Overview:
Djuny Théodore Jr., one of the promising gamers on Haiti’s under-17 males’s soccer workforce, left his teammates in Spain to attempt to journey to France to reside with relations. Théodore Jr. doesn’t need to return to Haiti due to the numerous crises there, he mentioned in a voice message.
Djuny Théodore Jr., a key participant on Haiti’s under-17 World Cup roster, fled from the workforce in Spain on Saturday, Oct. 18, as a result of he doesn’t need to return to his nation after the match because of the a number of crises there. Théodore Jr., 16, is reportedly attempting to journey to France to reside with relations.
“Going again to Haiti wouldn’t have been good for me,” Théodore Jr. mentioned in a voice message circulating on social media. “If I am going again down there, I might say it’s a failure as a result of it’s the identical soccer I’m going to play once more.”
Théodore Jr., a striker from Aquin, a southern city about 75 miles from Port-au-Prince, was one of many high gamers on the workforce. So together with his departure, Haiti misplaced a key participant roughly two weeks earlier than the World Cup in Qatar. He scored the one aim in Haiti’s win towards a Spanish membership throughout their preparations on Oct. 2.
The 16-year-old fled whereas the workforce was watching F.C. Barcelona play towards Girona at residence. He reportedly left with out his passport and different belongings to attempt to journey to France. The workforce has been in Girona, Spain, since early October to organize for the World Cup, which can start on Nov. 3.
Haitian athletes have typically fled throughout worldwide tournaments to keep away from returning to Haiti, which is dealing with many crises, like ongoing gang violence, meals insecurity and excessive unemployment. For a lot of soccer gamers, the game is their solely probability to flee, so that they desperately attempt to safe a contract abroad or take the better possibility: fleeing throughout worldwide occasions. Members of the family typically encourage and help them in escaping. For Théodore Jr., his uncle supposedly helped him flee, in line with native media reviews.
But, Théodore Jr., as one of the gifted gamers on the workforce, might have earned a contract if he had carried out effectively within the World Cup. Nevertheless, he selected to not take part, claiming {that a} relative had discovered him a membership in France. It’s extremely unlikely {that a} skilled membership would signal him after listening to that he escaped and since he doesn’t have correct paperwork.
Les Grenadiers now have 24 gamers remaining on their roster on the coaching camp and nonetheless want to chop three extra to satisfy their last 21-man squad requirement. So, extra gamers would possibly attempt to escape. The workforce is scheduled to journey to Qatar on October 31.
The Haitian Soccer Federation (FHF) has but to remark publicly on Théodore Jr. leaving the group and didn’t reply to The Haitian Occasions’ interview request.
Gamers fleeing throughout worldwide tournaments is a matter that not solely the FHF must take significantly and try to stop, but additionally the federal government. Gamers fleeing are sometimes underage and topic to all types of exploitation overseas.
Earlier than Théodore’s escape, in Might 2021, three Arcahaie Soccer Membership gamers fled from a lodge in Mexico Metropolis earlier than the workforce’s encounter with Mexican aspect Cruz Azul within the CONCACAF Champions League.
In 2007, 13 gamers from the U-17 soccer workforce additionally went missing in New York throughout an in a single day cease at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport. The workforce was touring to South Korea to organize for the World Cup held there that 12 months.
The gamers have been later found — two in Boston.
The newest case has deeply distressed Haitians as a result of a younger participant with a promising future decided that would damage his profession, as he can’t deal with the ache he’ll face once more upon returning to Haiti.“That actually damage me, he’s from my metropolis,” a Fb person who identifies himself as Ween Sayou commented. “He’s very gifted. I used to be so proud to look at him, however sadly…”