Armed gangs have taken over most cities in Haiti, including its capital, Port-au-Prince, and the main communication routes and access to ports. This has led to the isolation of the country, long considered the poorest in America, and many citizens living abroad are unable to return. This is the case of Wilguens Paugain (Thomazeau, 2001), a defender for the Haitian national team who is making history with his teammates at the World Cup. Football is not the main concern of the Caribbean people, but it is a way "to show the other side of our country," admits the player from Zulte Waregem in Belgium in a conversation with EL MUNDO. Surprised by the interview, he himself asks the first question: "Why did you choose me for the interview?"
Question: They're playing against Brazil. How does it feel?
Answer: Very proud to represent my country, because I was born there, although I was later adopted and raised in France. Despite that, I felt something different for my country of origin, and for me, being here representing Haiti is a dream. Going on the biggest stage in the world is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and every player wants to live it. It's happened to me, and I couldn't be prouder.
Q: How old were you when you were adopted?
A: Five years old. A French family adopted my little brother and me. We were lucky, because sometimes when two siblings are adopted, they're separated, but thank God we were able to stay together. We went to live with a family in Nancy.
Q: Do you keep in touch with your biological family?
A: Yes, I still talk to my mother and my older brother. I try to help them by sending money when I can, but it's not always easy.
Q: Tell me about the situation in Haiti. Do you ever visit the country?
A: No, no. After I was adopted, I haven't been back even once because there are so many problems. We can't. The country isn't safe. My biological family has moved to the Dominican Republic and they can't go back because it's dangerous. They don't have the opportunity, neither they nor anyone else, to have a life there.
Q: The national team doesn't play in Haiti, right?
A: No, we can't because of the situation in the country. And that makes everything more difficult. We face teams that have packed stadiums when they play at home, and we don't get that. When we play as the home team in Miami, for example, some of our compatriots come to support us, but it's not like we're playing at home.
Q: There's a lot of talk about the pros and cons of the World Cup expanding to 48 teams, but it's clear that it allows small countries like yours to fulfill a dream.
A: Absolutely. For players like me, it's incredible on every level. I had a very complicated tendon injury and I went almost a year without playing football. I had to start all over again from scratch. I've played in the Cypriot Second Division, in Latvia, in the Austrian Second Division, in the Belgian Second Division, and then we were promoted to the First Division... I've had to take it step by step, and I know that now I'm at a huge event, and it's an opportunity for all of us to showcase ourselves to better teams.
Q: How important do you think the World Cup can be for the people of Haiti?
A: Football can help a lot, because there are many people who, when they hear the name Haiti, don't know anything about the country, or they only know about the problems there. So this can change the face of the country; they can think about other good things, like football, not just the bad situation we have.
Q: And did you play football from a young age?
A: No, at first I played tennis because my adoptive parents saw that I had a lot of energy, and it was a way for me to calm down. But at school, all my friends played football, I insisted, and in the end, they put me on a team. I played for fun, and then from about 13 years old, it became something more serious. Some teams inquired about me, and Nancy came along. They invited me to a tournament, we won, I played very well, and I stayed with them.
Q: And when did your opportunity with the national team come?
A: When I was playing for Latvia, the new national team coach called me, but at that time I said no because there were many problems in the country, and living in Latvia wasn't easy. Many players were turning down the coach because the situation in the country was complicated. In my case, it wasn't my priority. I wanted to play for a better club, closer to France, and then I would consider the national team. Later, I signed for a club in Belgium, Zulte, things improved, and I said yes.
Q: You wear a cross around your neck.
A: Yes, I'm a very religious person. At first, I wasn't so much, but after everything that's happened to me, I think there must be someone who has helped me a lot. I was adopted and didn't stay in Haiti... And my older brother, who did stay there, had many problems. He tried to go to the Dominican Republic, and the police arrested him. So the situation is very difficult and I've been lucky.