Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times reports on the importance of the national team for a country like Haiti, which began its Gold Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Guadeloupe Wednesday in Miami.
The story of soccer in Haiti, like so many other impoverished nations, is one of community. “For the Haitian people, soccer is a religion by itself,” says one fan. “It’s the only thing that gathers everyone together.” And, as Baxter says, “few people are more in need of unity than Haiti’s.” Haiti is termed a “failed state” by the U.N. High crime, an astonishing unemployment rate and a lack of industry altogether have all contributed to Haiti’s status as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. As national team midfielder Jamil Jean Jacques says, “The president couldn’t bring the Haitian people joy. Soccer. That’s the only [thing] that can bring the Haitian people satisfaction.”
Part of the reason Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with tiny Guadeloupe was such a disappointment is Haiti’s recent capture of the Caribbean Cup, which featured a stunning victory over regional powerhouse Trinidad & Tobago. Haiti is now faced with the uphill task of probably needing to beat either Canada or Costa Rica to qualify for the quarterfinals.