Life
A ‘Phoenix’ rises from Haiti quake ashes
“They come from far away to train. They play soccer, but also basketball, practice karate or boxing,” he said. “They also get something to eat, and there is a regular school.”
In addition to the new stadium, Duval aims to expand his program to reach more of the children of Haiti, one in eight of whom die before the age of five.
“Before I die, I dream of building centers to train young athletes across the country,” he said.
Duval has received international accolades for his work, including being named a “CNN Hero” in 2007, but he says not all people in Haiti approve.
“There are still die-hards who think I shouldn’t come here (to Cite Soleil). They think it’s not my place,” Duval said with regret. “But,” for him, he added forcefully, “it’s not a choice.”
Within Cite Soleil, a sprawling shantytown of 200,000 to 400,000 souls on the northern fringe of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince that is patrolled by violent gangs, “Boby” is adored by his young, would-be soccer stars.
“I’m a mid-fielder. I dream of playing for clubs in Europe,” said 14-year-old Ariel Charles, nicknamed Zannetti.
