Kulture Yabra helps high school footballers
One sporting organization that does not operate on the principles of charity is the semi-pro Belize Premier Football League. But that hasn’t stopped one of its teams in Belize City from giving something back. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The Edward P. Yorke High School Football Club has been around for a good while, but lack of training and equipment has affected the team’s performance. The club has been participating in the secondary school football competition, but is yet to score a winning goal. Today, the young players between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, are looking to strengthen the club and revive the sport.
Shaphan Domingo, Capt., E.P. Yorke Football Club
“Like now we are looking to set up a team right now so we could play, because they have high school games and thing. So we are trying to set up a team, but we really need gears and jersey and things.”
Arthur Butler, Sports Coordinator, E.P. Yorke High School
“Well as you can see, basically we do need some assistance with the field, it has a lot of drops in it and of course, it does need a little grading and stuff like that. The school itself has built the different goals that are here, and I guess it starts from there. Otherwise, in order for our guys to improve a lot, we really do need some more assistance.”
To help boost the students’ interest, this afternoon, the young men and women were visited by one of the country’s top football team…Kulture Yabra. The visit brought many of the schools’ staff and students out to the field.
Arthur Butler
“Well hopefully it will let them see the talent or the level that Kulture Yabra is playing and hopefully they will want to get there. Of course, if they ask the different players, maybe they will see the amount of time and practice they will need to put in to reach where Kulture Yabra is at this point in time.”
Presently Kulture Yabra is tied with Belmopan Bandits and Sagitun in the ongoing Regent Anniversary Cup football tournament. According to Kulture Yabra’s coach, Marvin Ottley, the aim of the visit is to help promote the sport in high schools.
Marvin Ottley, Coach, Kulture Yabra
“Well the biggest thing is for us to start to actually interact with high-schoolers to show people that football is not only a sport anymore, it’s starting to become an industry. So we want to make ourselves available to high schools so that they could know that if they make their selves better prepared in their particular sport, especially football, coming out of school they could probably get a contract or so with one of the clubs at the B.P.F.L. level.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Is this you first visit to a high school?”
Marvin Ottley
“Yes, this is our first visit, we actually start with this one.”
The high school footballers interacted with greats such as Vallan Symms and Landi Pinelo.
Landi Pinelo, Striker, Kulture Yabra
“We certainly feel good. We would like to see the younger generation come out and show their talent and we are certainly glad to help them. As part of Kulture Yabra, I think it’s a good thing we’re doing and hopefully it will serve them as an example for them to grow in the sport, any kind of sport. We’ll be glad to see them in the future doing that.”
Vallan Symms, Defence, Kulture Yabra
“It’s important to have the activity to keep them in shape or out of trouble. When they go home they do their homework, go and kick some ball or something. It’s something good to play, it’s a nice sport and everything, so I’d advise them to go and play football.”
The friendly match played between the high school and semi-pro team showed the younger players just what they need to improve.
Shawn Mariano, Midfielder, E.P. Yorke Football Club
“They really like the participate towards the community. They are giving back to the community by coming to the high schools and teach them how to control the ball and thing.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You play midfield, you’re looking to get any tips from Kulture Yabra?”
Shawn Mariano
“Yes, probably from the midfielder on how to control the ball during the game. Because the midfielder has a big part in the game because they have to pass the ball to he first and he has to control the ball and see who fi pass the ball to the next.”
Shaphan Domingo
“Just really to show how to control yourself, control the ball, how to have good sportsmanship.”
At the end of the match, Kulture Yabra donated three autographed footballs to the school’s club. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
While the young men of E.P. Yorke polish their skills, the school is also about to form its first female football squad.
