Obama’s Cuba visit stirs strong emotions for Sounders defector Ozzie Alonso

He couldn’t be any farther from Cuba, but his heart has always been there.

So seeing President Obama in his home country this week stirred strong emotions for Sounders FC star Osvaldo Alonso.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s a big thing for both countries. I think it’s going to be a big change for us in Cuba,” Alonso said at the Sounders practice facility in Tukwila.

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Alonso is used to big changes.

In 2007, he slipped away from the Cuban National Team in a Houston WalMart, walked a few blocks until he found someone who spoke Spanish, borrowed their phone and called friends in Miami. He’d defected and was now on his own.

“When I started growing up and started playing soccer, when I got the opportunity to come here I said now I want to go to the U.S. to play in the professional soccer leagues,” Alonso said.

But he hadn’t told a soul of the plan he’d hatched about six months prior when he first heard the team was coming to the United States.

It was a heart-wrenching decision, especially leaving his beloved father behind.

Luckily, the changing times allowed Osvaldo Sr. to visit him here in Seattle last fall for a reunion eight years in the making.

“For me, for him to come here to the United States, to live here, he can see me play, so I’m really glad to have him here,” Alonso said.

While Alonso’s father has settled in Miami, the 30-year-old midfielder has built a life in Seattle. He’s married with three kids and, now in his eighth season, has become a standout and fan favorite.

And he’s since become a US Citizen.

He loves Seattle, except for maybe the weather.

“The rain is a little uncomfortable but I’m getting used to it now,” he said.

But, at least, he has somewhere warm to visit. And it’s getting a lot easier as Cuba and the U.S. normalize relations.

He was able to travel back to his homeland last December for an emotional reunion with other family and friends.

“I finally [got to] go there to see my town, my family. So I’m very happy about that,” Alonso said.

Seeing the changes in Cuba makes him hopeful for the future of all his friends and family who weren’t able to get away and forge a new life, like he was.

And after watching his beloved Cuban National Baseball team on TV reminds him of something else he’d like to do here in Seattle. Take batting practice with the Mariners. After all, baseball is in the blood of all Cubans.

“Yeah, why not,” he laughed. “I’ve been here like eight years, so I want to do that some day.”

Why not, indeed. If President Obama can go watch the Cubans play in Havana, it only makes sense to have Ozzie Alonso take the field in Seattle. It’s only fitting for a guy willing to take the ultimate risk to pursue the American dream.