along with sports authorities, decided to immediately suspend the game, arguing that the athletes were neither mentally nor materially prepared to play following the incident.
"You cannot ask an athlete to perform at their best on the field after their most private spaces have been violated," the statement added.
Both the Yumuri team management and fans have demanded a thorough investigation to find those responsible and to enhance security measures at stadiums across the country. This call for action comes at a time when Cuban baseball is facing a significant institutional and infrastructural crisis.
Key Questions on the Matanzas Stadium Incident
What was stolen during the Matanzas stadium theft?
Personalized gloves, bats, protective gear, sports shoes, mobile phones, wallets, and items with high sentimental value were stolen from the players.
Why was the Matanzas vs. Camagüey game suspended?
The game was suspended because the players were emotionally and materially unprepared to compete following the theft of their belongings.