When the U.S. women’s under-17 national team defeated the Haiti national team in a World Cup qualifying game in March, they didn’t celebrate the victory.
Instead, U.S. goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin saw that Haitian goalie Alexandra Coby had fallen to her knees after the final whistle and started crying.
Heaberlin went toward Coby, and the two shared a hug. The rest of the U.S. team followed suit, and both teams embraced in a group hug, crying as the emotion of the moment got to them.
For Coby and the Haitian team, only two months earlier an earthquake of a 7.0 magnitude struck their nation and left each player homeless and uncertain about their futures.
At many points in our everyday life, we complain how difficult and hard it is, but after sitting down and talking to a couple of players from Haiti, it puts things in perspective. Life is the most difficult when you hit rock bottom.
For this team, playing soccer was the first step in recovering from the catastrophe that struck their home and way of life.
Haiti head coach Gaspard D’Alexis told me that it was the beautiful game that gave each player hope and optimism.
“Soccer gave them courage to get up,” D’Alexis said. “That was the first step, get up and play soccer, get up and go to school, these are steps that give you hope.”
For a week and a half, the Haitian squad was able to spend time at the Walt Disney World Resort. From going to the theme parks to participating in the Disney Cup Tournament. Heaberlin was able to start a foundation and raise money to help the Haiti team.
The Haitian side returns to Haiti on Sunday and at that moment it is uncertain what lies ahead for them.
“I have been saying all week long, if nothing happens after [the Disney Cup], it could be even worse,” D’Alexis said. “We have to do something to help them immediately when they go back.”
Talking to the players, I could see it in their eyes how emotionally damaged they were from the earthquake.
Before the earthquake, Haiti was the poorest country in the Americas and one of the least developed nations in the world.
Six months later, the country has to literally rebuild piece by piece.
The sad part of this story is that these girls have a tough journey ahead. They return to their lives in a country that has been destroyed.
There are two lessons that were reaffirmed for me after talking to these players.
My freshman year English professor said, “Every day above ground is a good day.”
This is true and is a thought escapes us when we don’t stop to look around.
The second lesson is how important sports are.
Sports have many facets in life. It can be a bonding moment between father and son or bring a family and friends together during the World Cup. It can bring communities together during football games and allow you to meet new people.
Speaking with U. Central Florida midfielder Andrea Rodrigues, soccer is the bond that she shares with her father. Through playing the game, they have built a connection that otherwise may have been missed.
Most importantly, sports can bring hope to people, a nation, and a world.
For the Haitian side, soccer gave them courage when all else was lost. It gave them the first step in putting the pieces to their lives back together.