FFB Introduces National Football Selection

On Wednesday, March twenty fifth, the Belize Jaguars will be taking on the national selection from Grand Cayman in game one of the qualifying matches for the World Cup. It is the team’s first big match in months and the squad has been training and preparing. Well, you might have heard it already; Belize will be short of one of its key players. But that’s not stopping the team. They have a roster of thirty players already and the starting lineup for the first match will be named in days to come. But there are major changes with this new team. The F.F.B. says they are rebuilding and it is with young blood. Andrea Polanco was in Belmopan today for a look at the squad that will be playing for Belize:

Andrea Polanco, reporting

Today, the Football Federation of Belize (F.F.B.) unveiled the new logo of the Belize Jaguars’ team. At the presentation, twenty four of the players of the National Football Selection also made an appearance. All players who will be playing their first match in the World Cup Qualifying will be selected later this week. The executive is confident going in to Wednesday night’s match against Grand Cayman.

John Saldivar, Coordinator, Belize National Team

John Saldivar

“Our team has been practicing from since November and more earnestly since January. We are confident that we have assembled the best team possible, of what is available to us.”

Ruperto Vicente

Ruperto Vicente, President, F.F.B.

“This is the team that is going to represent Belize. This is not about representing the F.F.B. I have always said that  Belize has never gone to war with a gun, but we are preparing these young me to go to war for Belize and they will defend our national flag and defend the name Belize.”

The national selection, however, has a lot of new faces and just a few veterans. The younger players have been playing locally for years and are seasoned footballers in their own right; however they are new to football at this level. The F.F.B. says while they lack some experienced ballers, the youth and passion will add to the dynamics of the team:

Charlie Slusher, Assistant Coach, Belize National Team

Charlie Slusher

“If you look around, this team is eighty percent more or less young players. This team is going through a transformation, so a lot of the faces you used to see in the past are not here. But some of the big strength is that we have youth and they are in good condition. They have been training from November and December. They want to make a name for themselves and need the opportunity. These players have been excelling in the league in this country for the past couple of years.”

Vicente says that the national team’s transformation is strategic:

Ruperto Vicente

“So we are rebuilding and the reason we have a lot of young players on this team because we are looking forward to the next gold cup. This team should be a giant team for the next gold cup qualifiers and that is what we are preparing for. We are going to pass this hurdle. I am sure that we can get rid of Cayman and Dominica and go to the third round and play against Guatemala or El Salvador. I am sure we can cross these hurdles. These are strong players and I know we will be successful.”

Veterans Lennan and West are also positive going into next week’s match:

Woodrow West , Goalkeeper

Woodrow West

“We just know that we are prepared and we are playing home so that is an advantage on our side, so I think that’s going to be a big thing for us going into Wednesday night.”

Trevor Lennan, Defense/Middle

“We deh yah fi win and we gwein fi win cause we nuh wah lose deh lee game yah.”

Andrea Polanco

“What you think it’s going to take to win that game; just key players showing up or the entire team’s effort?”

Trevor Lennan

Trevor Lennan

“It’s an entire team effort. Everybody have to show up and everybody have to war.”

Slusher says that from sizing up the competition, it looks favorable for Belize.

Charlie Slusher

“We also know that they are ranked far lower than us, 204 -205, compared to us about 164. So, if you look at the ranking alone, we are supposed to have an advantage. Or, let me put it like this, there is no reason we should not advanced.”

Noticeably absent from the selection to play the first game is Deon McCauley. But with the influx of new blood, will the star player’s absence be felt?

Woodrow West

“As a player and as a team mate he will be always missed. Because he is the one who scored goals for us.”

Andrea Polanco

“What’s the dynamics of the team like, being that he iis a key player here. How’s the team morale?”

Woodrow West

“Well, it’s like when a player is injured or something you still have to move on. We will miss him but the game still have to play and we prepared other strikers for that position.”

David Manu McCauley

“Well, it’s going to have a big. All countries is looking forward to see Deon. They are strategizing how they are gonna play Deon. They are looking forward to seeing him.”

Andrea Polanco

“Do you think his absence will be felt in Wednesday night’s game?”

Trevor Lennan

“Well, ih wah be felt because we used to play with the man and thing but we have other young players weh di step up same way weh we could depend on right now.”

Andrea Polanco for News Five.

Tickets for the game are going for forty dollars and fifty at the door. Fans must take note that items like laser lights, batteries and coins will not be allowed inside the stadium, as per regulations. For information on where you can purchase T-Shirts, you can contact the F.F.B. You can catch the live game right here on Channel 5 at eight PM this coming Wednesday!