There is nothing more I enjoy more than a conversation with a Haitian cab driver in New York.
1974?
It's a question that never fails to generate pride and excitement. The radio is immediately turned off and the passenger indulged. The road ahead becomes secondary and receives only an occasional glance. A party breaks out when one advances the partizan knowledge further: "I think Manno Sanno scored the greatest goal of the 1974 World Cup!" YES...YES...YES!!!
Who can forget the 46th minute in Haiti's opening match in Munich?
Italy, the opponents. Italy!
What was it the late Ron O'Neal, starring as Priest Youngblood in Super Fly, said about the Italians? The best killers money can buy, baby. Or something like that. Indeed. Here was Haiti confronted with the catennacio. The ultimate killer.
But it seems no one had educated Philippe Vorbe on the complexities of the catenaccio when he sliced up the Italian midfield and defence like a salami with one pass to Manno Sanon.
Sanon pounced and raced past the Italian right back. For a moment the Italian had a hold of Sanon's shirt. But only for a moment. Sanno was like a runaway train.
Sanon entered the box with only Dino Zoff to beat. No one had beaten Dino Zoff in one thousand, one hundred and forty three minutes of international football. Sanno sold Zoff a dummy. Haiti 1 Italy 0.
I can still see the chalky cloud of dust from the goal line just before Manno Sanno's shot hit the net. Italy eventually pulled three goals back but Haiti had made a statement.
Haitian football has been full of incident this year. The Other Football will address the major developments.
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