Garaudy Etienne’s arrival on the American soccer scene is an incredible story. It is a journey that involved many years and a lot of obstacles, but the beautiful game has always been there as a constant.
The story began in his native Haiti, a place where his love of the game first developed. It is something he has maintained for 20+ years despite growing up in a country where the game lacks funding and organized play.
Coming to America was a tremendously difficult situation, one brought about by some unfortunate and difficult situations in his homeland. His father, who is one of the country’s most prominent and respected intellectuals, spoke out against the corruption and brutality of the government. The regime, charged with the deaths of thousands of Haitians, soon turned against him. His family would be subjected to death threats and immense danger when the elder Etienne refused to take bribes from the country’s dictator.
His father would remain in Haiti to continue the fight while Garaudy and other family members fled to America to begin a new life.
Garaudy would call this decision one of “the most difficult and trying” of his life, but it brought new opportunities and new challenges along the way. Garaudy would excel in the academic realm here in the States, eventually graduating with an engineering degree. He would move into a position with a defense contractor, but he never left the game behind.
He starred for Del Rey City SC in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) this summer before landing the starting center back spot for DRCSC’s United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) squad this fall.
“The guy has a positive attitude, is always smiling, is skilled, and has an intellectual appreciation and understanding for the game,” DRCSC President and Owner Brian Perez stated. “He’s the prototypical player for which Del Rey City searches. We’ve played on several teams together and he’s a great teammate.”
While Garaudy deals with his work as an engineer and footballer, his father remains in Haiti and has emerged as one of the top contenders for the presidency there. Yet the younger Etienne urges caution in a country that has been torn apart by politics many times before.
“Right now I would put him at a 50% chance of being elected. Bribery and corruption are very much alive in Haiti and they reduce his chances as an honest candidate.”
Personally Garaudy does have any interest in politics and won’t be following in his father’s footsteps any time soon.
“I have never been interested in politics because I have seen the effects it has had on me and my family. I am not as altruistic as my father in terms of a desire to sacrifice my personal life for the betterment of my country.”
Garaudy’s story is just beginning as he has big plans in both the professional and sporting world. He has a bright footballing career in front of him and would like to one day own his own professional soccer team. He is equally talented in the engineering ranks and looks to have quite a bright future there as well.
All of us are excited to see where this journey finally takes him. We imagine that many great things are ahead for the young man that never never gave up on his dreams.
Awesome Soccer owns and operates Del Rey City SC (DRCSC), a professional Marina del Rey, California soccer club having 2014 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and 2014-2015 United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) teams; Los Angeles City Football Club (L.A. City FC); and Playa Vista United. Awesome Soccer is involved in a number of other soccer-related projects and investments to help grow the sport of soccer in the United States with its focus on Los Angeles’ Westside. Awesome Soccer believes and invests in American soccer.
