The rum and Coke may seem a cliché cocktail to drink in Central America but there's a reason some clichés exist. They're the result of truth. We were in Nicaragua. They drink rum there. So we did.

Back in the day, Delfin lived in Cuba. He learnt Russian at school, studied in Moscow, and ended up landing a job with the Cuban government. He worked at Cuba's embassy in Russia as an "analyst". That is his word.

On occasion, he would get to fly back to Cuba. One time, during a stopover between Moscow and Havana in Canada, he took his exercise around the airport, walked toward the immigration counters and walked right on through to political asylum.

It was a considered decision but the spontaneity was genuine.

"I had the chance, right there and then," he explained.

"It was now or never."

Delfin shook his head, recalling the years that followed.

"They are not good memories."

He left behind his wife and son. They would not be reunited for many years.

Delfin knew not what Canada (and eventually the United States) had to offer but he knew that whatever was in store must be better than his life in Moscow or Havana.

So, too, last week, two Cuban footballer players went through similar emotions and followed in Delfin's footsteps. They will not be the last.

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier between the United States and Cuba in
Washington DC, two players walked out of their hotel and never came back.

According to The Miami Herald:

"The players are midfielder Pedro Faife, 24, and forward Reynier Alcantara, 26. Faife has family in South Florida and contacted relatives upon arriving in the United States.

The last time a Cuban football team played in the United States, in mid-March, seven members of the Under-23 Olympic qualifying team bolted from their team hotel in Tampa and defected. Twelve Cuban football players have defected since 2002.

A few landed in Major League Soccer, others are playing for United Soccer Leagues and a few of the most recent arrivals are playing in a Puerto Rican pro league."

Cuba's coach, German Reinhold Fanz, told journalists: "It is always a problem for the Cuba team. We have security, but you can't handcuff them to their rooms."

Cuba conceded six goals in Washington and lost the game 6-1.

It puts into perspective any team's selection concerns experienced by Australia coach Pim Verbeek.