In this match the actual presence of the football players was much more important and significant than the actual score. Brazil beat an under-matched Haitian team 6-0 yesterday in an exhibition friendlyat the newly renovated Sylvio Cator Stadium in Port-au-Prince. The goal of the match was to promote peace in Haiti. Brazilian strikers Ronaldinho scored 3 times and provided 2 assists, Roger scored twice, and Nilmar scored the other goal as Haitian goalkeeper Fenelon Gabart’s defense was non-existent. 15,000 Haitian fans were in awe as Ronaldinho's first goal set the tempo. He dribbled through the Haitian midfield, then through 4 defenders, jumped over the goalkeeper and casually stroked the ball into an empty net. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was in attendance. Haitian children posed with players on the field. Silva said: "Our soccer players are not the only stars in Haiti. You are also scoring a goal. The game will become a symbol of our friendship".

Brazil has offered their commitment in rebuilding Haiti on several levels. First, they have a 1,500 United Nations sponsored peacekeeping force in place; and secondly the world famous Brazilian football team will play in Haiti to promote peace. The visit by the world famous Brazilians has created hope and optimism amongst all levels of Haitians. Brazilian soccer authorities say that the national side will travel to Haiti in August, but the visit has a disarmament scheme attached to it. Tickets for the Brazil-Haiti match will be given in exchange for street gangs turning in their guns. Brazilian football fans are truly global ranging from the rich to the poor. Brazil has passionate fans in Haiti's slums, some of whom have said they’d turn over their weapons to watch the Brazilian team play. Many Haitians have adopted Brazil as their home side. Schools close early and workers leave early or don’t come to work at all when Brazil plays. So many Haitians are saying “Let the game begin

30,000 patriotic Jamaican and Haitian fans filled Miami’s Orange Bowl to see a very entertaining World Cup qualifying match that ended in a 1-1 tie. The match began in controversy when in the first minute, Haiti was awarded a penalty kick after Haitian forward Jean-Phillipe Peguero raced toward a loose ball in the Jamaican box and slid under Jamaican goalie Donovan Ricketts, who was called for the foul. A penalty kick was given and Wadson Corriolan shot badly high over the crossbar. The Jamaican Reggae Boyz opened the scoring when Marlon King's goal after 38 minutes, converting an 8-yard header from Damian Stewart. An earlier attempt from King almost saw him convert earlier from 25 yards out, but was denied by Haitian goalie Gabard Fenelton. Haiti pulled even in the second half when Jean-Phillipe Peguero, after being fouled by Jamaican defender Claude Davis, calmly converted the penalty kick 4 minutes into the second half to tie the score. The return game is 20th June in Kingston.

How motivated is Haiti's national soccer team? By this weekend we should know. While preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica, they’ve had to overcome being sent to the wrong hotel, without organized meals nor pay, nor practice equipment; all while their homeland is in turmoil. The home – home series against Jamaica is very important. Coach Fernando Clavijo said: "The game is the only thing we have. Their determination to do well, to really bring some happiness to a country which probably will not see any happiness for many more years to come is overwhelming." Instability back home has caused this Haiti's home game to be played in Miami. The return leg is in Kingston, Jamaica, on 20th June. Haiti is ranked 88th in the world, while Jamaica is ranked higher at 51. Domestic instability and turmoil has forced Haiti to play its home matches on the road where they’ve amassed a 9-10-7 record. But since 1985, when in Haiti they've recorded a 16-2-6 record.

Jamaica’s next World Cup qualifying game against Haiti in Miami on the 12tth June will be a true test as where they rank internationally and competitively. Some are asking if they’re ready. The Reggae Boyz didn’t fare well at all in recent Unity Cup play, which saw them placed last in a division that was won by Nigeria, and where the Republic of Ireland place second. The next World Cup tournament will be held throughout Germany in 2006. Victory would mean a step in the right direction for World Cup tournament play in front of an expected large contingent of Jamaican fans in Miami. Defeat could be disastrous and would further question and jeopardize the leadership of current coach Carl Brown. It should be a very interesting and competitive match as its rumoured that the Haitian side have been in a rigourous camp for several months preparing for this match.

Emil Martinez's scored an early goal 4 minutes into the under-23 match CONCACAF Olympic qualifier, leading Honduras to a 1-0 victory over Haiti in Miami’s Orange Bowl. Honduras wasn’t intimidated playing before a largely pro-Haitian crowd in the Orange Bowl, and Martinez's quick goal silenced the crowd, taking them out of the game. Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios skillfully dribbled the ball deep into the Haitian penalty area finding an unmarked Martinez, who gave a 1-2 pass with Alex Andino, eventually striking a 12-yard shot past the diving Haiti goalkeeper Fenelon Gebard.

The Netherlands press on Brazil and Senegal claim annual awards The final FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of 2002 bears witness to only a few noteworthy changes: the Netherlands (6th, up 4) climb four places on the back of their away win over World Cup runners-up Germany. Of the Top 50 teams in the Ranking, only Costa Rica (21st, up 5), Croatia (32nd, up 4), and Israel (46th, up 5) have been able to keep pace with the Dutch team's bounding leap. Never failing to surprise, Wales (52nd, up 9) now stand on the brink of the Top 50 thanks to their victory in Azerbaijan. The Best Mover of the Month goes to two of the Caribbean teams, both of whom share position 71 in the table: Cuba (+19) and Haiti (+17) can attribute their rocketing ascent to their convincing performances in the 2003 Gold Cup qualifiers. FIFA Best Mover 2002: Senegal Rank 1 Senegal 2 Wales 3 Brazil 4 Cameroon 5 Mali

Even though they lost 2-1 in overtime against World Cup qualifiers Costa Rica, Haiti’s recent performance in the Gold Cup football tournament has a lot of people impressed at what lies ahead in the future. Haiti played very well against Costa Rica in front of 14823 football fans, outplaying the opposition for the majority of the match. Coach Jorge Castelli well pleased with his team’s tournament play, even though they were eliminated from further competition by Ronald Gomez’s 98th minute overtime winner for Costa Rica. This years Gold Cup tournament drew considerably less football fans than last time. 45,708 saw this years competition in South Florida, when compared to 142,997 in 2002. A possible reflection of the South Florida mood after the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny were both disbanded from US-based Major League Soccer. Costa Rica goes on to play the winner of Mexico-South Korea match

The CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament held in Pasadena California and Miami Florida is off to a good start, especially in Miami; where a few weeks ago the only professional soccer league, Major League Soccer decided to fold 2 Florida franchises: The Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Miami Fusion. In opening games on Friday in Miami, Costa Rica beat Martinique 2-0, while Canada beat Haiti 2-0 before 14,805 in Miami’s Orange Bowl. Haiti’s coach, Argentinian-born Jorge Castelli has made significant improvements with his side, but they have a tough road ahead of them. They are paired in the same group with Ecuador and Canada, while Costa Rica is paired with Trinidad and Martinique.

Haitian football is making a serious impression in South Florida. Last weekend at the Miami Fusion’s home at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale Florida, the Haitian Womens National side battled to a 1-1 draw against the Jamaican Womens National team. Now it’s the men’s turn. The Haitian Mens team battles El Salvador in a friendly warmup game this Saturday in Miami’s famous Orange Bowl; both teams are preparing for next years Gold Cup tournament that begins 18th January 2002 in the same venue. Paired with Haiti in the same competing group is Canada, defending Gold Cup Champions, and Ecuador. Expect to see several players from Major League Soccer here in America competing in exciting football tournaments in the very near future.

Allen Johnson claimed another 110-meter hurdles title by holding off a very stiff challenge from Cuba's Olympic Champion Anier Garcia, and claimed another world title by two-hundreths of a second at the World Track & Field games in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Johnson's winning time was 13.05secs, compared to Garcia's 13.07. If Garcia and third placed hurdler, Dudley Dovial (13.25secs) had better starts, their finishing positions might have improved; considering that World Champion Johnson hit several hurdles hard on his way to victory. This victory says a lot for the often injured Johnson, who still recorded the fastest time this year.

Haiti's first NBA Basketball star, Olden Polynice, who played with the Utah Jazz last season, allegedly spat on and hit a man during a fight at the Old Mill Golf Course in Holladay, Utah on 23rd July. Olden is currently on probabtion from 2 separate road-rage incidents. If he's found guilty, he could be sent to prison

Six foot 11 inch Samuel Dalembert, who played college basketball at Seton Hall, was the 26th pick in yesterday's National Basketball Association's Draft. He was chosen by the Eastern Conference Champions Philadelphia 76ers. Samuel became the second Haitian born player to be drafted to play in the NBA; Olden Polynice who played last season with Karl Malone and john Stockton of the Utah Jazz, was the first. Congratulations Samuel!!