SENSATIONAL HAITIAN NATIONAL WOMEN SOCCER TEAM COMPETES FAIR AND SQUARE
By Noe Dorestant, E.E.
If there is a sport on earth, that Haitians feel truly passionate about, soccer is without a doubt the game of sensation by excellence, where emotions and love of country truly run deep. Haitians in diaspora often full of nostalgia reminisced about the glorious days of Haitian soccer. Most would agree that the pinnacle of Haitian soccer history was reached in 1974, when Haiti participated in its first men world cup. Most would also agree that it was in the 1970's, that Haitian women soccer history knew its best days. So when it was announced: that the now undefeated Haitian national women soccer team would be in Fort Lauderdale to play the Jamaican National team; almost everyone who heard the news, was excited with a passion about it. Everyone wanted to get a glimpse and see in action this new stars players, which have suddenly become the talk of most local Haitians radio talk show in town.
On a clear blue sky and hot summer evening of Friday, August 25th, 2001 came the occasion for Haitians soccer fans in Miami to get a glimpse of the women star players, during a press conference organized in the women honors. The gathering place was the beautifully renovated E-planet, located on 7th avenue in Miami. There, a small contingency of soccer fans had gathered to welcome the women, who flew from Haiti in a late afternoon flight, so they could arrive early evening in Miami, just in time for the conference scheduled at 7:30pm.
We were all trying our very best to converse with one another to pass the time and to surprisingly pass opinion, as to why we often see most of the same faces supporting the Haitian national team, whenever they come to town, in good times and bad times, win or loose. Then we realize that is why we are called fans. As we were getting in more spirited debate about Haitian soccer in general, suddenly arrived a van and few cars full of players driven by Sport passion volunteers and supporters.
Right fielder Pharana Jean-Louis, posing for welcoming picture with Sport Passion volunteer and Haitian soccer fan, Charlemagne Mathieu.
Handshakes and warm welcomes were exchanged. The players were seated and were serve some style patties and sodas, then the players were introduced to the cheering public by the President of the Haitian federation of soccer, Dr. Yves Jean Bart.
Haitian women national team with coach at E-Planet. L-R: Pharana Jean Louis (# 7 arriere droit, Club Tigresse S.A.), Mirlande Terleus (#6, club Tigresses), Badio Fritzca (#10 stoppeur, club Anacaona), Montinarel Esima (#22 guardienne, club Tigresses), Nadege Janvier (#7 demi-gauche, club Aigle Brillant), Geraldine Valentin (# 11 demi-gauche, club Tigresses), Marie Denise Gilles (#9 avant de centre, club Anacaona), Monique Alcin (#18 guardien de but, club Anacaona), Ghislaine St. Louis (#16, club Aigle Brillant), Mirlande Teleus (#6 demi, club Tigresses).
Haitian women national team with coach at E-Planet. L-R: Manouchka Salam (stoppeuse, Club Tigresse), Sainte-Anne Pierre (arriere gauche, club Tigresses), Yvette Felix (# 4 libero, club Anacaona, captain of Anacaona and captain of national team), Violo Nord (# 9 , club Aigle Brillant), Geraldine Calixte (# 10 avant centre, club Tigresses), Mirlande Bien-Aime (#8 avant de centre, club Tigresses).
Former head coach of the Haitian men national team, Zenono Jean Baptiste managed, as he always does to get the audience aroused, when he announced the display of the new uniform for the women team made by a sport outfit company from Spain. The public got even louder with their applause, when a former women soccer legend of the 1970's was called upon to showcase jersey #11.
Former woman superstar of Haitian soccer showing up the new uniform as Spain designer explains his reason for supporting a team with great potential.
Different Haitian sport personalities, sport writers and radio broadcasters had something positive to say about the ladies team. There were some friendly exchanges between the team and the audience which demanded a prediction on the outcome of the game to be played the next day against Jamaica. Most of the players predicted an overwhelming victory, since they had already defeated this team by a score of 1-0 in Jamaica. The public insisted on victory and no score less game. It was on the hope of victory that Dr. Yves Jean Bart and Zenono Jean Baptiste ended the press conference. Then the DJ played the latest Tabou Combo hit (Ayiti a la envi woueur ou) and almost in unison everyone started singing along and dancing to the beat in the colorful, tropical caribean style mural and well lit E-Planet.
Dr. Yves Jean Bart and another legend of the Haitian woman volley ball team.
Then came the time that everyone expected on Saturday evening, August 26th, 2001 at Lockart stadium on West Commercial Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Two games were (a double hitter) scheduled for this hot and humid tropical evening. The first game stared the local Miami Fusion versus the visiting New York Metros. It was a hotly contested game that everyone expected the Miami Fusion to win, since it had the home court advantage and a good team. However the visiting New York team which was relentless in his quest to score during the last minutes, managed to come from behind to score two goals in less that five minutes. One goal to tie the game 2-2 and a surprising long distance goal to win 3-2.
It is estimated that close to 18,000 soccer fans were crowded in the Lockart stadium during the last minutes of the game between Miami Fusion and New York. It was in front of this almost full to capacity that the Haitian and Jamaican women team made their international entry on the green field. They were warmly welcome by the publics with a large contingency of Haitian fans with the red and blue Haitian flags of various sizes.
Leading players of the Haitian women national team making their entry on the field at Lockart stadium on Commercial Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
There was a short warm up by both Haitian and Jamaican women national teams. led by their respective coach. Then it was time for the line up and the playing of both countries national anthem.
Line up of Jamaica women national team in yellow jersey and the Haitian women national team in red and blue jersey.
Facing west to salute their respective national flag during the singing of Haiti's and Jamaica national anthems.
Haitian fans displaying their national pride, by showing their national flag after the singing of Haiti's national anthem.
Then the lady head referee gave the signal to start the first half (45 minutes) of the game. For the first three minutes, the Jamaican players appeared to have display some superiority in speed, physical strength and discipline in executing short play by play. However in the next 7 minutes, the Haitian young ladies begun to display their own skills, using slide tackling techniques to stop the Jamaican offensive. Also using tactful maneuvers and dribbling techniques wordy of any good soccer players, the Haitian offense managed to penetrate the Jamaican defense to score the first goal during the first 10 minutes of the game.
Jamaican players in yellow and black, restarting the game at the center of the field after Haiti's #11 Geraldine Valentin had scored the first goal.
The crowd was jubilant with excitement. The Haitian fans could not seat still. Most could not believe their eyes. The Haitian women players really mean business. They play as well as men shouted a fan."Fanm pas kampe, garcon pas kampe'!". By the end of the first 45 minutes of the first half, the Haitian team still appears to have the upper hand. However during the second half, the Jamaican appeared to have done some homework, they change tactics midcourse. They seemed to have receive orders to guard the best Haitian players in the offense on a one on one basis. The pushing and tackling were taking place more often on both sides. Quite a few yellow cards were disbursed to players on both teams. Even a red card of ejection was given to a Jamaican player for a unfair back kick to a down Haitian player.
Everyone had its time on the green grass of Loackart stadium. Fans of both teams had their exciting moment to cherish as the game evolved. Midway into the second half, Jamaica had equalized and later took the lead. The Haitian fans were stoned, this is the first time the Haitian team had been scored on since they won the Women Caribbean Cup in 2000. This was a trying moment of courage, despair and disbelief. However the Haitian ladies on the field were not giving up yet. Jersey #8, Mirlande Bien-Aime was relentless in her smooth attack. But she often found herself at the mercy of two or three Jamaican defensive player with no attacking support player of her own to even pass the ball to, in order to conclude what she intended to do all along, to score. The help needed finally came, when the coach wisely introduce as substitute a star right forward, # 14 Pharana Jean Louis. She would be the catalyst for change in the truly defining moment of the last 10 minutes of the game. With her sharp dribbling skill, she was able to destabilize the Jamaican defense, which seems to have been as impenetrable as a rock. Credit goes also to the Jamaican goal keeper for having stood her ground in stopping quite a few balls kicked by either #11 Geraldine or #8 Mirlande.
Sure and determine, #11 Geraldine Valentin on the attack as she penetrates the Jamaican defense to face the Jamaican goalkeeper.
As the clock was moving closer to the end, with the possibility of the first lost crossing every fan minds. The hard work of the Haitian offense and midfield finally paid off. A brilliantly orchestrated play in an all outs attack, culminated in one of the most exciting play of the late evening. It was the goal of honor, the Haitian women had saved the night for the Haitian fans. And the Haitian team can still be proud of their record as undefeated team, although their goalkeeper net is no longer virgin.Their is no doubt that the Haitian women national team had made some believers in the Haitian diaspora community overseas, present at Lockart stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For many, this team not only represent a symbol of Haiti's `national pride, but as well a role model for many to emulate.
Civil Engineer Fenelus Guerrier (Secretary of the Haitian federation of Soccer, FHF) proudly displaying the Haitian national flag as he carries the load with fellow Haitian staff members.
May the Haitian men and women coaches continue to train this women team as best as they have done so far. Let there be a new renaissance of Haitian women soccer, as we had in the 1970's, when the Haitian women teams pioneered women soccer across the nation of Haiti, the Caribbean and America. Let the symbol that the name of clubs such as the Tigresse, Anacaona and Aigle Brillant continue to be the leading force that will keep this national team in check as it seeks to move up in status in the spirit of fair play, just competition for the spirit, the love of the game and the pride of the nation of Haiti, that the deceived past Caribbean Haitian-Indian woman chief (Anacaona) would have been proud to see perform for Ayiti.
Wep page created and updated by Noe Dorestant on August 28th, 2001. Last updated on August 30th, 2001.
Note: All pictures were photographed and provided by Noe Dorestant as a token of his civic contribution to help promote Haitian women soccer on the Internet. If you copy and plan to reuse any of these picture. PS give credit to the originator. All rights reserved 2001. Web page designed by Noe Dorestant.
On December 9th, 2001, the Haitian women national team and the Jamaican women national team played again to a parity score of 1-1 (a very competitive game with plenty of pushing and red cards discarded to both teams) in front of a mostly Haitian crowd at Lockart stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
20002 ALL-STAR SOCCER CLASSIC: Haiti women all stars v.s. USA women college all stars
Line up of USA women florida all stars in blue and black jersey and the Haitian women national team all stars in red and blue jersey.
On Sunday evening, February 10th, 2002 under a partly cloudy sky and light sporadic rain the Haitian women National team all stars played the USA women college all stars at Lockart stadium in Fort Lauderdale, in front of a mostly Haitian crowd.
The game was very exciting, a great deal of action, passion and emotions. The Haitian women showed what they are made up, so did the USA women. The competitive rollercoster game ended on a tie score of 2-2 after 90 minutes of fast action play.
The public braved the rain to pay respect to the women for theit competitive spirit after the game which proved the potential of both teams to play brilliant, exciting and entertaining soccer.
The Haitian goal keeper was challenged and had the opportunity to display her courage and her skill under US forward actack pressure, which was at times relentless. In at least four occasions she faced as the last line of defense US attacker alone and sucessfully defend her Haitian net to the surprise of almost everyone.
The US scored first on an error by the goal keeper who let the ball slip thru her hand after she had stopped it. The Haitian response was swift and quick. Shortly thereafter in a matter of minutes a brilliant Haitian goal was scored at a difficult angle by #9 Marie Claude Jules after a fierce and courageous attack on the right ring, where she penetrated the US defense to score the goal that sent the crowd into jubilation. Haiti scored the second goal with a double effort on the US goal keeper by two different Haitian players (the lone that went in after a rebound was scored due to good timing and perseverence by Thelot #16). Later on the US came from behind to even the match.
The Haitian goal keeper during her best performance of defending her net and kicking the ball away when she had to.
The rest is history of the 2002 all-star soccer classic in Lockart stadium of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which ended with this last game of the menu on a positive and competitive note on the even score of: Haiti women all stars 2 goals, Florida USA college women all stars 2 goals.
Everyone came out satisfied of a great soccer performance, where the women (Haitians and Americans alike) gave mostly the best they had to offer under the circumstance during the great finale of this soccer celebration of the 2002 All Star Soccer Classic in South Florida.
Wep page updated by Noe Dorestant on February 28th, 2002 to include the All Star soccer classic.
Note: All pictures were photographed and provided by Noe Dorestant as a token of his civic contribution to help promote Haitian women soccer on the Internet. If you copy and plan to reuse any of these picture. PS give credit to the originator. All rights reserved 2002. Web page designed by Noe Dorestant.
HAITIAN MEN NATIONAL TEAM IN GOLD CUP 2000 & 2002
Haitian perspective