Yosniel Mesa to play for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers?

Attacking Midfielder Yosniel "Capi" Mesa defected from the Cuban national soccer team on June 9 and was seen practicing with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League (NASL).  This reported by Dave Brousseau of the Sun Sentinel.

Mesa, who left behind his mother and 5-year-old daughter in Cuba, defected following Cuba's 5-0 loss to Mexico in a Gold Cup game in Charlotte, N.C. He walked out of his hotel without alerting any of the Cuban coaching staff, got into his uncle's car and drove to Miami where his uncle lives.

Yosniel is still waiting on his work permit. Rumors have surfaced that he will also have a tryout with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer (MLS).
Here is a video from the Sun Sentinel:

"Anytime you get a chance to have any type of player come in, you want to take a look at him and see how he does with your group," Strikers coach Daryl Shore said. "Obviously it's a little extra special when you have a Cuban player who is looking for a better chance and better life than what he had at home."

Read the full article HERE
Picture by Robert Scorca
Here is a video from Univision: