Haiti National soccer team - Haiti Observer Blog

We learned with sadness the passing of former member of the Haitian National soccer team, Mr. Joseph Obas. He died on Saturday, June 21, 2014 in New York of a heart attack as he was watching the World Cup, game between Argentine and Iran.

Born in the North of the country, Joseph Obas started his career in the city of cap-Haitian. He later moved to the Haitian Capital where he became a member of the Racing Club.

Not Emmanuel Sanon, but Joseph Obas is considered to be the highest Haitian scorer for the Haitian National team. He was one of the major players who caused Haiti to qualify for the 1970 World Cup.

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Yves "Dadou" Jean-Bart, the country's football federation president, is highly optimistic about the future of Haitian football. In a recent quote he was stated as having said that 2015 will be the beginning of a new era of professionalism in sport. The change will come from the airing of all matches for the national league and the division 1 season lasting from June to September. This plan will be accompanied by a marketing campaign throughout the region.

Now, with the backing of various sponsors, including Digicel, Haiti will join the rank of other Caribbean countries playing soccer internationally like: the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Jamaica and Panama. To make them more 'field worthy' Jean-Bart stated that the country invited FIFA, which will provide help in the form of four experts who will oversee the spending of the funds appropriated towards the sport. A marketing management team will be established, headed by a CONCACAF representative.

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September 6th, 2013 saw a first in football history as the Grenadiers took on South Korea, a new frontier for the world's favorite sport. Played in Seoul, the match saw coach Antonio Israel Blake Cantero replaced by interim coach Pierre Roland Saint-Jean. Saint-Jean will coach until a newly appointed coach is selected by the FHF (Haitian Football Federation).

Recently placing 74th on the most current ranking from FIFA, the Haitian team looked to best their rivals, coming in at 56 on the same list, in a friendly match to honor their first meet on the green of the Incheon Football Stadium. The game was made possible by the pulling out of the team from Iran, which dropped their scheduled game with South Korea early in the month of August.

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Jean Philippe Peguero gives Haitian Soccer team a draw with the powerful Italian team

On Haiti side, it was pride, hope and a memory of the 1974 soccer team. On Italy side, shock, surprise, embarrassment are the feeling that best describe them on June 11, 2013 after Haiti soccer team has made a draw with the powerful Italian team.

Emanuele Giaccherini scored for Italy after only 19 seconds and substitute Claudio Marchisio added a second in the 72nd minute.

Italy vs Haiti 2-2 All Goals and Highlights:

For Haiti team, Olrish Saurel scored from a penalty with five minutes left. Then, Jean Philippe Peguero grabbed an equalizer deep into stoppage time.

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Haiti has a national soccer team, the Haiti National Football Team (HNFT). The Fédération Haïtienne de Football is the governing corpus responsible for ensuring HNFT follows CONCACAF rules to compete against other leagues in the Caribbean. The Haiti National Football Team plays all home games at Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince, coached by Israel Blake Cantero, an ex-soccer champ.

The HNFT has a history of longevity since the 60s, qualifying for the World Cup (WC) early on, playing in it in 1974. Although they did not win, they played an excellent game against very tough competitors, the Italians. The HNFT reached the qualifying rounds again in '78 and '82 but did not succeed in participating in the WC.

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Haiti's national soccer team, the Haiti National Football team (HNFT) has been competing since the 1960s in CONCACAF. Making the cut for the World Cup in 1974, they played against fierce competitors, the Italians.

Although they did not win, they made an impression with star player, Emmanuel Sanon, making the opening winning goal. In 1974 Antoine Tassy coached the HNFT with a roster of 22 players.

Here is the list of 1974 World Cup Haitian players in picture

Here is the list of players:

Henry Francillon, Goalkeeper - DOB: May 25, 1946 - Club: Victory Club Port-au-Prince

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