By Ivan Orozco

CHICAGO - Jean Zephirin waited on the field.

His Haiti teammates were making their way toward the locker room after being eliminated from the Gold Cup with a 4-0 loss to Mexico on Sunday.

Zephirin loitered. Not entirely because he was devastated by the results of the quarterfinals match. He was waiting for Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Zephirin wanted Ochoa's game jersey.

It's not often Ochoa gives away the shirt off his back. And it's not often Zephirin gets to meet a goalkeeper regarded as one of the best in North America.

Haiti is used to being left out of the big parties. The small Caribbean island has qualified for the World Cup only once - and it didn't make it out of the first round in 1974.

It has only qualified for the Gold Cup three times. Haiti wasn't supposed to be in this Gold Cup but entered as a replacement for Cuba, which withdrew from the tournament. Haiti has reached the quarterfinals twice.

Zephirin's chances of collecting a jersey from an international star through club play also are slim.

He plays in the French amateur league for Es Frejus. A handful of his teammates get that opportunity sometimes. Of the 23 men on Hiati's Gold Cup roster, 10 play with clubs outside the island.

So the Haitian goalkeeper wasn't going to waste the opportunity of taking Ochoa's shirt.

Like Zephirin, his teammates also didn't waste the chance to soak in all they could during their four-game trip in the Gold Cup.

Haiti coach Jairo Rios said this trip was one most players will cherish, not just for the experience on the field, but for the accommodations and atmosphere.

Rios said his players were overwhelmed and overmatched against Mexico - and the capacity crowd at the $1.15 billion New Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

"Mexico danced around our players and made their legs shake," Rios said. "The atmosphere had a lot to do with the game. Our players are used to playing in front of 2,000 to 5,000 people not 80,000. That's why our players were shaking."

That's an experience the Haitians probably will try to incorporate into their next competitions. It's a step in trying to build confidence for a squad that mostly plays for pride.

Rios said his players don't make enough money to make ends meet on the island. There is no real structure for a youth developmental program.

That's why Rios said he is dedicated to trying to spark change on the island.

"Soccer has given me so much that it's time for me to give back," said Rios, who took over as coach last summer. "Our contract ends in late July and I hope we are given the chance to remain here. I'd like to help bring a different feel to soccer in Haiti so these players can continue to face the top nations against the best teams."

Zephirin might like that.