There’s a classic football song about certain players, declaring a player is here, he’s there, he’s, well, everywhere. While it hasn’t been sung at the Wanderers Grounds about Alejandro Portal, it wouldn’t sound out of place considering how the Cuban defender’s journey with HFX Wanderers FC has begun.

In a short matter of time in September, Portal went from playing semi-professional football for Vaughan Azzurri just north of Toronto to professional football in Halifax with the Wanderers. He arrived as the team was in the thick of an injury crisis, particularly on the backline, bringing much needed reinforcement to a multitude of positions.

“I’m so happy, I’m honoured to be here. This team, the players are humble. The city is amazing, the fans are so good. I’m so excited,” says Alejandro Portal after training at the Wanderers Grounds.

The Road from Cuba to Canada

Even though he’s been with the Wanderers for a few games, the honeymoon phase is still alive and well. After two years in Toronto, hoping to return to professional football after playing in the top divisions of Cuban football from 2016 to 2019, Portal is where he wants to be.

Portal first arrived in Canada in September 2019 and was one of three members of the Cuban men’s national team to defect after a 6-0 Canada win at BMO Field in Toronto.

Like many Cuban athletes who have defected before him, Portal left his country to look for professional opportunities beyond what are offered in Cuba. For Portal, Canada represents a new chance to further his soccer career but also support his family back home. 

“Canada is good because you have so many opportunities in this country, the life here is good. When you believe, everything is possible. I’m so happy,” the midfielder says, admiring his new country.

When the Wanderers came calling, Portal was so excited he couldn’t sleep ahead of the first match against Ottawa. 

“I’m so happy because this team is amazing,” says Portal, who enjoyed watching his new CPL side prior to signing. “Together, they work hard. I love this team, I love this opportunity.”

Making Waves Instantly

Two days after his signing was announced on September 9, Portal was on the bench for a 2-1 win on the road against Atlético Ottawa. A week later, he made his debut in the midfield on September 18, a scoreless draw against York United. Since joining the Wanderers, he’s logged 646 minutes at fullback, midfield, and even played a full match as a center-back against Forge.

Already, he has the full trust of his manager, who has utilized the Cuban player in a number of places on the pitch thanks to his positional understanding.

“He came in, he didn’t even get a chance to settle in. We had to throw him into games immediately and he fit in well with the players,” says Wanderers manager and head coach Stephen Hart. “I’m pleased with his attitude, his training, his 100 percent every time. So it translates easily into games.”

Support from family and friends

While Portal has proved to be a perfect fit with the Wanderers, he also has a supportive team behind him with his family back in Cuba proud of his accomplishments. 

“Oh my family is so happy. Every day, my mom and my father call me,” says the Cuban international.

His parents pepper him with questions about training every day, but also offer words of encouragement to work hard every day. He also gets daily support from his girlfriend in Toronto.

“They push me every day, talk to me and say ‘Ale, Ale, Ale, go, go go. You have to win!’,” Portal says.

The 25-year-old says his mentality is strong. And it’s not just a good attitude that he brings to the Wanderers.

“I mean he has international experience, he’s played at the Gold Cup. He’s played at the youth under-20 level, so he has a lot, he brings a lot of experience to the team,” says Hart.

That experience with the national team is something Portal reflects on fondly, saying it was good to play against top CONCACAF players on teams like Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

“When you play for your country, you feel it here,” says Portal as he pounds on his chest. “The people, your family, you want to play for the senior team. It’s the best for all players in the world, all players in the world want to play for your country. It’s amazing.”

His journey with the Wanderers begins at a time when they needed him most, and he needed something like the Wanderers. It’s a perfect pairing, and he could be a vital piece in the playoff push going into this final game at home.

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