Coming Soon: Sports Academies across Belize

Rodwell Ferguson

Belize’s athletes in the various disciplines are often put to the test when they compete against their peers from other countries. Sometimes they make us proud, and at other times, we see where their preparation in the sport did not make them the best at their game to contend on the international level. Many have criticized Belize, from the Ministry of Sports to the different sports associations and leagues, for not investing enough in the athletes to excel. But there is a conscious effort on the part of the ministry to place more serious emphasis on developing the athletes in the various disciplines from an early age, as is done in other countries.

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“We are going to start establishing sports academies across the country. I think one is active in Corozal right now, I think one in Dangriga. We are trying to reach out to every district to make sure we have a sports academy from an early age. I know in Haiti what they do, they put them in a camp from six years old until they turn adults, or maybe fourteen, fifteen years old and now Haiti is one of the best teams in the region because of the years that they started with the children. So we have to do likewise. In terms of those playing football or any sports, it not a full time job. So they say, they get called maybe only one month, give them a little salary or a little stipend for that month then we go back to our normal lives. We have to find a way how we can retain them and pay them a salary.”

Marion Ali

“Can we afford it?”

Ferguson Ferguson

“At the moment I would say maybe yes and no, but as we prolong and progress, I believe we can.”