Haiti’s achievement in qualifying for the World Cup amid ongoing turmoil in the Caribbean nation is one of the most inspiring stories of this year’s tournament, and the team are now hoping to make a real impact in the United States as they prepare for their opening game.
Ranked 83rd in the world, Haiti face Scotland in Boston on Saturday in the country’s first match at a World Cup since 1974.
They are clear underdogs in a group also containing Brazil and Morocco, but the Grenadiers believe they can spring a surprise.
“I feel pride for the people of Haiti. We know people might have a bad image of our country, that it has lots of problems, but this will do the country, the people, my family so much good,” star midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde told AFP.
“This is like a big celebration for them, and we are all going to enjoy it.”
The 27-year-old Bellegarde, born in the Paris suburbs, has played more than 80 times in the English Premier League over the last three years with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He is one of several foreign-born players of Haitian heritage who have joined the team coached by Frenchman Sebastien Migne, and Bellegarde had a key role as Haiti notably finished above 2014 World Cup quarterfinalists Costa Rica in qualifying.
Credit: supersports.com
