CAMAGÜEY.- The good debut of the Camagüey's player Lisbeth Santana and her goals gave the Waterpolo club 9802, its most recent victory against Zaragoza, in the second division of water polo in Spain, “where we come to show the potential of Cuban polo, and today we put the seasoning of our country ", confessed via WhatsApp the former member of the Cuban national team.

The details of her foray into this professional league in Europe lead us to understand the potential of the athletes of the Caribbean Archipelago, especially in a sport that shone at the regional level in the 1980s of the previous century. Here it is played a little differently in terms of tactics, faster, more mobile, while in America it is more physical, maybe dirtier, ”she highlighted.

At 29 years of age and with an extensive curriculum that includes participation in Pan American and Central American Games and different jousts on the continent, Santana became the most experienced player on the Spanish team, “although the reception of the young women has been fantastic, in addition to the coach and the president, ”she says in a tone of complacency and gratitude.

For the athlete, the support of her husband Giraldo Carales, Camagüey's player of Waterpolo Navarra, of the PREMAAT league of the Iberian nation, and with whom she also shared membership in the Cuban national team for more than five years.

“Supporting each other and being critical from the constructive point of view is fundamental, we analyze the possibilities of each one from the tactical order and we see how much we can contribute to each team, we have built a relationship that lasts more than a decade. Having us is a blessing; also our daughter Ainhoa ​​unites us a lot, she has been the most precious asset ”.

Santana does not renounce the aspirations of becoming a first division player "where there is a good level, but I focus on playing with humility and learning from each game, I have yet to adapt to the culture, and take the signs quickly, as I am just beginning" .

She states that the claw of Cuban polo players is highly valued.

"I wish we had a greater academic, methodological and professional exchange, that the insertion of Cuban exponents increases and this would give our country a bonus," she declared.

Regardless of tactical issues and game adjustments, for Lisbeth Santana absorbing the best of water polo in Spain, and showing all the potential of the Cuban game, is a daily premise, "in the desire to grow as an athlete and as a person," she concluded.

• Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez