LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Training in South Texas three months after the earthquake in their country, the Haiti national soccer team came to Lackland to do something that naturally makes them feel at home: play a beautiful game.
Haiti's national team ran away with a scrimmage against Lackland's varsity soccer team, 7-0, Monday as fans cheered on both sides during the contest at the Warhawk Field.
Throughout the contest, the Haitians were skillful with the ball at their feet, displayed crisp passing and were almost telepathic in their connection on each other's off-the-ball runs.
Haitian captain Pierre Bruny said, through Creole translator Ernst Bernard, soccer and his fellow Haitians go hand in hand.
"Soccer is my thing," he said. "In Haiti, it's number one, as far as playing the game."
The team has been in the region since April 15 gearing up for a friendly exhibition against international powerhouse Argentina May 5.
The Haitians' stateside training has included two-a-day practices and scrimmages against local squads such as national-ranked Trinity University.
As Haitians playing soccer abroad, Bruny understands his presence as a national representative.
"We are ambassadors of Haiti," the captain said. "Every time we have to leave home and go somewhere else, we are very proud because we get to represent our home."
After the team's National Soccer Federation headquarters and training areas were devastated by January's earthquake, the captain said the team has put aside their own concerns in order to perform well for their people back home.
"After the tragedy, we lost a lot of family members," Bruny said. "We are representing Haiti, here, like soldiers in the military. We are using a soldier's mentality. Even though there are people dying, you still have to move forward."
In a pregame introduction, Col. Gregory Parsons, 37th Training Wing vice commander, expressed the sentiment through a French translator.
"You've taken on something bigger than yourselves, and we are honored to help in that endeavor," he said.
As a training mechanism, the Lackland Warhawks were happy to help. But the scrimmage was more a symbol of support, Warhawk Chris Price, Inter-American Air Forces Academy, said.
"It's just another great way for us to merge Inter-Americanism and show our dedication to global partnership with other countries," said Price, who worked with the 37th Training Group and the nonprofit group, San Antonio Sports, to set up the meeting.
As a show of support for the Haitian team, the base team also presented a USA flag, embellished with the Warhawks logo, signed by the 21 military players who took the field.
"A small token of appreciation from us to say thank you for coming out here, thank you for taking time out of their busy schedule to come and play with us," said Price.
And then, there's the rare opportunity to witness international level soccer firsthand.
Numerous Warhawks agreed it was a rare day.
Midfielder Johnny Cardenas said, "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. You don't get to play an international team every day."
Warhawk striker Nana Sahene said the home team's goals in the scrimmage were to provide some competition and learn from the experience.
"This is at the international level, so it's different," he said. "It's the whole Haiti country putting out their 20."
Training themselves, the Warhawks couldn't have found a better form of preparation for the San Antonio Soccer Association Cinco de Mayo tournament this weekend.
"It definitely exposed some of our weaknesses," Warhawk manager Stewart Hess said. "It was a heck of an experience."