Overview:
Djuny Théodore Jr., one of the most promising players on Haiti’s under-17 men’s soccer team, left his teammates in Spain to try to travel to France to live with family members. Théodore Jr. does not want to return to Haiti because of the many crises there, he said in a voice message.
Djuny Théodore Jr., a key player on Haiti’s under-17 World Cup roster, fled from the team in Spain on Saturday, Oct. 18, because he does not want to return to his country after the tournament due to the multiple crises there. Théodore Jr., 16, is reportedly trying to travel to France to live with family members.
“Going back to Haiti wouldn’t have been good for me,” Théodore Jr. said in a voice message circulating on social media. “If I go back down there, I would say it’s a failure because it’s the same soccer I’m going to play again.”
Théodore Jr., a striker from Aquin, a southern town about 75 miles from Port-au-Prince, was one of the top players on the team. So with his departure, Haiti lost a key player roughly two weeks before the World Cup in Qatar. He scored the only goal in Haiti’s win against a Spanish club during their preparations on Oct. 2.
The 16-year-old fled while the team was watching F.C. Barcelona play against Girona at home. He reportedly left without his passport and other belongings to try to travel to France. The team has been in Girona, Spain, since mid-September to prepare for the World Cup, which will begin on Nov. 3.
Haitian athletes have often fled during international tournaments to avoid returning to Haiti, which is facing many crises, like ongoing gang violence, food insecurity and high unemployment. For many soccer players, the sport is their only chance to escape, so they desperately try to secure a contract overseas or take the easier option: fleeing during international events. Family members often encourage and assist them in escaping. For Théodore Jr., his uncle supposedly helped him flee, according to local media reports.
Yet, Théodore Jr., as one of the most talented players on the team, could have earned a contract if he had performed well in the World Cup. However, he chose not to participate, claiming that a relative had found him a club in France. It is highly unlikely that a professional club would sign him after hearing that he escaped and because he does not have proper documents.
Les Grenadiers now have 24 players remaining on their roster at the training camp and still need to cut three more to meet their final 21-man squad requirement. So, more players might try to escape. The team is scheduled to travel to Qatar on Oct. 31.
The Haitian Football Federation (FHF) has yet to comment publicly on Théodore Jr. leaving the group and did not reply to The Haitian Times’ interview request.
Players fleeing during international tournaments is a matter that not only the FHF needs to take seriously and attempt to prevent, but also the government. Players fleeing are often underage and subject to all forms of exploitation abroad.
Before Théodore’s escape, in May 2021, three Arcahaie Football Club players fled from a hotel in Mexico City before the team’s encounter with Mexican side Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League.
In 2007, 13 players from the U-17 soccer team also went missing in New York during an overnight stop at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The team was traveling to South Korea to prepare for the World Cup held there that year.
The players were later found — two in Boston.
The latest case has deeply distressed Haitians because a young player with a promising future made a decision that could ruin his career, as he cannot handle the pain he will face again upon returning to Haiti.“That really hurt me, he’s from my city,” a Facebook user who identifies himself as Ween Sayou commented. “He’s very talented. I was so proud to watch him, but unfortunately…”
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