In a thrilling final on January, Tuesday 23, Haiti
won the DIGICEL CARIBBEAN CUP in defeating Trinidad and Tobago 2-1,
the organizing country and the last to represent the Caribbean in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
A victory well deserved for the Haitian team who proved their superiority during this tournament
with a stubborn Haitian defense, expertly marshaled by Bruny Richard Pierre.
The goals were scored by Alexandre Boucicault from a feed by Brunel Fucien and Eliphene Cadet, (25th minute), and Brunel Fucien (55th minute). Tinidad's lone goal was scored on a set piece, a free kick by Nigel Daniel from 35 yards out on the 66th minute.
Nobody expected Haiti to go this far, considering what is going on in Haiti today and the lack of resources of the Haitian Football Federation. Jack Warner expected Haiti to declare forfeit and not show up for the games against Bermuda, like the Dominican Republic did.
To get away from the insecurity in Haiti and conduct serious training in a secure environment, Haiti had to go to Trinidad two weeks before the matches de "repechage" against Bermuda at a cost of about $100.000.- we had to borrow. We bit the bullet and mounted our own "OPERATION BOOTSTRAP".
It was not fair to the new Cuban Coach Luis Amelio Garcia, to expect him to produce good results, if we could not even get him the full squad at the stadium for practice. This is all history now, and the PLAN WORKED. We beat Bermuda 2-0 and 3-0 to qualify for the Final Eight, then we defeated Martinique 1-0 and Barbados 2-0 to qualify for the GOLD CUP and the Final Four. We lost an inconsequential academic game to Trinidad 3-1 in the final round of Group A, while resting our first team. This result became important to our first team players who beat Trinidad 2-1 in the final game, thus proving that Haiti is truly the best team in the Caribbean.
A Determined Team
The veteran Haitian captain, Bruny Pierre Richard, was selected DIGICEL Man of the Match. Haiti controlled the play one more time and left very little chance to the Trinidadian players who were stunned and embarassed in front of their own crowd. The combinations of brilliant passing by Alexandre Boucicault, Brunel Fucien, Eliphene Cadet, and Mones Chery left the Soca Warriors flat footed as the Haitians were literally dancing with the ball.
Fenelon Gabart, the Haitian goalie, showed his class during the last 25 minutes of the game with some acrobatic saves that shut the door on Trinidad. The Haitians proved once again they were the Tournament's best team with the most skills, and the best posture and coolness in front of the goal. They never panicked. They were the most disciplined and the Cuban Coach Luis Amelio Garcia deserves all the credit in the world for his utilisation of the talents at his disposal. The Haitians conducted themselves with dignity and displayed an unbelievable amount of fair play. No red cards this time.
Proud of our Haitian Grenadiers
I know a lot of you did not want to believe that Haiti could win it all, but we never doubted it and that is the reason we took a big financial gamble ($100.000.- we borrowed) by going to Trinidad to train and concentrate on football two weeks before the Bermuda games (2-0 and 3-0). We played the most games (seven in 17 days), were the best fit physically and most disciplined team, won the last ticket to the Final Eight, and remained the last of the 25 teams that started the competition by winning the coveted $120.000.- DIGICEL PRIZE.
The team needs a lot of work yet before the GOLD CUP in June, needs many more higher level international competition which we are working on, but the newly hired Cuban Coach proved that he is worth his weight in gold in his first "baptism of fire", by defeating the richest team, Trinidad playing at home, with the biggest budget, and the most expensive and experienced coach of the Caribbean, the $1.3 million dollar Dutchman Wim Rjisbergen. Luis Garcia coached Martinique when Martinique defeated Haiti 1 - 0 three months ago in Fort de France. He quit his secure job there to come to Haiti, and responded to the challenge. This time he defeated Martinique 1 - 0. and the rest is again history. Let us encourage our young athletes so they can become the international stars of the future.
Joe Namphy
VIVE HAITI CHAMPION OF THE DIGICEL CARIBBEAN CUP!
GOLD CUP IS NEXT.
