Haiti’s French coach leading country he has never been to
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Haiti head coach Sebastien Migne has never set foot in Haiti since being appointed 18 months ago.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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CAPE TOWN – Haiti have a good chance to secure World Cup qualification on Nov 18 (Nov 19 morning, Singapore time), but the situation in the strife-torn Caribbean country is such that their coach has never actually been there.
Armed gangs have taken control of almost all of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince in a conflict that has forced some 1.3 million people from their homes and fuelled famine-level hunger.
Travellers are warned against visiting the nation of 12 million people due to the risk of kidnappings, crimes, terrorist activity and civil unrest.
All that means Haiti’s 52-year-old French coach, Sebastien Migne, has never set foot there since being appointed 18 months ago in 2024.
“It’s impossible because it’s too dangerous,” he told France Football magazine.
“I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here. There are no more international flights landing there.”
Migne relied on information about local players from Haitian football federation officials by telephone.
“They gave me information and I managed the team remotely,” he said.
But he has also worked hard to add to the squad players with Haitian roots from outside.
He convinced former French Under-21 international Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, winger Josue Casimir from Auxerre and former Belgium centre-back Hannes Delcroix to commit to their cause.
They all played in Nov 13’s crucial 1-0 win over Costa Rica in their penultimate Concacaf qualifier.
“I feel like I’m representing my family,” said Bellegarde of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“It is a small country, but now we have the chance to play at the World Cup, so my family tells me it’s a good moment to play for Haiti and I think it’s a big opportunity for me.”
Migne also hopes to persuade Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor but the player remains undecided.
“I would like to set myself the goal of going to the World Cup – it will always remain a dream,” Isidor told French sports daily L’Equipe.
“I have two options: France and Haiti. Haiti has already approached me, but I haven’t made a decision yet. I’m currently focused on my club.”
Haiti’s squad are now all foreign-based, but they still have the handicap of having to host their home matches at neutral venues. They have been using Curacao as a base and it is there where they host Nicaragua on Nov 18.
Haiti will qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 with a win if Costa Rica beat Honduras at the same time.
Honduras lead Group C on goal difference from Haiti, with both on eight points, two more than Costa Rica.
Nicaragua are already eliminated.
Migne, who was an assistant coach for Cameroon at the last World Cup in Qatar, has frequently praised the attitude of his players despite the country’s difficulties.
His captain, veteran goalkeeper Johny Placide, said qualification could allow struggling Haitians a new perspective.
“It would be an immense source of pride for an entire nation, not just for us players,” the 37-year-old told Fifa.com.
“For young people, it would be a showcase, a new perspective.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t know how to describe it, because we’re not there yet and I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“Right now, the difficulty is not knowing if we’ll make it, but we know we’re only one step away. We must stay composed and leave ourselves with no regrets.” REUTERS
