Disney International Cup - Day 2 Highlight Video

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Although many youth club teams have traveled farther than the Haitian U17 National Women’s Team to participate in the 2010 Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament, no team has dealt with the difficulties the Caribbean nation has faced this year.

In January, Haiti suffered an earthquake of a 7.0 magnitude that shook the foundation of an already poverty-stricken nation. Each girl on the squad experienced the affects of the natural disaster. According to team officials, everybody on the team was left homeless.

Two months after the earthquake, Haiti attempted to qualify for the U17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, but was eliminated in the group stages of CONCACAF qualifying.

“The earthquake was a big blow,” head coach Gaspard D'Alexis said, interpreting for Haitian midfielder Elucie Breneus. “It’s something they never saw in their lifetime. No one could have expected that.”

Dalexis — who became the national team head coach in April — said the players hit a low point with the disaster, but the game of soccer was able to lift their spirits.

“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.”

Haitian defender Sobonie Derosin said Haiti is destroyed, but this gives them the opportunity to rebuild and to make people aware of the nation’s current situation.

The Haitians arrived at Disney World last Tuesday and are staying through July 18 with the help of U.S. U17 Women’s National Team goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin — who spearheaded a foundation to raise money to bring the Haitian team to Disney. “Many Hearts One Goal” was created from this.

On March 10, Haiti faced the U.S. but lost 9-0. Following the match, Haitian goalkeeper Alexandra Coby fell to the ground and cried, overwhelmed with emotion. Heaberlin gave Coby a hug and soon the U.S. squad joined the Haitian side in a group hug, where not a dry eye was found.

The short-term goal of the foundation was the give the Haitian girls a chance to participate in the tournament and be able to visit the Disney theme parks. The long-term goal is to assist in the recovery and rebuilding of Haiti.

Heaberlin was not available for an interview because she was called up to the US U20 National Team, which begins its run in the 2010 U20 World Cup in Germany on Tuesday.
   
D'Alexis is focused on what happens next when the team heads back to Haiti.

“The help should not only be here, but also in Haiti because they have to go back,” said D'Alexis.

Although, this is a grand experience and opportunity for the team, they have to go back to nothing, Dalexis said.

“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.”

D'Alexis is trying to raise enough money to create monthly allowances of $50 for each player to be able to buy the bare minimum to survive. The Haitian national program has 60 girls in three different age groups and a yearly budget would stand at $36,000, according to D'Alexis.

Haiti won its first match of the Disney Cup on Monday, defeating FC America Kumba (Florida) 1-0.

After the game, they were chanting, dancing and taking pictures with the opposition. You would not have known the uncertainties they face from their joy at that moment. The Haiti team returns on Sunday looking to rebuild their lives and their country.

Disney International Cup - Day 2 Highlight Video