For Sara Ferrara traveling to Cuba is more than just a matter of a succulent holiday. This Italian, born in Sardinia 44 years ago, found one of his great passions in the baseball that is played on the Caribbean island, and whenever she can escape her job duties she comes to discuss in any stadium about balls and strikes.
She says it all started in 1998 when she was living in Belgium and married a Cuban man. "One of the things that my husband missed the most was baseball and he was always expecting. For my part, of baseball I knew only the basics, thanks to two Nicaraguan friends I had in college. They practiced the sport and even one of them used to coach a Belgian team coached as a hobby ".
Ferrara speaks Spanish as fluently as if she had been born in Hispanic lands, and I venture to add that she even adds some of the accent typical of the island. "For the Athens 2004 Olympic Games I wanted to surprise my partner and booked all the Cuba team matches. Even from before we had a connection with Carlos Tabares and there we could share with the whole team. Then I started a great friendship with Michel Enriquez, star player of the Isle of Youth. "
Sara becomes just another Cuban woman as she sits in the Latin American Stadium, with total attention to the field, her skin burnt by the heat of the tropics, cheering good plays, criticizing mistakes and sharing a strategic review.
"After that experiences in Athens I followed the Cuba team to all international events. I got divorced but I never lost the passion baseball. I keep two moments with greater satisfaction. The first is the World Cup held in 2009 in several European cities where I was the translator of Cubans in the Italian stage. The second is the First World Classic in 2006. I booked directly to San Diego, I was not at the stage of Puerto Rico because I knew I would be in the Pettco Park. They didn’t disappoint me. The boys took a shock when they saw me. But, in the Classic II they left me alone in Los Angeles because they reached the final round. Now, in the next (March 2013), I will go to Japan. "
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The nice Italian woman makes it clear from the very first moment. "Those who at first were my baseball friends now are my family. I come to Cuba two or three times a year. This is the third consecutive year that I spend with Michel and his family. My parents died and since I met Michel’s father we created a strong attraction. This player is like my brother. Also I have excellent relations with the catcher Yulexis La Rosa from Villa Clara. In the Cuba team I have several godchildren. First baseman Jose Dariel Abreu Cienfuegos says I’m his second mom. "
Paradoxically Ferrara does not like football. "The sport of goals and dribbling is little bright and colorful, especially the one played in Italy, pure defense and clashes. However, baseball is more fun, has more situations, increased stress, you have to think more strategies and keep interest until the end. "
Those who know Sara up close say she has a lot of goodness, and it’s true. After a bit of conversation she seems to be an acquaintance of a lifetime. The Italian, who lives in Luxembourg for work, has always reserved a place in the last palyoffs of the National Series. I remember seeing her almost a year ago in Ciego de Avila, sitting in the José Ramón Cepero stadium, with total attention to the field, cheering good plays, criticizing mistakes and sharing strategic reviews. Sara is another Cuban. Congratulations!
