Haitian soccer underdogs Juventus des Cayes clinch first league title

CAP-HAÏTIEN — History was made at Parc Saint-Victor on Sunday evening as Juventus des Cayes secured its first Ligue Haïtienne (Haitian League) title after defeating Association Sportive Capoise 5-3 in penalties following a 2-2 draw.

“For everything that ever happened to me, this does not have a price,” Peterson Seïde told The Haitian Times as he stood on the field after the game. 

Seïde, the team’s Number 10, assisted the game-tying goal in the 89th minute and scored the winning penalty kick.

“This title will be engraved in Juventus’ memory and they will always see me in it,” Seïde added. 

Juventus, an 18-year-old club from Les Cayes in southern Haiti, spent just five seasons in the top division before toppling 94-year-old ASC, a three-time champion, on its home turf. The victory marks Juventus as the third young club in four years to win the Haitian League, ushering in a new era of competition.

Young clubs have built powerful squads, often backed by substantial funding, pushing traditional powerhouses into the shadows. Real Hope Football Academy, founded only 10 years ago, won the league last season. Arcahaie FC, established in 2017, finished third in 2019 and clinched its first title that same year.

Gang violence in Port-au-Prince disrupted the league’s regular schedule in the early 2020s. To revive play, the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) organized a Special National Championship over the past two years, grouping 13 teams into four regional zones to limit travel.

With their league success, Juventus and ASC have qualified for the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, kicking off in August.

ASC had it, but let the game slip away from them

Ralph Charles gave ASC an early lead with a stunning long-range goal in the 18th minute, electrifying the home crowd. A rara band kept the energy high as fans roared in support. ASC dominated much of the first half, boosted by the home-field advantage, but Juventus remained threatening, consistently creating scoring opportunities.

ASC’s coaching staff screamed at the players at halftime to tell them to mark their opponents tightly so the club could secure the title. But just one minute inside the second half, Mikerson Gilot elegantly tapped the ball with the bottom of his foot to move past an ASC defender, then curled a shot in the net. The national championship suddenly and surprisingly started to be less guaranteed for the home side.

Local fans yelled insults at the referees and the Juventus players, attempting to destabilize them. Mylove Dorvilien put ASC on top again in the 52nd minute. Nevertheless, Juventus controlled the game with Seïde’s command in the midfield and kept pushing for an equalizer. They did not find it until the 89th minute when substitute Onelson Dorante poked Seïde’s pass into the net. 

Proving opposing fans wrong

After scoring, Dorante grabbed the ball, ran toward the ASC supporters and pointed at the No. 7 on the back of his jersey. 

“When I was warming up to get in the ASC, fans told me ‘You’re good for nothing, that’s why you were on the bench,’” Dorante said while wearing a pair of white glasses to celebrate the championship. “I said, ‘I’m the savior because the coach called on me.’ After scoring, I went to that fan to give him the ball.”

The final went straight to penalty kicks. Yves Mary Clervin, who is better known as Ti Papa, saved Juventus’ first penalty, but it was ruled out because his feet were off the line. 
All of the players on both teams scored until ASC’s fourth penalty. Richecarde Georges netted the penalty that ushered ASC to the final on May 28 against local rivals Football Inter Club Association (FICA), but on Sunday night, he shot the ball off the crossbar.

Seïde to a calm walk to the penalty line before rolling the ball past Clervin. Juventus players and coaches bolted onto the field in celebration. They did the unthinkable, defeating a historic team in front of a sea of intimidating fans.

“Football is like that, if nature wants it, no one can stop you,” Seïde said as fans cursed near him. “If nature wants it, you have an ally by your side.”

Juventus players view winning the title as only the first step into a bright future ahead of them. The club’s next major competition will be the Caribbean Cup. It will be the first time Juventus will participate in a regional tournament.

“We’re just starting to make history,” Dorante said. “Juventus has its own history to write in the national championship.”

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