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Orlendis Benítez

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Cuban footballer (born 1996)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Benítez and the second or maternal family name is Hernández.
Orlendis Benítez
Personal information
Full name Orlendis Carlos Benítez Hernández
Date of birth (1996-11-26) 26 November 1996 (age 28)
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)
2022 → Forge 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

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.

In 2021 and 2022, he played for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario. In June 2022, he joined Canadian Premier League club Forge FC on a short-term loan. He made his debut for Forge on 12 June against Pacific FC. He then returned to Vaughan, helping them win the league title.

In February 2023, he signed with the Simcoe County Rovers in League1 Ontario. He was named the L1O Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Star in 2023, after helping Simcoe win the league title.

In September 2024, he signed with Forge FC for the remainder of the 2024 season. After the season, the club picked up his option for 2025.

International career

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. However, ahead of the match, he defected from the squad to settle in Canada and not return to Cuba, with the help of his uncle (whom he had never met) who was a baseball player who had also defected while in Canada.

Career statistics

As of 2 November 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 League1 Ontario 8 3 1 0 — — — 9 3
2022 16 5 2 1 — — — 18 6
Total 24 8 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 9
Forge FC (loan) 2022 Canadian Premier League 3 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Simcoe County Rovers FC 2023 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 Canadian Premier League 2 0 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Career total 58 28 6 2 2 0 4 1 0 0 69 31

References

  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. ^ "Orlendis Carlos Benitez Hernandez 2021 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  3. ^ "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 (3 January 2025). "Forge Banks On Benitez, Activates Option". Northern Tribune.
  7. Jacques, John (14 February 2023). "Simcoe County Rovers Add Former Cuban Internationals Benitez And Portal". Northern Tribune.
  8. "Men's Premier Division 2023: Award Winners". League1 Ontario. 20 November 2023.
  9. "MVP Tomasz Skublak leads line in star-studded XI". League1 Ontario. 28 November 2023.
  10. "Forge FC sign Simcoe County standout Orlendis Benítez, add 3 development players". Canadian Premier League. 13 September 2024.
  11. Mahmoudi, Nelson (13 September 2024). "Simcoe Success Story: Benítez Signs with Forge". Northern Tribune.
  12. "Forge FC Exercises 2025 Option on Forward Orlendis Benítez". Forge FC. 3 January 2025.
  13. "Forge triggers 2025 club option on Orlendis Benítez". True North Foot. 3 January 2025.
  14. "Cuba da sus 23 para partidos contra Canadá" [Cuba gives its 23 for matches against Canada]. Futbol de Cuba (in Spanish). 28 August 2019.
  15. Alexander, Arian (5 September 2019). "¿Debut para despejar dudas?" [Debut to clear doubts?]. AA Sport (in Spanish).
  16. 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.
  17. Rodriguez, Alicia (9 September 2019). "Report: Five Cuba national team players defect during Nations League". Major League Soccer.
  18. Jacques, John (24 April 2024). "Former Cuba Internationals Set To Face Toronto FC In Stadium Where 'New Life' Began". Northern Tribune.
  19. ^ Orlendis Benítez at Soccerway
  20. "Orlendis Benitez 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.

External links

Forge FC – current squad
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