shannon2007

Notes:

Interesting to note that the game started with 51 Haitian players and now has 75 in the DB and about 20 of those have been regened in Haiti - fair do's they all look **** but even so, hope for the future. Or is it despair.

shannon2007

Enrique of course was used to living in fear of his life. Haiti was not always a pleasant place, with the Secret Police waiting to pounce on anyone who was even suspected of being subversive. Of course, by their very nature, the Secret Police were subversive and eventually they all had to be done away with. Besides, if people know the Secret Police exist, then they're not exactly being secretive are they.

Of course all that had very little to do with Enrique's current job. Looking back over his first five matches in charge, the former non-star of the 1974 World Cup could be well pleased with what his side had achieved so far. The draw in Cuba and the win over Costa Rica in particular showed that reaching the Finals of the 2010 World Cup was perhaps not as far fetched as Enrique might have imagined and when the qualifying draw was made, a surge of confidence swept through him. He really was going to be a success, and would not have to worry about waking up one morning with a bullet through his head.

Which is exactly what had happened to 'Sylvio Cator'.

The experiment with the Sheep shagging people's of Baahaberdeen did not go at all well, and Cator's collusion with the government of the Dominican Republic did not go unnoticed. He was summarily executed, gunned down on the touchline of Pittodrie after a 3-0 loss against Kilmarnock. No team should ever lose to the Killie scum and his punishment had been justified for sure. Yet the loss of the Aberdeen management would be in no way detrimental to the progress of the Haiti cause, with their coaches and scouts and spies at other Scottish and French clubs doing their job there was really no need if truth be told for such an expensive outlay as controlling a whole club.

Besides all that, the draw for the CONCACAF section of the 2010 World Cup qualifying was made and as usual Haiti were given a bye to the second round, where they would meet either Anguilla or St Kitts & Nevis. Many people though it was wrong that Haiti might have to play both St Kitts and Nevis at the same time - but it wasn't as if either side were very good anyway.

This was the easy bit for Enrique. It would only be after successfully negotiating that tie - and there was no thought of not doing so - that things would start to get interesting. But by then his side would have gelled well and they would surely be good enough to achieve his goal.

They damned well had to be.

shannon2007

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying - 1st Phase 2nd Round.
St Kitts & Nevis v Haiti
7th & 14th June 2008

After a 4-0 win over Niger in February, there was nothing much else to do until June. Enrique was able of course to take in the 1st round qualifies that saw St Kitts Nevis ease to a simple 6-1 aggregate triumph. Yet although the score had been emphatic, Enrique saw little to concern him for the upcoming matches in June.

The first leg took place in St Kitts, and although some members of the press had suggested this might be a tough toe for Haiti, that was proven to be far from the truth as Jamil Jean Jacques sent the side ahead on just four minutes. The home side battled hard, but it was clear they lacked the class to cause Haiti any real problems, and three minutes after the break Bridece Azor made it two nil. Azor hobbled off injured four minutes later and would miss the second leg. But in the end it wouldn't really make much difference.

St Kitts and Nevis had a mountain to climb as they arrived in Port Au Prince. It was a mountain they were never even going to come close to the summit of. Herby Fortunat virtually secured Haiti's place in the group stages before Donald Beauplan added two more and that was that. For now at least, Enrique Fernandez could sleep easily in his bed.

The draw for the 2nd phase places Haiti in with Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. A tough group, but with the top two progressing to the Final group, Haiti had a chance. They simply had to take it.

shannon2007

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying - 2nd Phase Group 1
Mexico (A); Honduras (H); Costa Rica (A)
13th August; 30th August; 3rd Septmber 2008

The talking was over and the real test was about to begin. No-one expected Haiti to go to Mexico and win, which was really just as well because they didn't. Only two minutes only the clock, Neri Alberto Castillo showing his undoubted class he sent Mexico into the lead. The home side were well in control, and on the half hour mark Castillo made it two nil.

There was real danger here that Haiti would be badly beaten, but to their credit the players battled back and just on half time Donald Beauplan scored an excellent goal to give his side a lifeline. Haiti started the second half brightly, and for a while it looked as if they might just snatch a point. Gradually though, the superior skills of the Mexicans shone through and with fifteen minutes left Rafael Marquez sealed their win. Six minutes later Jaime Lozano added a fourth and in the end a well deserved Mexican triumph.

The other match saw Costa Rica pull of a draw in Honduras and Haiti were bottom of their group. The draw between those two sides though was probably the best result the Haitian could have gotten and it was Honduras who were up next in Port Au Prince. This was a match upon which Haiti's qualifying hopes hung, and anything less than a win simply would not do.

It looked good when Herby Fortunat sent his side ahead on 22 minutes, but Honduras are a decent enough side and gradually they started to look dangerous. Two minutes short of the hour mark, Alvarez pulled the Hondurans level and suddenly Haiti were looking in trouble. A quit magnificent move though ended with Fortunat bagging his second just two minutes after the Honduran goal and seven minutes later the now St Mirren striker completed his hattrick to secure a precious win.

In the other match in the group, Costa Rica put up a brave display at home to Mexico but in the end they went down by a goal to nil. And it was off to Costa Rica that Haiti would go next as the group reached the halfway point. This would be a tough match for Haiti, but if they could even get a point it would set them up nicely for the rest of the campaign.

Twenty four minutes in, Costa Rica showed their threat as Jimmy Vargas sent them into the lead but that lead would last only eight minutes. Once again it was Fortunat who scored and right on half time defender Josue Mayard sent Haiti ahead. The second half was torrid affair, but in the end Haiti held on for a win that was worth it's weight in gold. Honduras held Mexico to a draw, to give themselves a slight hope but with three match gone from the six Mexico top the group with seven points, Haiti have six, Honduras two and Costa Rica just one.

Looking good then for Enrique Fernandez side as they have two matches at home from the last three games. In the other two groups, it is looking likely that USA, Jamaica, Trindidad & Tobago and Canada will join Mexico and Haiti in the Final group - but there is still a whole lot of football to be played before then.

retired_yvetteanddavid

nice story although please watch your language some people are offended

shannon2007

Then they can feck off can't they.

retired_jhr2211

Uh he has a point actually, one rule for everyone across all subforums and all that.

shannon2007

Except if a word isn't censored thats hardly my fault?

retired_jhr2211

It doesnt matter if its censored or not, the language and what could be (and has been) considered racial undertones of the opening post is questionable.

shannon2007

Of course it matters if it censored and to assume any 'racial undertone' is just laughable.

Shows really how pathetic this place has become really.