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Orlendis Benítez

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Orlendis Benítez
Personal information
Full name Orlendis Carlos Benítez Hernández
Date of birth (1996-11-26) 26 November 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Cuba
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Forge FC
Number 26
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 FC La Habana
2021–2022 Vaughan Azzurri 24 (8)
2022Forge FC (loan) 3 (0)
2023–2024 Simcoe County Rovers 29 (20)
2024– Forge FC 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2024

Orlendis Carlos Benítez Hernández (born 26 November 1996) is a Cuban professional footballer who plays for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Playing career

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He began his career in his native Cuba with FC La Habana. During the 2018–19 season, he was named the Best Player of the Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba.[1]

In 2021 and 2022, he played for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.[2][3] In June 2022, he joined Canadian Premier League club Forge FC on a short-term loan.[4] He made his debut for Forge on 12 June against Pacific FC.[5]

In February 2023, he signed with the Simcoe County Rovers in League1 Ontario.[6] He was named the L1O Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Star in 2023.[7][8]

In September 2024, he signed with Forge FC for the remainder of the 2024 season.[9][10]

International career

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In late August 2019, he received his first call-up to the Cuba national football team for their 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League matches against Canada in September.[11][12] However, ahead of the match, he defected from the squad to settle in Canada and not return to Cuba,[13][14] with the help of his uncle (whom he had never met) who was a baseball player who had also defected while in Canada.[15]

Career statistics

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As of 22 October 2024
Club Season League Playoffs National Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Vaughan Azzurri 2021[2] League1 Ontario 8 3 1 0 9 3
2022[3] 16 5 2 1 18 6
Total 24 8 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 9
Forge FC (loan) 2022[16] Canadian Premier League 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Simcoe County Rovers FC 2023[17] League1 Ontario 19 15 2 1 21 16
2024 10 5 1 0 4 1 15 6
Total 29 20 2 1 2 0 4 1 0 0 31 22
Forge FC 2024[16] Canadian Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 58 28 5 2 2 0 4 1 0 0 68 31

References

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  1. ^ "David Urgellés y Orlendis Benítez, más deserciones del fútbol cubano" [David Urgellés and Orlendis Benítez, more defections from Cuban soccer]. ADN Cuba (in Spanish). 8 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Orlendis Carlos Benitez Hernandez 2021 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  3. ^ a b "Orlendis Benitez Hernandez 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  4. ^ "Forge FC sign Canadian defender Duncan & attacker Benitez to a short term contract". Forge FC. 12 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Highlights: Forge FC vs Pacific FC (June 12, 2022)". OneSoccer. 12 June 2022.
  6. ^ Jacques, John (14 February 2023). "Simcoe County Rovers Add Former Cuban Internationals Benitez And Portal". Northern Tribune.
  7. ^ "Men's Premier Division 2023: Award Winners". League1 Ontario. 20 November 2023.
  8. ^ "MVP Tomasz Skublak leads line in star-studded XI". League1 Ontario. 28 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Forge FC sign Simcoe County standout Orlendis Benítez, add 3 development players". Canadian Premier League. 13 September 2024.
  10. ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (13 September 2024). "Simcoe Success Story: Benítez Signs with Forge". Northern Tribune.
  11. ^ "Cuba da sus 23 para partidos contra Canadá" [Cuba gives its 23 for matches against Canada]. Futbol de Cuba (in Spanish). 28 August 2019.
  12. ^ Alexander, Arian (5 September 2019). "¿Debut para despejar dudas?" [Debut to clear doubts?]. AA Sport (in Spanish).
  13. ^ Ebro, Jorge; González, Pedro J. (8 September 2019). "Tres cubanos más escapan en torneo de CONCACAF y ya suman cinco los que abandonan el equipo" [Three more Cubans escape in the CONCACAF tournament and there are already five who leave the team]. El Nuevo Herald (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 September 2019.
  14. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (9 September 2019). "Report: Five Cuba national team players defect during Nations League". Major League Soccer.
  15. ^ Jacques, John (24 April 2024). "Former Cuba Internationals Set To Face Toronto FC In Stadium Where 'New Life' Began". Northern Tribune.
  16. ^ a b Orlendis Benítez at Soccerway
  17. ^ "Orlendis Benitez 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
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