The burning of the grass at the Genaro Melero Stadium in Jatibonico, Sancti Spíritus, sparked outrage among Cuban baseball fans.
The images of the burnt grass of the historic park and the smoke were shared by the user Adrián Alfonso, originally from Jatibonico and residing in Miami.
"GENARO MELERO Stadium Jatibonico, what a lack of respect. How far is this nonsense going to go," the user commented.
The post has garnered over ninety comments, mostly from locals and baseball fans who are upset about the incident.
"Those are the leaders of Jatibonico, each day with a mind full of ideas to finish what remains," stated Digna Niebla Dones.
User Linker Gutierrez Nazco expressed that it is very sad to see the situation of Genaro Melero, an "iconic stadium that hosted the final of the Selective Series, where matches of a Youth World Cup were played and many, many National Series games."
"Stadium that, for many years of my life, was my second home; I didn't leave it, and it's very, very sad to see it like this," he lamented.
Sports journalist Yasel Porto reported that the burning was due to the fact that the stadium's lawn was cut, and those responsible for maintenance decided to burn the removed grass instead of disposing of it.
Genaro Melero is not the only Cuban stadium that has gained attention for its precariousness in a country in ruins.
Recently, it was revealed that the Jesús Suárez Gayol stadium, a symbol of baseball in the municipality of Mariel, province of Artemisa, and the birthplace of talents like Jonder Martínez and Miguel Alfredo González, has turned into ruins after decades of neglect and the final blow from Hurricane Rafael.
Built between 1970 and 1982, the Suárez Gayol was one of the best-equipped stadiums in the now-defunct province of La Habana (which was split into Artemisa and Mayabeque in 2011), featuring artificial lighting and a capacity suitable for national baseball series.
The proximity to the sea and the lack of maintenance have deteriorated its infrastructure over time.
Other sports facilities that are following the same path, such as those in Baracoa (Guantánamo), Manzanillo (Granma), and Puerto Padre (Las Tunas), have also experienced neglect and a loss of infrastructure, highlighting a pattern that restricts the development and future of Cuban athletes.
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