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Former Haitian soccer pro Roger Laurent teaches Keystone Heights High School team his winning ways

December 21, 2006

The KHHS boys' soccer team, which as of this writing is 10-1-4, and looks to be on its way to collision course with either Crescent City or Taylor for district championship, owes it success in no small part to Roger Laurent, assistant coach under head coach Trevor Waters.

Laurent who was born in Haiti in 1954, played semi-pro soccer for five years in Petionville, located in the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince. There he became something of a local legend for his topnotch playing at the fullback position.

Not only did he make a name for himself as a stalwart defensive player, but he proved himself a force to be reckoned with on offense as well. With his exceptional play he helped his team win three championships in a row.

In 1975, when Laurent was 20, Professional Soccer came courting when a scout from Belgium signed him to play for that nation's soccer league.

Although the team he played for, the Beerschot Football Club, did not compile an impressive record in his three years with them, he was a stand out player. He was named Most Valuable Player one season and in two separate seasons, scored 29 goals-an unusually high total for a defensive player.

In 1978, Laurent traveled to South Florida where he hoped to earn a spot playing for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. However his timing was unfortunate as the US's Major League Soccer organization was suffering from poor attendance and soon went out of business.

Laurent, realizing that he wasn't going to make a living at the sport he loved, attended a trade school in Miami where he earned a degree in engineering and electronics.

This led to the opening of his own satellite TV company, a business which at that time-some 25 years ago-was just in its infancy. A few years later, Laurent, a guitarist, keyboard player and singer, added a recording studio to his business. Artists from all musical genres, from country to rap to rock 'n roll, reggae and jazz recorded at his studio, including Gloria Estefan and rapper Puff Daddy.

Along the way Laurent met and married his wife of 19 years, Sue, an administrative nurse.

Laurent, though he was not involved in professional soccer, continue to play as much as possible in what might be called "pick-up games".

The couple moved to Grandin from South Florida last year. However, nearly 30 years after he last played competitive soccer, fate brought the game he passionately loves back into his life.

During an office visit to Dr. Bonnie Green in Starke, she suggested that he call Trevor Waters in Keystone.

That phone call resulted in Laurent accepting an offer to coach an under-12-years-of-age soccer team, the Flamingos, for the Keystone Youth Soccer League.

In this capacity, Laurent proved himself as formidable a coach as he was a player in his earlier days.

He led the Flamingos to a perfect 10-0 season championship, with the team scoring an awesome 102 goals for the season-an average of 10 goals a game.

This prompted the question whether he was ever accused by opponents' coaches of running up the score on them.

Laurent readily admits that it did happen, but defends himself in a way that also reveals his philosophy as a winning coach.

"When I send my players out on the field, they understand that they are to play as well and as hard as they can at all times, no matter what the score," Laurent said.

In fact, said the coach, he usually will not answer the players when they ask him what the score of a particular match is.

He said that he takes care not to tell them anything that might cause them to alter their game or let up in their efforts.

"The most important thing for successful soccer players and teams is to be disciplined, focused, committed and always ready to play under pressure," Laurent said.

He also said that he has no tolerance for prima donnas or slackers on the field.

"I don't care if they're the best players on the team, they will sit on the bench the next game if they don't give 100 percent," said Laurent.

At the same time, Laurent said that he's far from a tyrannical disciplinarian. "I tell the players, 'Play for the team, not yourself and have fun'", Laurent said. If a player is making mistakes on the field, he said he will offer criticism in a tactful, constructive manner that will not leave the youth discouraged and humiliated as sometimes will happen with young fragile egos.

Waters-- who Laurent has the highest regard for and calls a "very dedicated person and a great coach"-was naturally impressed with his stellar coaching performance with the youth league and asked him to help coach the KHHS team.

Waters went on to cite Laurent's professional experience as being an inestimable boon to the team.

"He can tell the players what skill and work they have to do to be winners," said Waters.

"He has taught them the art of passing, but beyond that, how to convert passes into goals."

Perhaps as important a lesson to his team is the example he provides of determination.

Although he had knee surgery earlier this year, he still plays as hard as he can with the players in practice.

"The game is my passion and my life. Yes, I have to run slower and stop and take a break. But I'll play until the day I can't walk anymore," Laurent insisted.

Perhaps equal to his passion for the game, Laurent made it clear that he loves kids. The feeling is apparently mutual.

With a proud smile on his face, he related the story of one of his young players saying to him, "You remind me of someone."

When Laurent asked who, the boy said, "Jesus, because kids just flock to you."