Overview:
The Haitian Football Federation confirmed Sunday that Haiti-born forward Kiki Ramos, who made headlines for his talent while playing for Argentina this summer, agreed to join the Under-17 Grenadiers’ World Cup training camp in Brazil.
Primary Category: Haiti News
Stephen Oscar “Kiki” Ramos, a Haiti-born forward who made his debut for Argentina’s under-17 national team in July, has switched his allegiance to Les Petits Grenadiers. The teenage soccer sensation has joined Haiti’s training camp in Brazil as the team prepares for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar this fall.
The Haitian Football Federation (FHF) announced Sunday that the 17-year-old Vélez Sarsfield player had accepted its invitation to represent Haiti, the country where he was born. The federation thanked his representatives and club for helping make the move possible.
“He [Kiki Ramos] has said yes to Haiti and will join the U-17 national team training camp in Brazil,” the federation said in a Facebook post.
A video posted by FHF that went viral within minutes—as thousands of fans celebrated the news on social media—shows Ramos arriving at an unnamed location, where some Haitian team staff and players greeted him before taking a picture together.
Born in Port-au-Prince on April 3, 2009, Ramos was adopted by an Argentine family at about 9 months old and grew up in Argentina. He joined Vélez Sarsfield at 6 and developed through the club’s youth system, becoming one of its promising attacking players.
“With the goal of continuing to explore every corner of the world, discover young talent, and bring children of Haitian heritage into the fold to represent their country, the Haitian Football Federation is delighted to welcome this young prodigy to the Grenadiers family,” FHF said. “We thank his agent and his club, Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield, for their cooperation in making this step possible.”
The announcement marks a new chapter for Ramos, who received his first call-up to Argentina’s U-17 team in June and debuted in a 2-1 friendly victory over Ecuador on July 28. He also scored in a subsequent 1-1 draw against Ecuador, according to Argentine sports media.
Screengrab from announcement welcome by the Haitian Football Federation
Ramos’ first call-up drew attention on social media, including posts from Argentina’s national team and his own Instagram account. Many Haitians celebrated him at the time but regretted that the FHF did not act soon enough to recruit him for Haiti.
Sources familiar with the player’s situation told The Haitian Times that his adoptive parents had contacted Haitian federation officials before Ramos received Argentina’s call-up. However, the officials did not respond then, the sources said, adding that Ramos has had his Haitian passport on hold while awaiting this call.
Haiti prepares for Qatar
Haiti’s U-17 team, coached by Kowsky Sainvil, traveled to Brazil on Oct. 27 for its final training camp before the World Cup. The federation had initially announced 18 players for the camp, with the coaching staff expected to finalize the tournament roster after the preparation period.
For the tournament, scheduled for Nov. 19 to Dec. 13, Haiti is drawn into Group D with France, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. The Grenadiers, who will play in their second straight competition, open their campaign against France on Nov. 19, followed by matches against Uruguay on Nov. 22 and Saudi Arabia on Nov. 25.
Ramos’ arrival adds more depth to the team’s already talented attacking line. It also adds an international dimension to the federation’s broader effort to identify and recruit young players of Haitian origin worldwide and give them opportunities to represent the country at all levels.
“Now, the world will be talking, just like they did about Isidor [Wilson Isidor] and Lenny [Lenny Joseph], whom we’ve discovered,” Thériel Télus, a social media blogger, said.
Related
