Unforgettable Friend:
Every day I have the pleasure of following your program, on TeleSur, on the spectacular World Cup of football; thanks to your program I can see the extraordinary level of that universal sport.
I do not think a proper education for young people in any country is possible without sports and, in the specific case of boys, without including football.
Today I am a politician, but as child, adolescent, and youth I was an athlete and dedicated most of my free time to this noble practice.
I admire your conduct for many reasons. I had the privilege of meeting you when the most just ideas of our people triumphed and no power could crush them.
Nothing so strengthened our relations as Latin Americans. You have overcome the most difficult tests as a youth of humble origin and as an athlete.
Just as I salute you, I also salute Messi, a formidable athlete who gives glory to the noble people of Argentina. Nothing can divide and diminish you two’s glory and prestige, despite the petty efforts of schemers.
I also congratulate TeleSur, which has enriched this hot summer, and like you, I also fraternally salute the excellent and esteemed football players of our America, without forgetting, of course, the magnificent and visionary Víctor Hugo Morales, who lays bare your virtues and has done so much to spread the noble value of the sport, and the Argentine people whom you all represent with honor.
Of course, Diego, I will never forget the friendship and support that you always gave the Bolivarian leader Hugo Chávez, promoter of sports and the revolution in Latin America and among the subjugated peoples of the world.
Fraternally,
Fidel Castro Ruz
June 23, 2014
5: 36 p.m.
En español. Translation by Yoshie Furuhashi (@yoshiefuruhashi | yoshie.furuhashi [at] gmail.com).