Sebastien Thuriere was a sophomore in college on the day the earth shook.
He was at the University of South Florida on January 12, 2010, and had just turned 20 a week before.
While Thuriere is born and raised in Florida, his mother, Dominique, is from a South Haiti beach town of Jacmel. On that day in 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, killing an estimated 230,000 in the country of 10 million.
“I’ve been to Haiti multiple times, and it feels like we’re still recovering from the earthquake,” Sebastien said. “Every Haitian lost someone or knows someone who lost someone.”
His mother, a doctor, has volunteered in Haiti to provide disaster relief. For Sebastien, he hopes to contribute to Haiti on the field.
Thuriere was named to the Haiti’s roster for the national team’s upcoming 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. Haiti plays Costa Rica on Thursday and Jamaica on Sept. 6.
Shortly after he scored a goal in San Antonio FC’s 2-0 win at Saint Louis FC on Saturday, Thuriere left the team to join his countrymen.
Thuriere has been a regular player on Haiti’s roster, with 19 caps at the international level. He’s competed in 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, as well as the Caribbean Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In January, he helped Haiti pull off a shocker as the team defeated Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 to qualify for the Copa America. In the 100th year of the Copa America, it was the first time Haiti qualified.
“We made history already,” Thuriere said. “We made 10 million people happy. Everybody loves their sports in Haiti and knows everything about the team. When we achieve something, you can feel the impact on the country. There’s so much emotion every time I go to Haiti or represent the country.”
Thuriere has appeared in 19 games for SAFC this season, with a goal and an assist, along with another assist in U.S. Open Cup play. Thuriere is one of two Haitians on the SAFC squad, as he’s joined by Port-au-Prince native Jacques Francois.
“When we play at home, the entire country turns into a party,” Thuriere said. “The love and support is amazing.”
Sebastien Thuriere was a sophomore in college on the day the earth shook.
He was at the University of South Florida on January 12, 2010, and had just turned 20 a week before.
While Thuriere is born and raised in Florida, his mother, Dominique, is from a South Haiti beach town of Jacmel. On that day in 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, killing an estimated 230,000 in the country of 10 million.
“I’ve been to Haiti multiple times, and it feels like we’re still recovering from the earthquake,” Sebastien said. “Every Haitian lost someone or knows someone who lost someone.”
His mother, a doctor, has volunteered in Haiti to provide disaster relief. For Sebastien, he hopes to contribute to Haiti on the field.
Thuriere was named to the Haiti’s roster for the national team’s upcoming 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. Haiti plays Costa Rica on Thursday and Jamaica on Sept. 6.
Shortly after he scored a goal in San Antonio FC’s 2-0 win at Saint Louis FC on Saturday, Thuriere left the team to join his countrymen.
Thuriere has been a regular player on Haiti’s roster, with 19 caps at the international level. He’s competed in 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, as well as the Caribbean Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In January, he helped Haiti pull off a shocker as the team defeated Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 to qualify for the Copa America. In the 100th year of the Copa America, it was the first time Haiti qualified.
“We made history already,” Thuriere said. “We made 10 million people happy. Everybody loves their sports in Haiti and knows everything about the team. When we achieve something, you can feel the impact on the country. There’s so much emotion every time I go to Haiti or represent the country.”
Thuriere has appeared in 19 games for SAFC this season, with a goal and an assist, along with another assist in U.S. Open Cup play. Thuriere is one of two Haitians on the SAFC squad, as he’s joined by Port-au-Prince native Jacques Francois.
“When we play at home, the entire country turns into a party,” Thuriere said. “The love and support is amazing.”
