South Florida youth soccer team heads to Europe, but coach stranded in Haiti

miami – One of the coaches in South Florida’s youth soccer program is trapped in Haiti and will not be able to participate in the team’s international trip.

The team will depart for France on Saturday to train before competing in an elite international tournament in Spain.

CBS News Miami’s Joe Gocho spent time Friday with his team dealing with an unknown situation.

“When you go to the field, you forget everything,” Wagno Eloi said.

He is a former Haitian soccer star who helps coach Miami’s Elevate Soccer Project Club, Miami’s elite teenage soccer team.

Training on the pitch provides a distraction from the dangerous situation unfolding hundreds of miles away in Haiti.

On a typical practice day, he’s not the only one leading the way.

“It’s tough because we’re leaving tomorrow,” Eloy added.

The ESP club leaves on Saturday to compete in Europe’s elite youth soccer tournament, but another coach remains in Haiti.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Ernst Jean-Baptiste said. “I’m so sad to see them go.”

Baptiste spoke to us by phone. He is also a former Haitian soccer star who lives in his Pines neighborhood in Pembroke. But now he is stuck in his home country and his gang makes it impossible for him to travel.

“There are no police officers to stop them,” Jean-Baptiste said. When you live somewhere, you never know what will happen next. The reality is, you’re stuck. Can’t move. ”

Gochev asked Eloy, “How worried are you about your friend in Haiti?”

We are worried about all of them,” Eloy stressed. “The situation is too dire. It cannot continue like this.”

And one of the club’s players, Neil Ewald, said the airport was closed the day after he arrived from Haiti to join the team.

“It’s hard to be away from your parents,” Ewald said. But I don’t really talk to them about this situation because I don’t want to stress them out any more. ”

Gochev asked the 14-year-old boy: “How much does that affect you and your teammates? Someone who is a leader may not be able to be with you in this big and important tournament.”

“We really want him here,” Ewald added. “He’s a really encouraging person.”

“I dream of it,” Jean-Baptiste said of reuniting with the team. “I hope something happens within the next hour or day.”

As he dreams, the team prepares for the big trip. The ESP club told CBS News Miami that they are working to have Jean-Baptiste back in time for the tournament.