17310: (Hermantin)Sun-Sentinel-Fans are abuzz over Haiti-Honduras match (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>
Subject: (Hermantin)Sun-Sentinel-Fans are abuzz over Haiti-Honduras match

Fans are abuzz over Haiti-Honduras match
Published November 16, 2003


Miami soccer promoter Tom Mulroy has been around long enough to get a feel
for when a large crowd is about to descend on the Orange Bowl for an
international match.

Based on the buzz in South Florida's Haitian community this past week,
tonight's 2004 Olympic qualifier between the under-23 teams of Haiti and
Honduras appears to be one of those games.

"It could be one of the biggest [soccer] crowds ever at the Orange Bowl,"
said Mulroy, who is promoting the game with Caribbean Soccer Network.

Mulroy said attendance should exceed 40,000. That's based largely on the
estimated 25,000 Haitian fans who watched their U-23s beat the Dominican
Republic in a qualifier last month at the Orange Bowl.

Haiti is the home side for tonight's match and the crowd will likely reflect
that, though a large contingent of Honduras followers is expected as well.

Because the crowd will likely fill the lower bowl, fans of the teams will be
directed to specified areas, with Haitians seated in the north stand and
Hondurans on the south (press box) side.

This is the first leg of a two-game aggregate goals series that concludes
Wednesday in Honduras. Historically, Haiti has played qualifiers in all
competitions in Port-au-Prince. But at just $3 a head for 25,000 fans back
home vs. a potential $1 million gross for tonight's match in Miami, the
Haitian federation has opted to make the Orange Bowl its home away from home
for the time being.

"This is about raising money for Haitian soccer," Mulroy said. "There are a
lot more expenses here, but it's a chance to reach a different level of
income. From that standpoint it's good for the Haitians. They're trying to
build an organization they've never had before for soccer."

The winner of the series advances to the final round of CONCACAF Olympic
qualifiers being played Feb. 2-12 in Mexico City.

Haiti's most recent match was a 1-0 loss to the United States on Oct. 15 at
Lockhart Stadium. The core players from that match, including forward Jean
Phillipe Peguero, midfielder Ulcenat Richardson and defender Chery Mones,
were named to the 18-man roster.

Honduras beat El Salvador 1-0 in a friendly played 11 days ago. Every player
on the Honduras roster plays professionally in that country's domestic
league, with five players from league leader Olimpia.

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