B.P.F.L. to host all-star game
On Saturday night the M.C.C. Grounds will become a hallowed place in the world of Belizean football as stars from clubs all over the country will participate in the league’s first mid-season All-Star Game. Janelle Chanona has more.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
For fans and players alike, the Belize Premier Football League’s All-Star Game is slated to be one of the must see events of the season. The match-up will feature leading men from each of the eight football clubs in the league…playing as teams for the first time on Saturday night.
Alex Haylock, Manager, North All Stars
“It’s going to be quite easy for them to play together because most guys either play with the same team before or with other teams and they play against each other and with each other. And if you could play ball, the game is easy.”
“It’s important, especially for the players that you could get call up to an all-star, to be one of the best players in the league and get called up to play on the all-star, and to showcase your talent for the fans. Because without the fans, there’s no football, so we got to showcase everything for the fans.”
But for younger players like Kulture Yabra’s Orland Lyons, the game will be an opportunity to rub elbows with big boys.
Orland Lyons, Kulture Yabra
“Being around the better players or experienced players, you have to establish yourself as one of them, so no railing up on the teams so you feel as comfortable playing with them you know.”
While bragging rights will be on the block, no doubt the players will be hoping to showcase their skills and give credence to their claim that they are the best in Belize…especially since all of them want the chance to play against Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz later this year.
Orland Lyons
“Football is a game of fun, something that I love from I was little. So I haven’t really taken sides, I’m just here to play football to the best of my abilities at all times.”
Janelle Chanona
“Would you like to meet the Reggae Boyz?”
Orland Lyons
“Of course, an international team whose been in the World Cup, coming to Belize City, our league can meet them. Because in our league we are established as some of the best players to have played on a national team, and then with the other league, their players are mostly no-name players. In the case of the Reggae Boyz coming here putting off a no-show and beating the next team by thirteen-nil and what’s not, they can have a competitive match with us.”
Sentiments echoed by B.P.F.L. executive Reynaldo Malik.
Reynaldo Malik, Dep. Commissioner, Bz. Premier Football League
“We understood from a reliable source that he has already said that players who are not registered with the F.F.B. are sort of outside the scope of the F.F.B. and therefore cannot be used to field a national team. But we believe there are ways that he can get around anything if he so desires. As a matter of fact, our defending champion has paid a visit to Guatemala and played a FIFA registered team since our breakaway and there were no repercussions from that, so we don’t see why he wouldn’t be able to use any of our players for that matter to field the best team that Belize has to offer.”
Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
Attempts to reach President of the Football Federation of Belize, Bertie Chimilio, for his comments on this issue were unsuccessful. The All-Star game is set to start at seven-thirty Saturday night at the M.C.C. Grounds. Half-time entertainment includes the fastest man in the league race in which players will run the length of the field for a thousand dollar cash prize.
