Photo: Roberto Morejón/ JIT.

At the gates of his team's first training session at the venue for the

semifinal , mentor Armando Johnson insists that arriving at this instance is just one step to go out for more.

"We have done part of the task, but full compliance would only come if we returned home with the title, and for that we are going to leave our lives on the field," said the experienced technician at the hotel who welcomed them upon arrival on the ground. US.

How have these days prior to the Sunday game been conceived?

–We had thought that after the general break on Thursday, only the pitchers would work this Friday, but when we exchanged with the boys, the position players asked to join in to do something light, which is very valid because it expresses everyone's willingness, the focus on do the job well.

Saturday?

–For that day a good practice session is planned, focused on the objectives of this stage, and on Sunday itself we will maintain the routine that we have applied before each game.

What is the main strength of the team right now?

–In addition to the sporting form, which we always said would be achieved, the boys are one hundred percent, they know what they want, as we all know.

There is joy, there is great cohesion and on everyone's mind is the purpose of making history.

How have they assimilated the many signs of support from Cuba and other parts of the world where their followers live?

“It really has been an incredible stimulus.

Both the athletes and the coaches have been aware, and we are moved by the messages and images present on social networks, as well as by the calls received and knowing that people have taken to the streets.

It is one more push for the boys and for the management, because provoking that happiness in our town is the desire of those of us who are here.

"However, in Miami there are those who are determined to undermine the sporting spirit of the event and the stability of the team...

“We have talked about it with the guys, and everyone knows that we are going to play in a venue where unfortunately we will face provocations.

But in this sense we are also prepared to prevent these maneuvers from achieving their objectives, and we are also convinced that we will also find support.

The spirit that animates us is that of baseball, and with that conviction we are going to show ourselves on the field, always for more, so that it is there where the last word is said”.

Already in the final stretch, how to handle this responsibility?

–As until now, grateful and with the people always present.

Aware of what what we do means, highly stimulated by their reactions, and especially committed to my people from the Isle of Youth, to whose fans I owe my return to these tasks.

"It is known that this arrival in the semifinals is a step not achieved since the runner-up team of the first edition did it...

“I insist that the task is not finished yet, because now the challenge is to overcome that feat, but I recognize that it already constitutes the most important thing that has happened in my career of more than 30 years, after having won world and Pan-American championships in categories inferiors, and that is why the goal is to try to respond one hundred percent, to be consistent with the people who trusted and worked very hard during the entire previous process, including the formation of the team.

United States or Venezuela for that duel?

-The one who advances.

The mentality will be the same, with the adaptations of the work based on the studies we have of both, and the decision that the team continue having fun, doing what it has shown to know how to do.

(Taken from JIT)