Haitian footballers have a good chance of securing a place in the World Cup on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, but the situation in that conflict-torn Caribbean country is such that the coach of that national team has actually never been to Haiti.
Armed gangs they took control of almost throughout the capital of HaitiPort-au-Prince, in a conflict that has forced some 1.3 million people from their homes and fueled famine.
Travelers are being warned not to visit the nation of 12 million because of the risk of kidnappings, crime, terrorist activity and civil unrest, the US State Department says.
All this means that the 52-year-old French coach of Haiti, Sébastien Mignehas never set foot there since being appointed 18 months ago.
It’s impossible because it’s too dangerous. I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here. There are no more international flights landing therehe told France Football magazine.
Migne relied on information about local players from officials of the Haitian Football Association over the phone.
They gave me information and I controlled the teams remotely.
But it is also worked hard in order to add players of Haitian roots to the team from outside.
He convinced former France Under-21 international Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, AJ Auxerre winger Josué Casimir and former Belgium stopper Hannes Delcroix to feature for the Caribbean country.
They all played in last Thursday’s crucial 1-0 win over Costa Rica in their penultimate Concacaf qualifier.
I feel like I’m representing my familyBellegarde told his club Wolverhampton Wanderers’ website.
It’s a small country, but now we have the opportunity to play in the World Cup, so my family tells me it’s a good time to play for Haiti and I think it’s a big opportunity for me.
Migne hopes to persuade Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, but the player is still undecided.
I would like to set myself a goal going to the World Cup, that will always remain a dreamIsidor told the French sports daily L’Equipe.
I have two options: France and Haiti. Haiti has already contacted me, but I haven’t made a decision yet. At the moment I am focused on my club. I know the guys in the French national team, I played with them and against them.
The Haitian national team is now all abroad, but still they have a handicap that they must play their home games on neutral grounds. They use Curaçao as their base, and there on Tuesday they will host Nicaragua, which they must beat.
Haiti will qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 if Costa Rica beat Honduras at the same time.
Honduras leads Group C by goal difference better than Haiti, and both national teams have eight points, two more than Costa Rica.
Nicaragua has already been relegated.
Migne, who was assistant coach of Cameroon at the last World Cup in Qatar, he often praised the attitude of his players despite the difficulties in the country.
Its captain, veteran goalkeeper Johny Placide, said qualification could give the struggling Haitians a new perspective.
It would be a huge source of pride for the entire nation – not just us playershe told FIFA.com on Monday.
For young people, it would be an example, a new perspective. Honestly, I wouldn’t know how to describe it because we’re not there yet and I don’t want to go too soon. It’s instant hard not to know if we will succeedbut we know that we are only one step away. We must remain calm and not regret anything.
(Hina | Photo: X)
