Throughout the history of Cuban revolutionary sport, many men and women have contributed to sports development through voluntary activism. Andrés Almaguer Rodríguez, is one of them.
This man, with his hair dyed over the years and with a wealth of experience in this activity, brings us closer to his more than half a century dedicated to voluntary sports activism.
How do you become an activist?
I began in 1964. In the first years after the triumph of the Revolution, despite the goverment's impulse to the sport, very few teachers were linked to it through physical education or other activity. I was always a lover of practicing some sports and had knowledge of baseball, our national sport. I had participated in national school events and that gave me some advantage; I was just a child, but my classmates saw me as a teacher and so I began.
In those early years, what were your main activities?
Fundamentally we worked in the neighborhoods with baseball that was a passion for all Cubans, although we also collaborated with the preparation of volleyball players that was another activity with many fans, in addition to recreation.
Did you receive support from the sports authorities?
Yes, of course, at that time everything was for regions, but here we will always have to talk about Orlando Proenza, a man who carried the sport in the blood, also began as an activist and ended up being director here after the political-administrative division. He knew, because he had lived it in his own flesh, that activism was fundamental for sports development and therefore he supported us unconditionally.
How did sports activism help your professional training?
I owe everything, both academic training and responsibility. The activism help me to reach the Degree in Physical Culture. I have been part of the most important results of the sport in this municipality and that fills me with pride and satisfaction.
Today, even though you are graduated in physical culture, you are still tied to this activity?
I think I will only stop being an activist when death prevents me, I am 67 years old, and I only think about Sunday when it is time to go to the field to direct my team at La Escondida; That is my greatest pleasure, to contribute to the development of the young and to take root in them the love for our national sport.
