soccer - 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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The Haitian-American we all have been expecting to shine in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil may be out for the rest of the games.

Just in the 23rd minute of his first game in the 2014 World Cup, Jozy Altidore was obligated to come out. Sadly enough, his brief apparition might have been just that.

He pulled his left hamstring as he was attempting to run with a pass received from midfielder Michael Bradley.

Hamstring injuries are common in athletes. a pulled hamstring is no other than an excessive stretch or tear of muscle fibers and related tissues. During gait, the hamstrings undergo a complex process which makes it very vulnerable to frequent injuries. It must contract concentrically during the end of the stance phase in order to bend the knee and allow the foot to clear the ground. Also, at the end of the swing phase the hamstrings needs to contract while applying a braking moment to knee extension.

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Although most Haitians are supporting either Brazil or Argentine in this 2014 World Cup taking place in Brazil, we have been more involved and surprisingly, our involvement have nothing to do with either.

Two players of Haitian origin are currently playing in the World Cup. Jean Beausejour is defending the Chilean National team, and Jozy Altidore is a major contributor in the U.S. soccer team.

The son of a Haitian father and a Chilean-Mapuche mother, Jean Beausejour was born in Santiago, Chile. He began playing Football professionally at Universidad Católica in 2001. Due to his superior soccer skill, he was selected for Chile national team by coach Marcelo Bielsa.

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A major accomplishment for the Haitian artist. FIFA has selected Wyclef Jean to be in the line up of entertainers who will be performing at the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. He will be accompanied by Carlos Santana, Avicii and Alexandre Pires.

"We will find a Way" the song to be interpreted by Wyclef Jean.

Wyclef Jean is scheduled to interpret the song titled:"Dar in Rio or We Will find the way. His performance will take place during the closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro in front of millions of spectators who will be watching at the stadium, in Television and on their internet.

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Kosovo's National Football Team has an unsteady status within the International Football Federation (FIFA). This is owing to the fact many countries do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. In 2013, the FIFA Executive Committee gave permission to Kosovo to play exhibition games against teams from countries that recognized Kosovo as a sovereign state. But a condition was put on it: neither the national flag, nor the national anthem was permitted.

Political tensions led the national football federations of Kosovo and Serbia to an accord this past January, which stated Kosovo would not compete with the countries of the former Yugoslavia until such time tensions eased.

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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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On 17 January 2014, the President of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) Yves Jean-Bart in presence of the Vice President of the federation, Gary Nicolas with Carlo Marcelin, the Secretary General along with other federation members like Pierre André Myrville, Varieno Saint-Fleur Monique André, Gabriel Rigaud Junior and national technical director, Wilner Étienne, has announced on the ranch of Croix-des-Bouquets that the national championship for the coming season will begin on 15 February.

The sixteen participating teams in the tournament will be Racing Club Haïtien, Valencia, Baltimore, Aigle noir AC, AS Petit Goâve, AS Mirebalais, Racine of Gros Morne, Tempête FC, Cavaly AS, Fica, Victory Sportif Club, Don Bosco SC, América des Cayes, ASC, the Racing of Gonaïves and Violette AC. The last two teams have qualified from D2 in the last season which was a cause of uproar to some. However, the President Yves Jean-Bart has replied that this is a pure sporting choice. Both of these teams have glorious past, reputation and tradition which others do not possess. Our process of selection selects only the bests, "the Super Elite", and that depends on many additional issues away from the performance on the field. The members who did not like this selection did never offer us any better alternative other than complaining on "spending issues". To make professional tournaments successful, money is the most essential ingredient.

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Reconstruction of Haiti continues at a steady pace. One of the most recent completed projects is the remodeling of St. Therese Park of Petion-Ville. At the re-opening ceremony, President Martelly and First Lady Sophia attended the re-launching of the sports center.

Youth, Sports, and Civic Action Minister, Magalie Racine, spoke about the government of Haiti's commitment to establish sports arenas in all ten departments on the island. The new St. Therese Park Sports Arena holds 2,700 seats and includes a retail store, player and referee spaces, a meeting room, and snack bar.

Martelly spoke on his government's dedication to press on with reconstruction projects, targeted to improve school facilities. He said the population must be patient, while waiting for development projects to be implemented in their neighborhoods.

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As per latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings on 17 November 2013, Cuba has topped the Caribbean football squad table leaving behind Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. Cuba ranked 74th among the world football playing nations, followed by Dominican Republic 78th, Haiti 80th and Jamaica 82nd. Under the current ranking, Cuba gained by 10 points over the earlier FIFA Ranking but Haiti and Jamaica lose (-2) and (-4) points respectively.

Haiti is one among the oldest football playing nations in the Caribbean and one of the early participants in the World Cup qualifying tournament. Its present rank as per FIFA/Coca-Cola Zonal Ranking is 8th; the other countries in the same zonal ranking table include USA (1), Mexico (2), Costa Rica (3), Honduras (4), Panama (5), Cuba (6), Dominican Republic (7), Trinidad and Tobago (9) and Jamaica (10).

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Here is the impressive video of the new and improved Parc Sainte Thérèse in Petion-Ville.

The park definitely impressed me. It looks like any soccer stadium that I have in other, more developed countries. Bravo for the team for a job well done.

I just hope there is an annual budget for the maintenance of the stadium,

La rénovation du parc Sainte Thérèse

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