Overview:
Violette Athletic Club defeated Baltimore Sportif Club 2-1 Saturday, Feb. 14, at Parc Sainte-Thérèse in Pétion-Ville to win the 2025-26 Haitian League opening season title. The victory marks the club’s eighth national championship.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Violette Athletic Club defeated Baltimore Sportif Club 2-1 Feb. 14 at Parc Sainte-Thérèse in Pétion-Ville to win the 2025-26 Football League opening season title, securing its eighth national championship.
With this victory, Le Vieux Tigre—The Old Tiger— further cemented its status as Haiti’s most successful club of the past decade. Violette also won the 2020 opening series before the league went inactive for two years and captured the 2022 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship, making it the only Haitian club to win both a domestic and regional title in the past two decades.
The two-legged final began with a 0-0 draw on Feb. 7 at Parc Levelt in Saint-Marc before Violette sealed the championship at home.
Match recap, individual honors
Violette opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Elyvens Dejean tapped in Roberto Jean’s low cross.
Baltimore equalized in the 69th minute as Stravensky Dupiton converted a penalty kick. But the breakthrough came 10 minutes later.
Micheneider Chéry rose above a defender in the 79th minute and powered a header into the net, sending fans into celebration. He sprinted toward the corner flag as teammates rushed the field.
Racing Club des Gonaïves striker Claudeson Stanley Céus finished as the league’s top scorer with eight goals and was named Best Player of the season.
“For his talent, consistency and influence on the field, Céus made a difference all season long,” the Haitian League posted on Facebook.
Violette goalkeeper Guivemy Joseph was named Best Goalkeeper. Both Céus and Joseph received checks and motorcycles as prizes.
A league rebuilding
Violette topped the southern playoff group of four teams to reach the final, while Baltimore led the northern group of six clubs.
The 2025-26 campaign marked the first edition sponsored by Paryaj Lakay, a Haitian sports betting platform.
The title carries added meaning for Violette. When the league resumed in 2024 after a three-year hiatus due to gang violence, the Port-au-Prince club did not participate because of insecurity in the capital.
In 2025, Violette, Racing Club Haïtien and Don Bosco de Pétion-Ville all rejoined the league but played home matches in Les Cayes, about 120 miles from Port-au-Prince bases.
Last season, Violette fell 2-0 to America des Cayes in the playoffs. This time, with matches restored to the capital, the club lifted the trophy in front of its home supporters.
The Haitian Football League now shifts to the closing season, scheduled to begin in March.
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