The Venezuelan Super League is facing scrutiny as connections between its teams and the nation’s intelligence apparatus come to light. The Spartans, a prominent team, has frequently showcased their president, Vanessa Torres Toro, in social media posts attending games and participating in ceremonial events. One such post from March 2023 features Torres Toro with her husband at center field before a game against the Miranda Devils, with a caption celebrating their “jump between two hand in hand with our president, Vanessa Torres 😍.”
Further raising concerns, the Gladiadores de Anzoátegui, another Super League team, appears to have deep ties to Venezuelan intelligence. publicly,the team is listed as officially owned by Fabián Carmine Eliantonio Gamboa,a regional pharmaceutical entrepreneur and government contractor. However,the Gladiadores prominently display the yellow and black logo of “Team Spartanos.” This collective is reportedly promoted by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Granko Arteaga, identified as the director of special affairs at the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM). Granko Arteaga,much like his subordinates,is seen wearing the Spartans logo on his uniform sleeve. Reports from Spanish and Venezuelan media outlets have identified him as the founder of Team Espartanos, a name that also aligns with several other businesses he is alleged to own, including a rum brand.
The DGCIM is widely recognized as one of Venezuela’s most formidable security forces and has been implicated in significant human rights violations, as documented by the UN Fact-Finding Mission. Granko Arteaga himself faced sanctions from the United states, the European Union, and Switzerland in 2019 due to his alleged role in these violations. According to a recent basketball report by Transparencia Venezuela, the mention of his name “sparks shivers in members of Venezuelan civil society.”
A Resurgence of Venezuelan Basketball?
Basketball holds a special place in the heart of Venezuela, with improvised courts and hoops found in nearly every corner of the country. This passion has translated into decades of international success for the sport, making it Venezuela’s most accomplished collective sport on the global stage. The men’s national team has a strong track record, having qualified for five World Cups, participated in two Olympic games, and secured the South American championship title three times.
Many fans fondly recall the “golden era” of the 1990s, a period of immense pride for Venezuelan basketball. During this time, the national team, often referred to as “Vinotinto,” achieved a remarkable second-place finish in the 1992 pre-Olympic tournament, falling only to the legendary “American Dream Team.”
Sports journalist Pérez reminisces about this era with deep nostalgia, stating, “You saw the games on Sunday or Saturday, which were held in Caracas, they were packed with people… wherever they were held. And when it became professional, the whole business opened up and they made very good money.”
this sentiment highlights a longing for a time when the sport not only achieved athletic excellence but also fostered a vibrant professional surroundings and significant economic opportunities.
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