Woodrow West Departs for Honduras

Woodrow West is minutes away from touching down tonight in Honduras where he will join the Club Deportivo Honduras de El Progreso, the Honduras Progresso Football Club. The star goalkeeper signed a three-year contract just last week with the team to play professionally in the National Football League of Honduras. Following a call on Tuesday from team manager, Nahum Perez Interiano, West left the Jewel on a Taca Flight just after midday today. It is a bittersweet moment for the goalie because as reality quickly kicked in, he had less than twenty-four hours to prepare for his new assignment. News Five caught up with West minutes before he boarded his flight to find that the confident keeper was experiencing some preseason football jitters.

Woodrow West, Goalkeeper

“I’m feeling kinda sad because the reality just kick in today. I was excited all the while but now it is the real deal and now I am leaving home just hoping for the better. So I am hoping everything just goes good. I still have my heart here for Belize no matter what. So I will be playing for my national team.”

Duane Moody

“You still think that this is the best decision that you’ve made?”

Woodrow West

Woodrow West

“Exactly you know. Like I said, the guys came for me at the right time and no hindrance or whatsoever. All the other years they were atta me, I had contracts or something was in the way, but now I have the all clear and I take the opportunity now so I am contented with the decision.”

Duane Moody

“Your anticipations really, again, going there and knowing now that it has become a reality?”

Woodrow West

“Well I have my mind prepared for when it comes to intense training. I am somebody who likes to work out hard and I do it here and it is going to be like triple the amount, but I am willing to take the challenge. That’s the hardest thing right now to go through the preseason and give my coach the confidence that I am here to play and I am here to help the team.”

Reporter

“I heard you had multiple offers. What made you go the route with the Honduran national team?”

Woodrow West

“The multiple offers were from Honduras; like four or three teams approached me from within three years aback. Every year I had someone calling me to go play in Honduras. And this guy Ruben from San Pedro had a link for me in Salvador and like I said just due to my contract with Belmopan Bandits, I couldn’t make those decisions. Just recently after I signed my contract, Ruben still contacted me and he said that the guys in Salvador still want me. So maybe I can be in Salvador next year or whenever. But for right now I am focused on making my grounds in Honduras and give my coach the confidence because that is the hardest thing as a player – to settle down and play football that you know you can play. So that’s my challenge for right now and I am focusing on that.”

Reporter

“So are you excited for the new challenge?”

Woodrow West

“Yeah, I am excited. It is a whole other level, a whole other atmosphere; more professionalism. I think it is the level that I always wanted to be and I think I will fit in exactly how I should. Like I said, it is just the preseason that I am scared about because I have gone through that and I know how it feels to train three times a day, two hours and a half per training. That’s the difficulty that I’m going to face, but I am ready for it. These people that are looking out for the best for me, I have a lot of my shoulders to represent and I am going to promise you guys that I will do the best that I could and the Woodrow West that you guys know. So thanks again. And I have my girlfriend here with me and she is crying, but that’s part of the sacrifice that I am making. I’ll be back soon as you know with the national team. I just want them to support me.”

West now has a new Facebook account and a public Facebook page with which supporters and fans will be able to get updates on his training and career as a professional Belizean footballer in Honduras.