Better Late Than Never: Haiti, Johny Placide, and a World Cup Worth the Wait
- Jon Nelson
- 6 minutes ago
- 6 min read
For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland
Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous.
When the field fructifieth
The soul fortifieth
Let us toil joyous, let us toil joyous
For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland
Let us toil, let us toil, let us toil joyous
For the Forefathers, for the Fatherland.
"La Dessalinienne", verse two, published 1903
To celebrate the centennial of Haiti as an independent nation, a competition was held to determine what the national anthem should be. Justin Lhérisson’s lyrics and music of Nicolas Geffrard would become what was heard in its time in the rundown at Atlanta Stadium Wednesday.
In this World Cup, where the anthem was heard on the first two occasions in Foxborough and Philadelphia, Haiti had come up short in group play, losing 1-0 to Scotland and 3-0 to Brazil. The second loss eliminated any chance of making the knockouts and Les Grenadiers would have one match left in the second-ever appearance in the tournament in Atlanta, only playing for a result to build on as a nation.
Getting here was its own story. Haiti qualified without a home venue to call their own, playing CONCACAF matches in borrowed stadiums across the region just to earn the right to be here.
It would have been understandable on some levels if a team only playing out the string would have a rotated squad to share the experience across a full roster of 26.
Haiti was having none of that kind of talk. The only punctuation allowed in this situation would be an exclamation point going up against Morocco.
Morocco needed a win to chase after a possible top spot in the group as Brazil was squaring off with Scotland in Miami at the same time.
The fans on both sides set off more than a few Apple watches with their decibel alerts with anthems being belted, exalted, and cried through. Haiti came out, pedal to the floorboard, and scored their first goal since June 23, 1974, ten minutes in.
Lenny Joseph, on a combination of both imagination and fortune, with a sweeping touch that would bounce off Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s back as Joseph initially overran the ball would give the Haitian supporters something that would register a million emotions all at once.
Bounou’s counterpart, Johny Placide, was playing early in the first half like he was fresh out of an audition for “The Matrix” moving any Moroccan shot away from the net he was guarding with his very existence. The building was serenaded by Haitian supporters that formed their own percussion band in section 232. All wound up in a cauldron of joyful noise on one side and desperation for the other multiplied by what Morocco needed to do to stay and what Haiti needed to do as they left the stage.
Wilson Isidor smashed one of the goals of the tournament for a Haiti lead. Saibari responded a few minutes later with an equalizer in a roller coaster of a half that Six Flags was left wondering how to patent.
And breathe... for an intermission...
Isidor scored one of the goals of the tournament, acknowledged as much by Moroccan fans inside Atlanta Stadium. Asked what the travel, all of it, added up to for a country given only three matches on this stage, he and his teammates know... they know...
"The cycle before us, thinking about some other players who were here before, for 10 years, I was watching them. When I was more younger than today I know that, for example, Johny Placide is finishing his career now with national team.
"We're doing great," Isidor did admit. "That means a lot for Johny to be here. He did so much. He started his national team action in 2008 or 2011, I can't remember exactly. But yeah, the guys who did all the work before us, credit to them."
The band in Section 232 gave themselves a half-hour break but with 30 to go they helped embolden the fans clad in blue. And their rhythms matched the chaos in front of the crowd in Atlanta, high hats smashed in eighths, gourds, horns, bongos mixed with John Denver in the hydration break and nothing still resolved in the 2-2 match.
Each sound distinct but a part of the collective as both sides still chased their aims on the night. But the final third would belong to Morocco in the 4-2 win as Haiti pushed and Morocco was pushing back, both in Atlanta and in response to the offense on display in suburban Miami.
FC Dallas' Louicius Deedson has ties to Atlanta in his teenage years through his time in the UPSL with Kalonji Pro Profile and appearances with Atlanta United's academy at the start of his journey to the pro level. For someone whose National Team minutes run alongside some of the most incomprehensible obstacles overcome to qualify for the World Cup, playing home games without a home for starters, the night carried a different level of emotion.
Call it the end of a stage. Call it the middle of a journey. Call it unfinished business. The evening and qualifying as perpetual guests in CONCACAF resonates to a larger message.
"For us, we saw it as a motivation because we know what the country is going through," winger and one-time Atlanta resident Louicius Deedson admitted. "There's a lot going on in the country. So us not being able to play at home is not the worst thing that's going for Haiti. We understand that and, when we play, we just play as a motivation too.
"Hopefully, this can change in the future. And one of the goals for us is to qualify in the World Cup and it's a hope that the country will get better. We hope that with the World Cup we played that Haiti can have more peace and next year by September, we can go back home.
"I think if I have to take one thing away from this World Cup, it's the reaction of the people back home. I think that's the biggest thing for me. That makes me very happy, our friends are home and cousins and such, so seeing them happy... looking forward to every game even though things don't go our way.
"But they're still behind us and still celebrate every day."
For Placide, a guardian of more than just netting behind him, this was it at the age of 38. He came to the Mixed Zone wearing only a player substitution bib, his keeper jersey either stashed somewhere for safekeeping or traded for another just as valuable in his estimation.
"I'm leaving with mission accomplished," he admitted. "My dream, when I joined this national team in 2012 was precisely to bring my country to a World Cup and there you have it. I would have liked to do it sooner. Now it happened very late, at 38 years old, so better late than never. It's great pride, a great pride for me, and a great pride for Haitians.
"I am very proud of what we showed," he continued. "Despite the results, we showed a good face. We saw that Haitian football had a lot of talent and we have nothing to be ashamed of. For the future, we have to keep the positive because there are beautiful things to come."
For Placide to finish, and finish on a match in Atlanta, in front of a raucous crowd that was hanging on every move from either side, the night was beyond special.
"I thought back to all the years I spent with the national team. Tonight was a pride for me to play a World Cup match in front of everyone and everyone watching on TV. I hope the Haitians are proud of us."
With all the effort given and all the pride shown by an entire nation personified under a retractable roof, the Haitian Anthem’s third verse is sung this way...
For the Country and for our Fathers
Let us train Sons, let us train Sons
Free, strong and prosperous
We shall always be brothers
Let us train Sons, Let us train Sons
For the Country and for our Fathers
Let us train, let us train, let us train Sons
For the Country and for our Fathers.
The example set in this World Cup, and the journey preceding it, will not be forgotten by those taking part and should not be forgotten by those who were present to watch first-hand.
Brothers and family come in many forms and voices. When they merge, the sound is unforgettable indeed. The training lends itself to accomplishment, regardless of what the standings say.
