CAMA Football Club: “Heart and Soul”
One football team in the Cayo District is making a big name for itself out west. Camalote Football Club made the podium in the 2023 Belmopan Football Association First Division Tournament. More recently, it was dominant in an exhibition match that gained national attention. Of course, Camalote Village is no stranger to producing some of the nation’s top athletes. But, that all stopped for some years, until now. So what happened? News Five’s Paul Lopez takes us to Camalote Village in tonight’s Belize On Reel.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Among Belize’s most prominent football players are names like Denmark “Bato” Casey Sr. and Wilhelm “Locho” Coye. What these men have in common is that they both hail from Camalote Village. Known as one of the most sports-driven communities in Cayo District, Camalote Village has produced big names in various sporting disciplines in the past. Of late, the community’s propensity to produce skilled athletes is once again at the fore.
Norman Neal
Norman Neal, Player, Cama Football Club
“Camalote is a sports driven community, once of the most active communities in the country I would say and it is something I grown into, whether it be basketball, watching softball or playing football, you have to do something in regards to sports or you are irrelevant. There is a big gap between, the levels of let’s say a Denmark Casey Sr., Wilhelm “Locho” Coye. Then you had other groups like the Wiltshires. So there has been a lull between that space to now you know.”
But, that drought has since ended. Cama Football Club placed third in the 2023 Belmopan Football Association First Division Tournament. The best striker, best midfielder and best fans awards also went to Cama FC. And, they did not stop there. On July first, Cama FC won a first-of-its-kind five thousand dollars exhibition match against the Wings Football Club. At the heart of these victories are the players that make up the team, like midfielder Kyle Thomas, who grew up spending countless hours on the multipurpose ground playing football.
Kyle Thomas
Kyle Thomas, Player, Cama Football Club
“From I was young, like before I was even born; my mother told me that I kicked her in her belly. So she basically implied that yow this young boy is going to be some sort of player, whether football, basketball or even softball. But my main focus is football. From I was young I just fell in love with the game from the first time I picked up the ball and started to kick it with my friends. It is like a dream come through, because from growing up I use to watch Bandits, Sagitun all of those different sporting clubs. Then you have different player like Oliver, Wilhelm “Locho” Coye, Denmark Casey. So, basically from I was young I watched these guys moved with the ball on their feet and copied their style of play from the different aspects, whether defensive, wing, or even forward.”
Cama Football Club conducts most of its training in Belmopan, because the village is not equipped with an adequate first division football field. But the distance, albeit only five miles, does not stop these athletes from showing up to put in the necessary practice. It is this “heart and soul” mentality that has teenagers like Alexander Waight and Javier Ramos courageously competing against opponents that are far more experienced.
Alexander Waight
Alexander Waight, Player, Cama Football Club
“You know it was a great experience. At first I was very nervous, but it is always good to experience new things. I am proud to say that I overcome that and next season is going to be far way bigger because we are more experienced and we have those leaders and more experienced players like Kyle Thomas, Scott Casey, Mr. Norman Neal and those players that can help us to stay in our game and stuff.”
Paul Lopez
“What was you guys mindset going into that 5k exhibition match?”
Alexander Waight
“When I saw the fans, I knew we had to win. I stayed home whole week thinking about the game. Me and my friend Dylon “Chap’ Gongora just thought about the game and we knew we had to come out there and just put up a fight, nothing easy. We gotta make our fans proud because the number of fans team Camalote has is crazy.”
Javier Ramos
Javier Ramos, Player, Cama Football Club
“I was very nervous that I was going to play in the first division because it was my first season ever playing in the first division. So, I think Lits and Richie Galvez that gave me the opportunity to show that I can play at that level.”
With the season now ended and their first exhibition match conquered, Neal says Cama FC is preparing for the next season and their second exhibition match in August. He reflected on how the village transitioned from its losing streak to the victories it now enjoys.
Norman Neal
“Around 2016 we had a U-thirteen police cadet club which I coached. Many of these players, eighty percent of these players are from that group. We had a fifteen to twenty year gap almost. COVID kinda brought it together, because we were frustrated and me myself spearheaded a five a side against the rules. I hope we don’t get in trouble for it now. We started it right here, asked no one to record and go live. It started a five a side movement and it brought in national team quality players to this park right here and it boosted the level of the players.”
Paul Lopez
“Did that frustration come from the fact that you weren’t seeing that sort of development or quality of players you are used to seeing in the village?”
Norman Neal
“Definitely, and that was the plan to develop the players skills, cause we were getting beaten up. Camalote name went down and we can say that five a side played a big role in developing the players, giving them the confidence and competing against the best. I am talking about Ian “Yellow” Gaynair coming to Camalote to challenge us and we had Harrison “Kafu” Roches coming by and those types of player.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
