BURNET — Francillon Chery lost an arm and a leg during the 2010 earthquake that devastated his country of Haiti. He tried to find refuge in a church when the 7.0-magnitude earthquake ripped through the Caribbean island nation on Jan. 12 of that year.
Everything points to a man who should be depressed and angry, but something else shines through as Chery talks about and plays soccer.
Yes, plays soccer.
Chery, 38, and the other members of the Haiti Amputee Soccer team spent a week in the Highland Lakes. While here, they hosted a clinic Aug. 8 for the Hill Country Futbol Club at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.
Anyone walking by at the time might have paused at the sound of kids and adults kicking soccer balls, the French language bantering about, and the laughter echoing from the field.
Hill Country Futbol Club executive director Clayton Patterson thought the clinic, and a game against the Haitians, would be a nice treat for his kids to get the new season rolling.
Members of the Haiti Amputee Soccer team attempt to score a goal during a soccer clinic for youth in Burnet on Aug. 8. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Haitian team, which stayed at First Baptist Church of Kingsland, were in Texas after coming off a mini-tournament in California. They arrived in the United States on July 18 and racked up a 3-0 record against the American amputee team. They head back to Haiti on Aug. 25.
Six of the team members, including Chery, lost limbs during the 2010 earthquake. Despite their physical challenges, they aren’t about to slow down or make excuses. They play just as hard as anyone, using metal forearm crutches. They also don’t wear their prostheses during matches.
Fred Sorrells, president of Operation Go Quickly, which serves people with disabilities worldwide and supports amputee soccer teams, said the squads want to interact with young people and show the kids they can accomplish more than they think.
“Despite missing a limb, these guys play at an extremely high level of soccer,” he said. “They’re so good with kids. Part of our goodwill is impacting young people.”
The Haitians ranged in age from 17 to 46. Some are missing an arm or a leg or one of each. Despite their physical limitations, they can run, jump, and do just about any soccer move fans are used to seeing.
The team was staying at the Kingsland church because of a connection between Sorrells and church member Matt Looney. The two met when Looney was on a mission trip in Haiti.
“By the grace of God, I was introduced to this team, and they’ve changed my life by understanding God’s mercy and grace in the disabled,” Looney said.
Looney said he appreciates the pure joy he sees from them over the smallest things, such as putting up a mosquito net in dwellings in Haiti or unrolling a sleeping bag at the Kingsland church.
“To see them just be as happy with that setup as with air mattresses at our church, to see those guys so thankful, that changed me personally,” he said, “For them to come to America and watch them grow and get to do things Americans do, to see the same joy and politeness, there’s thankfulness they have for us.”
Chery, who has been to America at least six times and has even participated in the Bluebonnet Festival, describes being on the soccer team as physical and mental therapy and wants children to see the players lead fulfilled lives.
“Just by me taking part in soccer, I want them to realize their potential,” he said. “We’re really hoping the sport will catch on. We have so many amputees back home that we need a lot of resources and finances. Maybe this will inspire people to give so many others can enjoy this game.”
The Haitians need crutches and soccer equipment. Email Sorrells at fred@goquickly.org to help.
As for what they are leaving behind, Sorrells said he believes youngsters will see you can be successful in life, even through hardship.
“Maybe it’ll give them motivation to work hard,” he said. “We hope they think, ‘I really get motivated when I see these guys from Haiti.’”
“I’m glad the kids did this,” Patterson said as he watched the scrimmage. “It helps them understand different cultures. It’s a good experience for them.”
Find more articles like this in Picayune News