{"id":11426,"date":"2023-07-11T02:22:19","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T02:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/womens-world-cup-2023-haitis-team-are-bringing-the-light-back-after-qualifying\/"},"modified":"2023-07-11T02:22:20","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T02:22:20","slug":"womens-world-cup-2023-haitis-team-are-bringing-the-light-back-after-qualifying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/sport\/womens-world-cup-2023-haitis-team-are-bringing-the-light-back-after-qualifying\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s World Cup 2023: Haiti’s team are ‘bringing the light back’ after qualifying"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\"Kerly<\/span><\/span>
Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus reflects on her side’s World Cup play-off win over Chile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sign up for notifications to the latest Insight features via the BBC Sport app and find the most recent in the series <\/em>here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

“Actually, can I ask something?”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Kerly Theus is a 5ft 4in goalkeeper who plays for the Haiti women’s national team.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the last 40 minutes, we have talked about her career, her country, her childhood. We have even touched on the friends she lost in the 2010 earthquake.<\/span><\/p>\n

But all this time, something has been bubbling up inside of her, a point she has been desperate to get across.<\/span><\/p>\n

In less than two weeks, Haiti face England, European Champions and second favourites behind the United States to win the tournament, at the Women’s World Cup in Brisbane, Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is Haiti’s first ever match at the competition – and for Theus, it will be the biggest of her career.<\/span><\/p>\n

She also sees it as an opportunity: the fixture that inspires the next generation. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Can you quote this in your article, please?” she asks. “‘This message is specifically for the girls in Haiti: ‘Keep pushing, keep driving and this moment, you’ll have it too when it’s your time’.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Theus, along with her team-mates, wants to propel her nation into the spotlight. It is her main motivator, all she can think about.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’ve been to tournaments where people said ‘Haiti? What’s that?'” she adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The World Cup is the biggest stage. Your country, your name is publicised everywhere. <\/span><\/p>\n

“We want the world to know about Haiti and the talent we have. Oh, and we want to get past the group stage.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Haitian<\/span><\/span>
Haiti were ranked 55th in the world in February, 17 places below Chile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Haiti were one of the last teams to reach the World Cup, <\/span>upsetting Chile in a play-off in New Zealand in February.<\/span><\/a> in New Zealand in February.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tense 2-1 victory ebbed and flowed and was finally settled by midfielder Melchie Dumornay’s 98th-minute strike.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It didn’t even take until getting back to the locker room for the tears to start,” <\/span>adds right-back Chelsea Surpris<\/span><\/a>, who spoke to BBC World Service in February.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Some of us, including myself, were absolutely bawling as soon as the whistle blew. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Either you were crying, smiling or just screaming as a part of a release. It all just came together in a beautiful form. <\/span><\/p>\n

“All of us just held each other together so tightly and really just embraced each other. All of us.”<\/span><\/p>\n

This Haitian team looks forward – there is no long football legacy, no history to lean on or run from.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1991, Haiti finished fourth at the Concacaf Championship. Since then they have won just four matches across five major tournaments. They have never played at an Olympic Games.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team’s base is in Croix-des-Bouquets, one of Port-au-Prince’s poorest suburbs. It is officially called the Fifa Goal Center, but everybody knows it as ‘the Ranch’. <\/span><\/p>\n

Back in 2002, the first phase of the training complex opened, boasting an auditorium, administrative office and dormitories for players. <\/span><\/p>\n

Today, up to 200 boys and girls aged 14 and above live, train and go to school at the former country mansion.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the pitch, the national team has clearly made substantial progress. In 2018, Haiti’s women reached their first Under-20 World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Five years later, the core squad remains and saw off Mexico and Senegal in qualifiers with comfortable, free-flowing wins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Within the squad, the mindset has changed: Haiti are not just here to make up the numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, qualifying for the World Cup was another moment of history but we’re supposed to be here,” says midfielder Danielle Etienne.<\/span><\/p>\n

“People may say that it was an accident but, my gosh, I think this was our destiny. From under-14s we were on this journey to the World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We made sure in February we didn’t have another chance to say, ‘dang, we were so close but we didn’t make it’.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Theus<\/span><\/span>
Theus at the Ranch in May 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Theus joined the Ranch in 2013, at the age of 14.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially, it was her sister who was spotted and she tagged along because it was easier than separating them.<\/span><\/p>\n

“There was no goalkeeper in my age group,” she says. “I didn’t want to play in goal but I learned the mechanics – how to hold the ball, knowing when to dive, how to dive, things like that.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It was completely different to playing on the streets. We trained every day, twice a day, no matter what.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We had practice matches with the boys’ team, it made us stronger and faster.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The players at the Ranch grew up together. In recent months, emotionally, they have drawn ever closer.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2020, Yves Jean-Bart, the president of the Haitian Football Federation, was handed a lifetime ban by Fifa for alleged harassment and sexual abuse of multiple underage female footballers at the Ranch and elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifa’s investigation concluded<\/span>external-link<\/title><\/svg><\/span><\/a> he “threatened and prevented potential victims and witnesses from giving testimony” and “exercised an authoritarian regime”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Photographs from 2021<\/span>external-link<\/title><\/svg><\/span><\/a> were also followed by allegations that children at the Ranch were living in unhygienic and unsafe conditions. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, in February, Jean-Bart’s suspension was overturned <\/span>by the Court of Arbitration for Sport<\/span>external-link<\/title><\/svg><\/span><\/a> who found the evidence against him was “inconsistent, unclear and contradictory”.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 75-year-old has strongly denied the allegations since they were first made. Meanwhile, <\/span>Fifa have filed a rare appeal against Cas’ ruling<\/span>external-link<\/title><\/svg><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

None of the three players interviewed for this piece wanted to speak directly about the claims but all mentioned the squad’s unity in the face of adversity.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We can’t control what happened but we understand we can control our reaction to it,” says Etienne.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We’re not shaken by this, we’re choosing not to linger on the past or negativity,” adds Surpris.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theus concludes: “We’re tight-knit, most of the team think the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hey, we’re here to show off our talent, show off our skills. Let’s let that do the talking.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Yves<\/span><\/span>
Yves Jean-Bart (left) welcomed ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter (right) to Haiti in 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Football in Haiti, on the pitch at least, is rising.<\/span><\/p>\n

The uncertainty and instability at the Ranch though, reflects the nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

In July 2021, <\/span>President Jovenel Moise was assassinated<\/span><\/a>. A month later, <\/span>an earthquake killed over 2,000<\/span><\/a> people. In October 2022, <\/span>the UN reported<\/span>external-link<\/title><\/svg><\/span><\/a> 4.7 million Haitians were facing acute hunger.<\/span><\/p>\n

Haiti is engulfed in gang violence<\/span><\/a>. In February, the last democratically elected officials left office.<\/span><\/p>\n

All this is happening while the Caribbean country continues to recover from an earthquake and subsequent cholera outbreak <\/span>in 2010 that killed over 100,000<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Goalkeeper Theus, 24, was 11 and living in the capital Port-au-Prince at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Everybody lost their homes, we had to live in a tent for a couple of months,” she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was lucky, I didn’t have any direct family who passed away. But I remember losing friends in the neighbourhood who I used to play football with on the streets.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I miss those moments.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It was a traumatic period at my age. That’s what it is. I don’t really talk about it much.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The World Cup and the media attention which goes with it could be crucial in changing the conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Many think we’re resilient people because we have so much struggle,” adds Etienne. “I think we’re resilient because we’ve had so many successes. <\/span><\/p>\n

“We had <\/span>the first and only successful slave revolt to lead to a free country<\/span><\/a>. It’s unfortunate that sometimes pain is all that’s seen.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We’re going to a World Cup, the men have just played in the Gold Cup – these little moments show there is such much value in Haiti. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Yeah, there might be things going on that are negative but there is even more that is positive. Haiti is still full of gold.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Port-au-Prince,<\/span><\/span>
About 1.3 million people were made homeless by the 2010 Haitian earthquake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This Haiti team represents not just a country, but a nation spread across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, not all of the squad shares Theus’ childhood. Some were born in Haiti, others in the United States. Some only speak English, others only Creole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understandably, over the past two decades, a large number of Haitians have left the country. <\/span>Over one million people with Haitian ancestry<\/span>external-link<\/title><\/svg><\/span><\/a> are living in the USA.<\/span><\/p>\n

That’s reflected in the squad too. Theus, Etienne and Surpris play their club football in the United States. <\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the team live in France, with star midfielder Dumornay moving from Reims to eight-time Champions League winners Lyon on July 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, speak to Haiti’s players and, despite their disparate upbringings, you soon uncover their bond.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Surpris, who played for the USA at youth level, puts it: “Haiti is in the blood, it’s my family, it’s who I know.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the squad, there is a common desire to give back to the nation that raised them.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It doesn’t matter if you were born in the United States or you were born in Haiti, we are all Haitians,” says Etienne.<\/span><\/p>\n

“In the camps, we make sure it doesn’t feel like people from different places are outsiders.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I didn’t even know Creole when I was 14 and first with the team. Now I translate for my team-mates. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Once we had that foundation, it was easy to integrate. I think as we got older and more mature, we started to see each other as sisters. <\/span><\/p>\n

“We’ve been through a lot together.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Kerly<\/span><\/span>
Haiti have never played in a global major tournament though their men’s side did reach the group stage of the 1974 World Cup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our time is nearly up. Theus chuckles. Her wide smile is warm and infectious.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’ve been very excited to do this interview. You are based in the UK and everybody’s fully aware we play England in our first game,” she says. <\/span><\/p>\n

England are ranked fourth in the world, Haiti are 53rd.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in November, Haiti were thrashed 5-0 by Portugal. In a friendly against Portugal at the start of July, England racked up 23 shots in a 0-0 draw.<\/span><\/p>\n

“England are the big dogs and that’s granted,” adds Etienne.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We definitely respect them and understand their legacy but at the same time, we want them on their heels. <\/span><\/p>\n

“We’ll give them a fight, for sure.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Group D also includes two-time quarter-finalists Denmark and one-time runners-up China.<\/span><\/p>\n

In every match at this summer’s competition, Haiti will be the overwhelming underdogs. <\/span><\/p>\n

But that suits them just fine. Remember, nobody expected them to get past Chile.<\/span><\/p>\n

After seven failed qualification attempts, Haiti are here. They have a platform to tell their own story.<\/span><\/p>\n

“To imagine yourself at a World Cup is insane,” says Surpris. <\/span><\/p>\n

“I think about singing the national anthem, standing side by side with my team-mates and hearing a roaring crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n

“To be in such a surreal moment where you are just speechless, it’s going to be incredible.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Etienne is equally zealous.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’m a ride-or-die Haitian,” she adds. “You can’t say anything negative without me pushing back with something positive.<\/span><\/p>\n

“These are the moments we live for. We’re trying to bring back the light to Haiti for sure.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The team is on an upward trajectory, a symbol for change. <\/span><\/p>\n

Few things are more important than football for this group, but legacy is certainly one. <\/span><\/p>\n

Theus repeats that message for the next generation of Haitian girls who will be watching on 22 July, eager to build on the team’s success:<\/span><\/p>\n

“Keep pushing, keep driving and this moment, you’ll have it too when it’s your time.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Football<\/span><\/span>
Training jerseys are hung up to dry against a fence at the Ranch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additional reporting by BBC Sport’s Isaac Fanin.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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