After 20 years of media activism and human rights work, Duval returned to his first love: sport. The school opened in 1995, with just 12 students. The land was previously used as a bottling plant's dumping ground. Duval arranged the removal of thousands of cubic metres of broken glass, fenced the area
off, and created pitches, an athletics track and basketball courts. He later had administrative offices built along with showers, changing rooms, dormitories, a kitchen and a large dining area.

L'Athletique d'Haiti is funded by voluntary donations of cash, goods and services - at a cost of $20,000 US per month. The academy's success rate is high: 20% of players in the national league are graduates of l'Athletique d'Haiti, which receives no funding from FIFA or other international sporting bodies.

But perhaps the greatest success is the children's dedication
to the school. Schneider le France, 11, says before he started training here, he used to play in the street. "I play football here with Bobby. I am a centre-forward. I like it here because I like football, and I want to become a good player. Ronaldo is my favourite player in the world. Because when he plays, I feel so happy. I want to be like him."