Overview:
Despite being two of the most decorated teams in the Haitian soccer league, FICA and Tempête FC are still in search of their first win of the season after Week 4, while underdogs Real Hope FA and Ouanaminthe are surprisingly achieving positive results. The early stages of the season have been marked by unexpected twists and turns, with smaller teams securing victories against the league's giants.
CAP-HAITIEN — Haiti’s soccer D1 Special Championship has been truly remarkable, with underdog teams securing unexpected victories, while some of the league’s traditional powerhouses are still seeking their first win. This trend continued Sunday in Week 4’s games.
Surprisingly, seven-time champions Football Inter Club Association (FICA) suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Real Hope Football Academy, a club with only a decade of existence, at Parc Resigné in Milot on Sunday. Mackenson Fenelon bagged a brace for Real Hope, scoring a penalty kick in the 58th minute before finding the net again in the 86th minute.
Before this loss, FICA also faced unexpected setbacks, falling 1-0 to Ouanaminthe Football Club 2011 in Week 1 before settling for a 1-1 draw with Association Sportive Capoise in the third round. Meanwhile, Real Hope FA has been making waves by claiming two victories in their first three matches, including a 2-1 win over three-time champions Racing Football des Gonaïves in Week 3. However, the Cap-Haïtien-based club did face a setback, losing 1-0 to Association Sportive Capoise in the opening round.
Tempête FC, a powerhouse boasting five league titles, has encountered a challenging start to the season. The team drew 0-0 with Union Sportive Rivartibonitienne (USR) at home at Parc Antoine Levelt on Saturday. Notably, USR has been in existence since 1992, while Tempête was founded in 1970. Additionally, the Saint-Marc-based league giant suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cosmopolites Sportif Club in Week 1.
Ouanaminthe, considered an average side, has been holding its ground against the league’s giants. After a memorable 1-0 win versus FICA in Week 1, Ouanaminthe secured a 0-0 draw against Racing FC at Parc Notre Dame.
In Les Cayes, Racing Football Club Haïtien began its campaign with a 2-1 victory over Juventus des Cayes Football Club at Land des Gabions. Michel Alix scored a double for Racing CH, while Romelus Anderson netted Juventus’ solitary goal.
In the latest fixtures, Baltimore SC claimed its first victory of the season, defeating Cosmopolites 1-0 away from home at Parc Antoine Levelt in Saint-Marc. Alderson Bélizaire’s impressive dribble from midfield to the 18-yard box before unleashing a shot to the bottom left corner of the net secured Baltimore’s long-awaited victory.
The four-time champions had a challenging start to the season, enduring four negative results before securing their first win. They tied with underdogs Triomphe Athletic Club de Liancourt 0-0 in the opening, suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat to USR, and then settled for a 0-0 draw with Tempête.
Baltimore’s Head Coach Peter Germain expressed his satisfaction after the game, stating, “We had to look for a victory.” “By any means necessary, whether the game was hard or if we played good or bad, the most important thing was to win. And we won so we’re totally satisfied,” said Germain in an interview with Monde Info 509.
The ongoing D1 Special Championship has certainly set the stage for an unpredictable and exhilarating season, with underdogs proving that they are a force to be reckoned with against the league’s traditional heavyweights.
Haiti’s history is so sad particularly given its natural beauty. A relative of mine was apparently nearly murdered on more than one occasion by the Tonton Macoutes in the 1970s during what appeared to be a botched coup by the CIA in Port au Prince intended to topple Duvalier Junior.
If you are as intrigued as I am by Haiti and have fond memories of the Hôtel Oloffson in Port au Prince, Cap Haitien and even the slums in Cité Soleil, you should enjoy reading the fact based spy novel Beyond Enkription in TheBurlingtonFiles series.
However, if you think spy novels can only be written by John le Carré you may not appreciate this sui generis work. Nevertheless, it has been heralded by one US critic as “being up there with My Silent War by Kim Philby and No Other Choice by George Blake”.
No matter what, being fact based, Beyond Enkription is so realistic that it is hardly surprising it is allegedly mandatory reading on some countries’ intelligence induction programs.