The FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup trophy got a whirlwind visit to Haiti on Saturday, but instead of being feted with a parade like in other countries it was only displayed during a small ceremony because of the country鈥檚 unrelenting violence.
Meant to inspire future female soccer talent, the trophy was surrounded by Haitian authorities, mostly men and a handful of women, including the goalkeeper of the national soccer team and the president of the women鈥檚 soccer federation, Monique Andr茅.
The trophy has special significance in Haiti now because its women鈥檚 team qualified in February for the FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup finals for the first time in the country鈥檚 history.
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The team won its historic match a week after a court overturned a lifetime ban against former Haitian soccer federation president Yves Jean-Bart over allegations that he sexually abused female players, including minors. FIFA has appealed the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Goalkeeper Kerly Th茅us, who plays for FC Miami, was the only member of the national team at the ceremony. 鈥淚 have no words to express how happy I am. It is a big thing that we achieved and we plan to move forward," she said.
The trophy and an accompanying delegation were escorted by police through a back gate of Haiti's international airport to a nearby hotel for its presentation. It was a necessary safety measure in a city where over 60% of its areas are dominated by violent gangs, according to police.
The 19-inch (47-centimeter) trophy is one that Milan Pierre-Jerome, a member of Haiti鈥檚 women鈥檚 soccer team, wants to win. She was born in Florida and is a student at George Mason University in Virginia. Her grandfather was Haitian, and her father played for Haiti鈥檚 soccer team.
鈥淢y dad was a pro, so ever since I was out of the womb, it was like, 鈥榊ou gotta play soccer,鈥欌�� she said with a laugh during a recent phone interview with The Associated Press.
She was 14 when she first flew to Haiti for a two-week trial. A month later, she got called back and participated in her first Haitian tournament at 15.
Pierre-Jerome recalled the day the national team won its way into the World Cup tournament with a 2-1 victory over Chile in February: 鈥淚t was so emotional. I just remember crying, crying, crying. This isn鈥檛 something you can do every day, qualifying for a World Cup.鈥�
She celebrated by calling her father, who was unable to help Haiti qualify for the men's World Cup in 1994.
鈥淚 did this for you!鈥� she recalled telling him. 鈥淗e apparently ran outside the house and down the street.鈥�
The team鈥檚 win sparked jubilation across Haiti at a time when the country is facing gang violence not seen in decades coupled with deepening poverty, widespread starvation and political instability.
So far this year, gangs have killed more than 530 people and kidnapped more than 270 others, with worsening violence forcing at least 160,000 people to flee their homes.
Given the situation, the win in February was a big moment, said Danielle 脡tienne, a member of Haiti鈥檚 soccer team and a student at Fordham University in New York.
鈥淚t takes away from all the negative things going on right now,鈥� she said in a recent phone interview. 鈥淚t kind of brings a little light.鈥�
脡tienne was born in the U.S. but her grandfather is from Haiti, and she still has family here.
鈥淭hat win wasn鈥檛 just for the team. It was for the entire country,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here is value in Haiti despite what might be going on. There鈥檚 so much value, so much worth. We鈥檙e going to bring the light back on that.鈥�
