Building through soccer

Soccer is a national passion in Haiti, too. Haitians' regard for the sport and for the Brazilian team is both curious and thrilling. If Brazil today is one of the most important partners in international relief efforts in Haiti—given its leadership role in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the social programs that have followed it allied to the earthquake reconstruction effort—the relationship between the two countries prior to these events has always been mediated, more than anything, by the game.

Considering the passion that soccer incites in Haiti and its strength as a tool for social empowerment, Viva Rio created a large-scale project to promote the sport in the country. The Hatian Soccer Federation (FHF) is also in the game. This past January the earthquake that shook the nation’s capital left the federation's office building in ruins, killing 19. Soccer fields throughout Port-au-Prince became refugee camps.

Black Pearl Academy

Under the stewardship of executive coordinator Nilton Leão, the soccer project focuses on two main tasks. The first was the construction of a training center (CT) in Haiti, the Black Pearl Soccer Academy, which will contribute to the ‘professionalization’ of the sport in the country and will help to establish Haiti’s soccer league.

The training center is located in Bon Repos, north of Port-au-Prince, away from Viva Rio's Bel Air headquarters, Kay Nou. Building outside of Port-au-Prince, according to Rubem Cesar Fernandes, the executive director of Viva Rio, was a deliberate decision. "Our only base was in Bel Air, in downtown Port-au-Prince. However, since the earthquake destroyed much of the downtown, there has been a movement to decentralize the capital; more value is being placed on Haiti's medium-sized cities," said Fernandes. One of the largest investors in this project is the financier George Soros, who has already invested heavily in Haiti.

The athletic complex has four FIFA-regulation size soccer fields (two on natural grass and two on Astroturf), with the capacity to hold 96 athletes, who can live, study, and play soccer there. The center (see left) will have doctors, nutritionists, physical therapists, psychologists, and teachers on site. Construction began two-and-a-half years ago, and will be inaugurated at the end of December by soccer player Ronaldinho Gaúcho. "We want to create a center that produces excellent athletes," said Fernandes.

Another important partner, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), has signaled interest in possibly investing in the sport through a Football for Hope project, dedicated to social responsibility through soccer. Ferndandes explains the importance of soccer to reconstruction and the recovery of Haiti's self-image: "It's an interesting way of working with values and ideas. It's fun and everyone plays by choice, but they have to play by the rules. It's a great way of working with concepts like citizenship, governance, democracy, discipline, control, and strategy. It's also a tool to control violence."

Intensive training in Brazil

Another program to support soccer in Haiti is also in practice: an intensive training session for select Haitian soccer players—men and women—in Brazil. The trip—made possible by a partnership between Viva Rio, the FHF, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil’s Ministry of Defense, and the Alberto Nunes Center for Physical Education (CEFAN), that belongs to the Brazilian navy, located in Rio de Janeiro, —aims to help Haitian players prepare for the Gold Cup.

Organized by the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), the competition—which takes place this year in Cancún, Mexico—serves as a qualifier for the World Cup. Women play beginning October 26; male teams begin November 2. "Brazil is lending a hand to Haiti, once again, to help realize the country's hopes for the Women's League in 2011 in Germany, and Men's League, here in Brazil in 2014," said Rubem César Fernandes.

During this pre-Gold Cup session, Haitian athletes alternate between staying at the Viçosa University dorms and CEFAN. The daily routine is filled with physical, tactical, and technical training; series of exams and physical evaluations; and friendly matches. The most important of these, for the women's team, is on October 21: they will play against a Brazilian women's team, led by the forward Marta Vieira da Silva, four-time selection for the world's best player, in Granja Comary, in Terésopolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Both teams are led by Brazilian professionals. The male team is headed by the experienced coach Edson Tavares and his team. Tavares has already trained teams from Switzerland—he speaks French fluently and is therefore able to communicate with the players—, China, Vietnam and Arab countries. The women's teams are being trained by a commission formed by the coach Augusto de Oliveira, by the physical trainer Jorge Augusto and by goalie trainer Luiz Laudiosa. All trainers passed through the post-graduate program in soccer at Viçosa University, one of the best such training centers in Brazil, and one that offers technical training and includes training and lab fields.

Augusto sees this opportunity as a life lesson: "To our surprise, they're able to laugh at everything, despite their suffering in Haiti. They're very light spirited. If it were possible to do so, they would sing and dance, during training, really have fun. This is a life lesson to us," said the physical trainer.

The Haitian women's team has worked hard in Brazil. According to Jorge Augusto, the team has evolved since being formed. "They're real fighters on the field; they fight, argue, they're really a team, we have high hopes for them" he said, optimistically.

Physical Recovery

The athletes arrived to Brazil physically compromised, a consequence, in part, of what they experienced after the earthquake. Trauma from the quake is still very much alive for many of the players. Some were buried in the rubble and still have scars from the wreckage. Luc Elie Dorlean, from the Haitian technical team that accompanied the players to Brazil, has family members who are still living in tents in the streets of Port-au-Prince.

According to Augusto, there was a general lack of strength and power among the players. Many had weakened and fragile joints. Some were anemic and possibly diabetic, others were underweight. "We found ourselves with a difficult group, but it does not lack promise. Some have visible talent, and with time, have a lot of potential to grow, physically," said the trainer.

The Haitian athletes love Brazil. Mid-right fielder for the Grenadières (the nickname of the national women's team), Darlene Beauciquot, says she took many photos in Brazil and will proudly share her experiences when she returns to Haiti. "I had my birthday here and it was very nice time. I missed and still miss my family very much, but I'm here to play soccer, to concentrate on training," she said. 

Beauciquot (in the photo), who plays for the Haitian team Amazones, began to play soccer when she was 13 and has been on the national team for four years. Like Beauciquot—who had only previously left her country to play soccer in Venezuela and Canada—right wingback Marie Soline Bellevue assures that the team needs to concentrate on the challenge that lies ahead. "Afterward, we can return to Brazil as tourists. But now, we are not on vacation. We need to concentrate on our work," she said, with confidence. Bellevue and eight other athletes from the team play for Haiti's Tigresses club.

Eight teams, divided into two groups, will play for the Women's Gold Cup. Haiti's group consists of the United States—considered the strongest team in the championship, and Haiti's opponent in the first round—, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Two teams from each group will advance in the first round—the first-seeded will compete against the second-seeded from each team. The two finalists will qualify for the World Championship in Germany, and third place will play for a wild card seat against a European team. Now is time to root for them.

Photos: Andrea Domínguez