“I’ve always bristled at comparisons between Venezuela and Cuba,” said Andy Cawthorne, a seasoned journalist with years of experience in both countries. Sitting down for a conversation after four years of friendship, Andy was ready to speak openly. After living in Cuba for four years and serving as Reuters’ Bureau Chief for the Andean Region for nearly a decade, Cawthorne’s insight into both nations is hard-earned. “The differences between them are so vast, it’s almost unfair to compare them,” he said, summing up what’s become a frequent misunderstanding of these two Latin American powerhouses.

The life of a foreign correspondent often seems glamorous, but it comes with its share of risks and sacrifices. In Andy’s case, the stories are extraordinary: from dining with Fidel Castro to enduring marathon speeches by Hugo Chávez, and yes, even sharing cigars with Diego Maradona over a barbecue. It’s a life that intersected with some of Latin America’s most iconic—and divisive—figures.

The Arrival of Maradona

The Argentine football legend Diego Maradona’s presence in the story of Cuba and Venezuela may seem odd to some, but for those familiar with the region, it’s no surprise. Maradona’s connections to left-wing politics, especially his friendships with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, made him a natural fit for a broader narrative about these countries.

In 1994, Andy officially joined Reuters after freelancing in Panama. Just two years into his four-year stint in Havana, Maradona arrived in Cuba to battle his well-publicized addictions, under the Cuban health system’s care. “Maradona just dropped in on us,” Andy recalls. “He’d nearly killed himself with drugs and alcohol, and suddenly there was this media circus around him, no matter where he went.”

Cuba offered Maradona something he desperately needed—privacy. But for Cawthorne and other correspondents, the challenge was monumental. “We tried to do a paparazzi job on him, which backfired spectacularly.” Maradona famously chased Andy and his colleagues out of a supermarket, fists raised, in a scene that ended with a smashed car window and an unforgettable introduction to the football icon.

This chaotic start soon transformed into an unlikely friendship, thanks to an accidental meeting at the gym between Alfredo Tedeschi, an Argentine colleague, and Maradona’s wife, Claudia. A dinner invitation followed, and soon, Cawthorne was part of the Argentine’s inner circle. What followed was a “golden period” in his life, as weekly kickabouts with Maradona became routine, punctuated by dinners and even visits from Fidel Castro himself.

Maradona’s life was, as always, marked by contrast. “There were times when he was comatose, and we’d have to throw buckets of water on him to wake him up,” Andy confided. He recounted one instance when Maradona showed up late to meet Castro, only to pull up his trousers and show off a tattoo of the Cuban leader on his leg.

Despite the darkness of Maradona’s addictions, Andy also witnessed moments of brilliance and joy. Whether it was Maradona diving naked into a pool for laughs or scoring ridiculous goals during their informal kickabouts, the legend remained larger than life, even in his personal struggles. “Coppola [Maradona’s manager] would pull me aside and tell me not to go in too hard on Diego during our games, but I mean, what are you supposed to do when you’re playing with Maradona?”

The End of an Era

Eventually, the gatherings came to an end. Alfredo returned to Buenos Aires, Maradona left Cuba, and Andy returned to Venezuela. But his time with Diego left an indelible mark. Andy’s journalistic career continued to take him across continents, from Haiti to Kenya, and eventually back to Venezuela, where the lessons he learned from covering Fidel Castro came in handy as he reported on Hugo Chávez.

Both Castro and Chávez, Andy observed, shared an immense charisma that could be disarming, but they also shared a deep egotism. “They had this way of answering questions with questions, or launching into long-winded historical lectures. It was hard not to get sucked into their orbit,” he admitted.

Venezuela vs. Cuba: The Myth of the Comparison

For all their similarities in leadership style, Andy maintains that comparing Venezuela and Cuba is misguided. “Yes, they both had hard-left governments, but they’re very different societies,” he explained. While Cuba is disciplined and rigidly controlled, Venezuelan society is far more chaotic, anarchic, and resistant to authority. The two countries may have been united by their leaders’ friendship, but in culture, politics, and economics, they’re worlds apart.

A Football Nation Emerges

Despite his proximity to Caracas during its golden football years in the early 1990s, Andy admits he didn’t pay much attention to the local scene. It wasn’t until the national team began improving under coaches like Richard Paez and Cesar Farias that Venezuela truly became a footballing nation in his eyes. “I was back in Cuba when Venezuela lost to Paraguay in the 2011 Copa America Semi Final, and that was when I realized just how far Venezuelan football had come,” he said.

Father and Son: The Next Generation

By the time Andy returned to Venezuela in 2009, football had taken on a new significance for him. His son, Oliver, stood out on the local football scene, earning the nickname ‘Catire’ for his blond hair. Oliver’s career eventually took him to Carabobo FC and even a professional debut in Panama, bringing Andy’s own journey full circle.

The Next Chapter

Today, all three of the major figures in Andy’s story—Maradona, Castro, and Chávez—are gone, and their countries are at pivotal moments. While Argentina grapples with economic upheaval, Venezuela faces another election year, and Cuba navigates life after the Castros. Through it all, Cawthorne reflects on his time in Latin America with a sense of awe, recognizing that he was not just a witness to history but a part of it.

Behind the headlines and beyond the politics, there are the kickabouts with Diego Maradona, the meals with Fidel Castro, and the conversations with Hugo Chávez that Cawthorne will never forget.

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