Salvador footballers top Belize again
Good evening I’m James Adderly and you’re tuned in to another edition of Sports Monday. The National Football Team of Belize put its squabbling aside to face the real opposition yesterday at the People’s Stadium playing host El Salvador in Game II of the World Cup Qualifying series after losing Game I 5-zip at San Salvador a few weeks ago.
Thousands of Belizeans thronged to Orange walk for this big show and display of heartfelt nationalism was everywhere featuring people from all over the Jewel, packing the People’s Stadium to the max. Adding to the record crowd was the hundreds of Salvadorans who journeyed to Belize in support of their team, who definitely numbered over a thousand–and they were proud to display their national flag.
Even the television in people arrived with full gears after having bought the rights from CONCACAF for the entire qualifying series. So it was Canal 4 in charge and not Channel 5 and as a matter of fact we were unable to shoot any of the match without paying the Salvadorans an exorbitant fee. Thus El Salvador won the TV rights and then went on to win Game II with a 3-1 score. The visitors led 3-0 through the middle of the first half until Norman Nunez dealt to Bent Burgess who came up with Belize’s consolation goal. We caught up with the Sagitun striker after the match.
James Adderly
“Did that early goal in the first half really take away the initiative from the Belize team?
Bent Burgess, Belize National Team
“Well I think that in the first half we gave up an easy goal and a fast goal. I think we could have done better if we had spot our men in the 18 box better. But I think we started to score ball too late in the 2nd half also.”
James Adderly
“There were many erratic passing. Could anything have been done about that, especially at mid-field?”
Bent Burgess
“Our mid-field was going back and not coming back in time, so we found ourselves in a lot of pressure in the 1st half and early in the 2nd half. That’s why I believe that those goals scored on us.”
James Adderly
“Of course you rescued us, you got the consolation goal for Belize. You rescued our national dignity. Tell us about that goal.”
Bent Burgess
“Well I think I placed myself in the correct position, because I know Norman Nunez is a deadly guy, so I know the rebound from the goalkeeper, I would have placed myself right there, so I achieved my goal today.”
Hilberto Muschamp, Belize National Team
“I don’t know…after the first goal we start playing good and then from there we went flat again. I don’t know what happened, the guys seem tired, I don’t know what happened, really I don’t know.”
James Adderly
“If there is anything you could have changed in what happened today, what would that be?”
Hilberto Muschamp
“Definitely our aggressiveness James. We weren’t aggressive enough, especially to be playing at home; we need to be very aggressive. Especially, cause we needed this win.”
So folks now it’s on to the final match of the series when Belize faces Guatemala on May 20th at Tegucigalpa. We have lost three ballgames already, we are still looking for that first win nevertheless, win, lose or draw I am a Belizean. I know you are too. Changing gears folks, you know it’s only 5 days away from the 72nd running of the Annual Cross-Country Cycle Classic. Going in, Chris Frederick is the defending champion, he won it in a yellow jersey for the Santinos Jammis Team. Today we caught up with Owner/Manager Santi Castillo and we had quite an extended conversation with him.
Santiago Castillo, Owner/Manager Santino’s Jammis
“I think I have a very strong team, more importantly they are very united. There is a lot of love on the team, and what I think I bring to the table for the team is organisational skills. I think even my opponents will tell that I am one of the most organised team out there. And I believe all of this will play a role on Holy Saturday–cross country day–because that is one day when you need all of the ingredients to get that big W.”
James Adderly
“Last year Frederick won for Santino’s in a Jammis uniform, will he be reappearing on the scene and secondly is Santino’s bringing any international riders this time?”
Santiago Castillo
“James at this point in time, today Monday April 17th, I have not finalised that decision yet. I have four riders standing by in Miami and I don’t mind mentioning their names. Chris Frederick the defending champion, Steve Neujack, who was the runner-up, John Sefolo who won the criterion part of the Santino’s Classic in September and Bobby Lee who is a name we all recognise and they are standing by. Their flights are booked ready to come to Belize, but right now for the first time in my cycling career, I am labouring with the decision whether I should go full Belizean as some of my team members want. Yet there are other team members who need…who think they will need the help come cross-country day based on the fact that other teams are reinforcing and strengthening up. They feel we need that added help. It’s a decision I haven’t finalised yet and will finalise between tomorrow and Wednesday.”
“If I do bring the Americans, last minute, they have a clear agenda. I am paying their passage to come here and I am putting them up and they are coming to ride for my Belize boys, they’ll be our domestics. I am certainly looking forward to repeating and be personally out there as usual, urging my boys, preferably my Belizean boys to victory.”
Well there you have it folks, win, lose or draw we hope a Belizean wears the garland on Holy Saturday. Meanwhile we want to remind you that the Belize Amateur Athletic Association has teamed up with BTB and of course One-Stop Shell and Habet and Habet to present a 5K run at the National Stadium. You can go there while awaiting the arrival of the Cross Country Cycle Classic, its a coordinated effort between both organisation, many of the big names in track and field will be there, Joseph Carr, Aubrey Solomon. It’s 5K; it will certainly entertain you until the cyclists arrive for the big finish inside the National Stadium.
