HAITIANS PROMOTING HAITIAN-BRAZILIAN SOCCER GAME OF FRIENDSHIP IN MIAMI.
By Noe Dorestant, E.E.
Who said that you need to be a multimillionaire or a sport franchise owner before you can promote friendship between the peoples of two nations, who enjoyed a common sport or have common aspiration to live free, and able to enjoy life and entertain one another as equal human beings?
A four way handshake of friendship and sportsmanship between the Haitian team Captain the Brazilian counterpart and the two sideline referees.
On Saturday October, 14th 2000, a simple Haitian broadcaster of the most listened Haitian Creole program "Calebasse des Ondes", William Jean Louis (Kalbas) proved that notion wrong. With the promise and backing of the local Haitian community of Miami, he was able to bring from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, a team of Brazilian players to play a game of goodwill and friendship with the Haitian International local team (four times past Champion of Copa Latina).
Instant Haitian soccer promoter, William Jean Louis of Jacmel, Haiti, with members of the Brazilian team, he negotiated to bring in from Brazil for the friendship game Haiti/Brazil at the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami, Florida.
Haitian born, radio broadcaster, William Jean Louis (Kalbas) wearing appropriately a shirt made of Haitian and Brazilian flags to mark the fusion of friendship between these two teams
In his attempt to bring the Haitian and the Brazilian communities together who are both living in a land away from home, the Haitian community came out in large number to support this wordy international and multicultural initiative. The past Haiti national coach, Zenono Jean Baptiste put at the Haitian promoter disposal, a young team of Haitian local players under 14 years old that would entertain and bring joys to the mix Haitian majority and Brazilian minority public gathered at the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami for this historical moment.
Znono Jean Baptiste team of Haitian players U-14 in the game with local Brazilian mix team of boys and girls under 14 years old.
Although most people came to see the game between the adults teams, they were pleasantly surprised by the level of entertainment provided by the young and talented teens of U-14 mostly of middle school age. The local Brazilian mix team of mostly boys and few girl players received a great deal of applause from the public each time a girl player was introduced on the field in forward position, even if she played for only an average of ten to 15 minutes before being replaced by a boy or another girls. This may have been a first game of this kind that captured everyone attention and admiration. Something to look forward to in the future as the inequality gap between the genders is getting narrower in this era when everyone is demanding the equal human right to be included and be the best that they can be and live to the fullest of their potential in all aspect of human life at a global level, not just at the Olympic game.
Haitian boy marking a Brazilian girl at midfield during this interesting/historical game.
The game between the youngsters ended on a score of 5 to 3 in favor of Haiti. Then was the game between the adults that all were waiting for, the Haitian International local team was reinforced by two Haitian players of Haiti's National team, such as Carlo Marcelin who flew in to Miami to play in esprit de corps to be a part of and support the Haitian soccer players in Diaspora who have continuously and proudly represent their homeland Haiti.
Haitian team made of Haitian born players living in diaspora and in Haiti.
Haitian players warming up before soccer game.
Haitian players getting last instruction from Haiti International head Coach, Zenono Jean Baptiste.
In this game between adults, the level of competition was raised to showcase the physical and technical of both teams, which ended on a balance score of 3-2 in favor of the Brazilians, which displayed a more aggressive and determine line of attackers, a more organized and more disciplined line of defense. The Haitian team players showed off their individual talents and demonstrated their potential to be a great team, if simply they could be more consistent in controlling and keeping position of the ball and more effectiveness in scoring when the opportunity arise and also providing a stronger and more focus line of defense and goalkeeper.
Haitians and Brazilians team players warmly greeting and mingling with one another on the soccer field.
Once again the Haitian have made a difference in the history of soccer in the City of Miami, by promoting goodwill and friendship between the people of two nations of the same continent, who became each independent nation in the same century: Haiti in 1804 and Brazil in 1822. Both were colonized, both had emperors and both became republic. Two peoples and two nations with a great love for soccer/football, coffee, music and nature.
May the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood continue to grow between all nations and all men and women of goodwill. Let us continue to be bonded by the love of sport and mutual respect for one another as fellow human beings with one creator, to whose image we were all created and to whose eyes we are equal from birth until death. With our diversities we can all complement one another and make of this earth a better place for all to live in as we strive to attain the attainable in the spirit of true friendship within the sphere of humanly achievable dream in this millenium of Globalization and a humanity without frontier.
Haitian team saluting the Haitian & Brazilian fans.
Brazilian team members saluting the Haitian and Brazilian fans, while holding the banner "Pope the Brazilian community salute the Haitian people!!"
May the love of sport and the love for one another prevail in this God given world of ours, where we are only temporary keepers/tenants, not masters or owners of this universe. One life to live, one God, one people and one green/blue planet Earth
Note: All pictures were provided by Noe Dorestant as a token of his civic contribution to help promote Haitians and the community in which they reside. If you copy and plan to reuse any of these picture. PS give credit to the originator. All rights reserved 2000. Web page written and designed by Noe Dorestant on 10/16/2000.
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