By Gary Eliezer
A big name in Haitian football, notably Racing Club Haitien, fell this Monday. This is the former goalkeeper of the Vieux Lion and the Haitian selection of the 1950s-60s, René Vertus. The well-known player from the capital club died at the age of 87.
He was goalkeeper of the Haitian team during a prosperous period of our football marked by the title won by the Grenadiers at the Central American and Caribbean Football Confederation Cup in 1957, also known as the CCCF Cup. The Haitians had ridden on a huge Phénol Charles to win their first regional title but also René Vertus as a good bulwark.
René Vertus died with a solid legacy as a goalkeeper and also a coach as he was assistant to Antoine Tassy during the 1974 World Cup then head coach for the Caribbean Cup won by the Grenadiers in 1979. He had taken the relay of Michel Blain in 1957 then holder during the next edition of the CCCF in 1961. Also note his Concacaf club title with the RCH in 1963.
“René Vertus was also a hard worker
Legendary goalkeeper of the Haitian Racing Club and the national selection
Respected coach of the 1979 Caribbean Champion national team with the national team in SURINAM; he had thus built a strong national selection with Himmler RÉBU as physical trainer and Raphaël Delatour as assistant coach,” wrote the Haitian Racing Club in a press release.
Respected, discreet in life and sober on the pitch, the ex-player was a notable figure in Haitian football as one of the best players of his time. He was also a public administration executive, a financial inspector at the Ministry of Finance and the Economy
Acts which made him a hero in the eyes of Haitians, and more particularly for racist supporters.
