Haiti aiming high, not always on target

July 18, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas -They tried it once. They tried again. And they tried some more until they hit their target — a large target.

It’s like a bulls eye that measures about 180 feet (55 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) high and is suspended from a ceiling nearly as high as a skyscraper.

Haiti’s players had trouble kicking a soccer ball high enough to hit the giant scoreboard – the world’s largest high-definition TV screen — that covers a large portion of the playing field at the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium.

They tried it during a recent training session. They weren’t being rebellious, trying to cause trouble. The Haitians were dared by the man responsible for the creation of the stadium.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to see if the Haitians could hit the screen.

A couple of players hit the bottom part of the screen, causing stadium visitors to erupt in cheers.

It was a moment the Haitian players might not forget. It’s rare that a team from a small Caribbean island gets the chance to train inside a stadium that cost an estimated $1.15 billion to build and holds 80,000 people with room to spare.

Haiti doesn’t always get the chance to showcase its talent at a venue that is among the largest stadiums in the world.

But come Sunday, Haiti will have what is its biggest soccer challenge yet. It will have its chance to shine against Mexico in the night cap of a Gold Cup quarterfinal doubleheader.

It will be a match between one of the poorest soccer nation against one of the wealthiest in the region.

“We’re dying with enthusiasm to play in this game in this scenario,” Haiti coach Jairo Rios said in Spanish. “We’re grateful and pleased we have this opportunity.”

The large stadiums, the charter flights, fancy hotels and daily allowances are also a rare opportunity for Haiti players.

This is a team that wasn’t supposed to be in the tournament. It was invited to replace Cuba, which qualified but withdrew.

“Getting to come here was a blessing from God,” Rios said. “We’re going to try and get the best out of it.”

Haiti players will try to beat Mexico, but also take the opportunity to demonstrate their talents for possible contracts with high-paying clubs.

Rios is hoping this match and the tournament alone can help some of his players and others back on the island begin a journey out of extreme poverty.

Haitian soccer players don’t have the luxuries that others in the region have.

Some Haitians not only don’t have cash for equipment, they don’t have the means for every day essentials.

“Nutrition is terrible with a lot of these players,” Rios said. “Some don’t eat because they can’t afford to buy food. There’s no way you can be an athlete if you don’t have the proper nutrition.”

That’s one of many obstacles Rios faces as the coach of a national team that doesn’t receive much support from its government. Team resources are scarce. Soccer life in Haiti is hanging by a thread.

Most of Haiti players on the Gold Cup roster play for clubs outside the island and in Europe. Rios said they are well compensated compared to prospects back home.

Others are beginning to make careers in the United States as part of the United Soccer Leagues First Division and Major League Soccer.

Players such as midfielder Jean Alexandre, who is on loan to USL side Austin Aztecs by Real Salt Lake and forward Leonel Saint-Preux (Minnesota Thunder).

Fabrice Noel is another.

The 23-year-old is regarded as one of Haiti’s top prospects. He has 10 caps with Haiti. He scored his first goal with the national team against Grenada last week.

Noel plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders. He’s made Puerto Rico his home since signing with the club last year and is living comfortably. He had his stint in MLS after being drafted by the Colorado Rapids in 2005 before being waived in 2007.

“I have one year left in Puerto Rico so I’m trying to do my best to move to another level,” Noel said. “We want people to know that we can play. We just don’t have a lot of help. We don’t have agents. We try to sell ourselves in different places. We really have a lot of talent on the team. We just play for a poor country.”

Rios is trying to send that message to the rest of the soccer world. That is why he took on this job.

He took over as coach last summer after Haiti was devastated by a hurricane that wiped out most of the island.

Soccer was put on hold. The country received help from FIFA to get its soccer clubs and national team going again. They provided temporary coaches.

Rios was later offered the job.

“I was told the pay wasn’t going to be good,” Rios said. “I thought money wasn’t the issue here, so I went for it. I wanted to help bring change.”

Rios said he has not received a paycheck for his services in “quite some time.” He said most players make about $400 a month. He said players are taking home $2,000 for participating in the Gold Cup.

“That’s an incredible amount of money for them,” Rios said. “You won’t see them spending much at the shopping malls. They’ll make sure to take most of it home.”

So why did Rios take the job despite all challenges?

“I love soccer,” said Rios, who was coaching a club in Honduras before taking over Haiti. “Soccer has given me so much that I thought I could give back. I fell in love with the island and the people, the players.”

Rios, born in Colombia, said he was overwhelmed by the poverty that embraces the island.

He’s seen players live in shacks without potable water, no electricity and just enough food not to starve.

“It’s something unreal,” Rios said. “When I arrived I couldn’t bear to see it. But I knew I had to do something and try to change it.”

Rios might not change Haiti’s national team’s economic woes, but he said he’s seen improvement on the field.

He said players in Haiti don’t know how to manage the technical side of the game. They don’t generally pass the ball and play a scheme. They try as individuals, always wanting to keep the ball.

Assistant coach Jairo Ossa said it used to take players 50 repetitions to learn a drill.

“Now it takes only 10,” Ossa said. “They’re adjusting to what we’re teaching.”

Players also are adjusting to coaching signals provided by Rios and Ossa, who also is from Colombia.

Most players speak French, English and Creole. Both coaches are fluent in Spanish.

Language is not much of a problem as earning the players trust. Some have opened up to their coaches. Others like to keep to themselves.

“Sometimes they act like 10 or 12-year-olds,” Ossa said. “It’s something that we’re getting used to and we hope to continue to embrace.”

But when Haiti players get a chance to kick soccer balls at what could be the world’s largest television, they are not shy.

By Ivan Orozco

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Late strike gives USA 2-2 draw with Haiti

July 12, 2009

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — Stuart Holden scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to earn the United States a 2-2 draw with Haiti and send it to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as the winner of Group B.

Holden’s equalizer extended the Americans’ unbeaten streak against home against CONCACAF opponents to 56 after Haiti jeopardized the string by scoring twice in the first four minutes of the second half. The result maintained the Americans’ unbeaten record in Gold Cup group play (23-2-0) and ensured a date with the third-placed team from Group A or C in the next round.

“When you begin the tournament, the goal is to win your group and advance,” United States head coach Bob Bradley said. “The first thing that we said after the game is that we’ve accomplished that goal.”

Davy Arnaud opened the scoring for the United States, which started four players making their international debut, after six minutes. Holden split the Haitian defense with and incisive pass. Arnaud rushed onto the feed and tucked his left-footed effort to the side of onrushing goalkeeper Jean Dominique Zephirin.

“We scored an early goal, but it came so early that we hadn’t found a rhythm in the game yet,” Bradley said. “After that, we were still trying to find that rhythm. They were able to make some plays and cause some trouble.”

Holden nearly doubled the lead after 25 minutes when he was given time and space to fire from 30 yards. The long-distance drive rattled the underside of the crossbar, but did not bounce over the line.

Haiti threatened several times in the first half. Fabrice Noel cut inside and challenged U.S. goalkeeper Luis Robles, one of the debutantes, with a high drive. Robles parried it over his own head and had to rush back to push the effort away from his own goal line.

Moments after Jimmy Conrad put a header over the bar from a Holden corner kick, Robles made up for his earlier error by denying Sirin Vaniel from close range to ensure the U.S. would enter the halftime break with the advantage.

The lead didn’t last as Haiti scored twice within the first four minutes of the second half to seize control.

“We understood what I said (about what we had studied of the U.S.) at halftime and played a very spectacular second half, in my consideration,” Haiti coach Jairo Rios said.

Leonel Saint Preaux outmuscled U.S. left back Jay Heaps on the right wing before sending his cross to the far post. Robles was unable to get a touch and Virin nodded home at the far post to bring Haiti level.

Robles and Heaps were at the center of Haiti’s second goal four minutes later. Heaps cleared a pass along the end line into the center of the park as Robles rushed out tardily to do the same. Chery collected the clearance and lashed home spectacularly into the upper left corner from 25 yards.

Suddenly faced with the peril of not going through at the top of its group, the United States started to press in search of the equalizer. U.S. coach Bob Bradley inserted Charlie Davies, Kyle Beckerman and Brian Ching to spur the offense.

Holden headed a Colin Clark cross wide, while substitute Charlie Davies scuffed a chance under heavy pressure from Pierre Richard Bruny.

It looked like the U.S. would have to wait for the result in the nightcap between Honduras and Grenada to find out its final spot in the group until Holden scored in stoppage time to grab a point.

“It really hurts because it was one minute before the end of the match,” Rios said.

By Kyle McCarthy

Tags: B. Holden, bob bradley, Bradley, brian ching, Charlie Davies, close range, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, concacaf gold cup, crossbar, davy arnaud, debutantes, equalizer, Fabrice Noel, foxborough massachusetts, goal line, Goalkeeper, grenada, holden, Honduras, international debut, Jay, jean dominique, Jean Dominique Zephirin, jimmy conrad, Luis Robles, Massachusetts, Pierre Richard Bruny, quarterfinals, six minutes, stoppage time, Stuart Holden, U.S., United States

Haiti revives hopes with 2-0 win over Grenada

July 9, 2009

WASHINGTON — Haiti breathed new life into their Gold Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Grenada at RFK Stadium on Wednesday night, as goals from Fabrice Noel and James Marcelin carried les Grenadiers past the Spice Boyz in a Group B encounter.

Noel converted from a free kick in the 14th minute. Brunel Fucien whipped an inswinging cross toward a crowd in the penalty area, where the ball appeared to strike the back of Noel and dribbled into the goal.

With 12 minutes left, Haiti found the clincher when Marcelin capitalized on a howling mistake by Grenada captain Anthony Modeste. With a ball sent behind the defense, Modeste looked prime to clear the ball, but amazingly walked over it, leaving Modeste to close unmarked on goal and easily beat goalkeeper Desmond Noel.

The result revived Haiti’s hopes and left Gold Cup debutante Grenada with no points after two games.

Grenadian midfielder Patrick Modeste tested Jean Dominique Zephirin with a well-driven shot toward the upper corner eight minutes after kickoff, but Haiti netminder flung himself left to parry the effort wide.

Haiti was nearly gifted a goal two minutes later when Spice Boyz defender Jason James deflected a cross toward his own net, wrongfooting Noel, but he recovered in time to collect the loose ball at his right post.

Haiti was enjoying superior possession when Marcelin asserted himself in the center of the park and they came close to doubling its advantage in the 28th minute. <BR>Grenada’s Noel couldn’t hold a shot from Raymond Ednerson, knocking the ball toward Haiti’s Noel deep in the penalty area – but defender Anthony Modeste intervened to clear the danger just in time.

Grenada used a quick counterattack to carve out their best chance of the half six minutes before the intermission. Holding midfielder Ricky Charles exposed the Haitian defense with a delicate lofted cross to Delroy Facey at the far post, but the striker looped his shot well over the target from close range.

In the second half, Haiti hunted for a valuable second tally while Grenada looked for the equalizer needed to keep their fading tournament hopes alive. Yet both sides struggled to craft sustained passing sequences as the Spice Boyz resorted to hopeful long balls and Haiti lacked sharpness in the attacking third.

Leonel Saint Preux should have added to Haiti’s lead on a venture deep into the Grenada box in the 58th minute. Floating into ample space near the penalty spot, Saint Preux was set up by strike partner Noel but dribbled his shot well wide of the left post.

RFK Stadium was gradually filling up with blue-clad Honduras fans eager for the second half of the doubleheader against the United States and their noise percolated around the venerable facility as time ticked away on Grenada’s hopes.

Chasing down an angled ball into the Haitian box, Facey got a good look at goal but with the ball on his left foot, he elected to play a centering pass that went begging with no gold jerseys on hand.

Panamanian referee Roberto Moreno’s full-time whistle handed Haiti their first Gold Cup victory since 2002 and gave Jairo Rios’ side renewed hopes for a quarterfinal berth, while Grenada’s second loss of the tournament virtually eliminated them from contention with one match remaining.

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Tags: Anthony Modeste, captain anthony, clincher, close range, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, counterattack, cup campaign, debutante, Desmond Noel, Fabrice Noel, facey, far post, free kick, gold cup, grenada, grenadiers, Haiti, Honduras, James Marcelin, jason james, jean dominique, Jean Dominique Zephirin, loose ball, marcelin, modeste, netminder, noel, Patrick Modeste, Raymond Ednerson, rfk stadium, Ricky Charles, roberto moreno, target, United States, Washington

Costly header lifts Honduras over Haiti 1-0

July 5, 2009

SEATTLE — Carlo Costly headed home a free kick in the 76th minute to give Honduras a 1-0 victory over Haiti in the Group B opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Despite controlling possession for a large portion of the game, Haiti conceded a needless free kick in the corner, which led to the game-winning goal.

Haitian substitute Markdrel Sampeur challenged Marvin Chavez near the corner flag as he ran away from the goal, drawing the referee’s whistle. On the ensuing restart, striker Carlo Costly beat James Marcelin to the cross and headed inside the far post.

“The match was very tight. There were chances for both sides,” Honduras coach Reynaldo Rueda said. “It’s important to start winning, and today Honduras won.”

It was a tough blow for Haiti, which had the majority of the chances.

“We saw (our) team playing very well tactically but with the set pieces it was very poor,” said Haiti coach Jairo Rios through a translator, saying that he believed a tie would have been a fair result. “I don’t think we needed to have conceded that foul but it happened.”

Both teams had opportunities early, but neither seriously threatened. Perhaps the best chance came from a low cross by right back Sirin Vaniel, but none of the Haitian attackers were able to beat Honduran goalkeeper Jean Zephirin to the ball.

Haiti looked more active and energetic in the first half, moving the ball with relative ease and committing players forward. Fabrice Noel led Haiti’s attack, causing problems with his speed. He had one of the better chances of the half, lashing a shot wide of the near post from distance.

Outside backs Frantz Gilles and Vaniel made several runs forward as the Haitian defense looked in control in the first 35 minutes of the game.

The final 10 minutes of the half, however, belonged to Honduras.

In the 38th minute, Honduras finally got their first real chance. Carlos Martinez collected a cross at the far post and launched a knuckling drive from a tough angle that Zephrin blocked at the near post with his legs.

Martinez, who directed much of the Honduran offense, led a counterattack a couple minutes later but failed to connect on the final pass to Costly.

Honduras looked dangerous to take the lead before halftime, with defender Nery Medina’s blast from 35 yards parried over the bar by Zephirin.

With the United States playing the second match of the doubleheader, the crowd started to fill in during the second half. The fans watched Haiti maintain pressure in the second half.

Leonel Saint Preux forced a save at the far post from Honduran keeper Donis Escober with a strike from distance. Neol and Saint Preux combined nicely for Haiti as the underdog continued to test the favored Hondurans.

The pace of the match slowed as the second half approached the midpoint and neither team looked threatening. Haiti had a penalty appeal turned down a few minutes later while Saint Preux controlled and shot into Escober’s midsection.

Then came Costly’s goal, which deflated Haiti.

Honduras had two excellent chances to double the lead, but Pierre Richard Bruny saved a ball off the line for Haiti after George Welcome had beaten an onrushing Zephirin with a lofted shot. Honduras granted Haiti another reprieve minutes later as Costly had a promising breakaway but failed to control the ball.

Both teams are back in action in four days. Honduras plays the United States in Washington on Wednesday, while Haiti will hope to rebound against Grenada. In the post-match press conference, the Miller Lite Player of the Match Costly said he thinks his team can advance.

“We want to win more and hopefully we will be able to,” Costly said. “The team is always pushing to go forward.”

On the other side, Haiti’s Rios liked what he saw from his team despite the loss.

“We are progressing and implementing our proposed plan,” Rios said. “In the next game we probably have a better result.”

By Andrew Winner

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Tags: Andrew Winner, attackers, Carlo Costly, carlos martinez, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, concacaf gold cup, corner flag, Fabrice Noel, far post, free kick, George Welcome, gilles, grenada, Haiti, Honduras, jairo, James Marcelin, Jean Zephirin, large portion, marvin chavez, match, Pierre Richard Bruny, possession, referee, Reynaldo Rueda, Seattle, striker, United States, Washington, whistle

Islanders rusty, Marathon limping heading into first leg of Champions League quarterfinals

February 24, 2009

Puerto Rico Islanders may have off-season rust; Honduran champion Marathon has more serious concerns heading into the first leg of Thursday’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal in San Juan.

The Monstruo Verde (Green Monster) from San Pedro Sula won the Apertura title in December to earn a berth in next year’s Champions League, but have been beset by injuries so far in the Honduras Clausura while still holding on to first place after Sunday’s 1-0 win at Motagua.

“Marathon is without their backbone and while we are expecting some of our players to recover [soon] – we still have many key components of this team injured and on the mend,” coach Manuel Keosseian said.

Defender Erick Norales (thigh), goalkeeper Victor Coello (right leg) and midfielder Maynor Suazo (knee) are still on the mend while others like midfielder Carlos Oliva (herniated disc) and defender Mario Beata (calf tear) aren’t expected to play either.

There is some good news for Keosseian. Highly touted attacking midfielder Marvin Chavez returned from a bruised leg for Sunday’s victory in Tegucigalpa.

Chavez scored the winner in a 2-0 victory over Saprissa on November 5 to earn Marathon the Group A title.

Midfielder Emil Martinez also returned to the lineup on Sunday while forward Milton ‘Tyson’ Nunez (thigh) is reported to be anxious to join strike partner Jerry Palacios, who scored the lone goal in Sunday’s game.

Coach Colin Clarke’s “Orange Troop” haven’t played a competitive match since their last Group Stage fixture on October 30 against Tauro FC, but the former Northern Ireland international remains upbeat after three friendlies against Major League Soccer opposition in Bradenton, Florida.

The Islanders fell 1-0 to the Chicago Fire on February 7; two nights later drew with the New York Red Bulls 0-0 and concluded with a 2-0 win over the reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew on February 12.

The Islanders finished second to Mexico’s Santos Laguna in a much weaker Group D, so Clarke is aware of the challenge.

“Marathon are a great team, are good going forward and qualified in a much more difficult group,” Clarke said. “Getting a result in the first game will be crucial for us because after the first leg, we will be headed to their stadium and a hostile environment for the return match.”

The Islanders are led by Bill Gaudette, the top goalkeeper in the United Soccer Leagues’ First Division – the second tier of North American soccer; USL defender of the year Christian Arrieta and Puerto Rico’s team player of the year, midfielder Jonathan Steele who led the league with 11 assists last season.

The off-season departure of striker Taiwo Atieno to the Charleston Battery and Fabrice Noel, who is still negotiating a trade, will weaken the Islanders.

Clarke recently bolstered his roster though with the addition of Jamaican international forwards Nicholas Addlery from the Vancouver Whitecaps and Sean Fraser from Miami FC, while the team has also added target man Martin Nunez from the Carolina Railhawks.

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