Belize To Host Central American U-19 Volleyball Championship
The Belize City Civic Center will come alive on Sunday night for the Central American Under-Nineteen Volleyball Championship. The tournament will feature seven teams from across the region, including team Belize. Our girls have been hard at training preparing for the event. They are hoping that Belizeans from across the country will converge on the Civic Center to show them support. News Five’s Paul Lopez caught up with the Belize’s Under-Nineteen National Volleyball Team today. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Belize’s Under-Nineteen National Female Volleyball Team is preparing for the Central American Under-Nineteen Volleyball Championship. The tournament begins on Sunday night inside the Belize City Civic Center.
Avianka Avila
Avianka Avila, Captain, U-19 Volleyball National Team
“I started when I was about seven or eight years old. At first I did not like volleyball, but my mom she pushed me to keep going to practices and I grew to love the sport. I joined my volleyball team at my primary school and the same with my high school and I kept playing and I have made national teams for the country.”
Eighteen -year-old Avianka Avila’s passion and commitment to the discipline has earned her a spot on the national team as captain. Volleyball has helped to shape her personal life and leadership skills.
Avianka Avila
“I have learnt a lot of skills to help me be independent. I have learnt a lot of skills working with people and being a leader as well. You have to be sort of a role model for the other players. You have to offer guidance as well as being able to bring the other players together, on and off the court.”
Seventeen-year-old Jevia Leslie is also competing in the upcoming tournament as a middle blocker for Belize’s national team. She gave us some insight into the position she plays.
Jevia Leslie
Jevia Leslie, Middle Blocker, U-19 Volleyball National Team
“So basically the middle blocker blocks on the right side, the left side and also the middle. You close in with the opposite and the left side hitter and you also have to block for the middle as well.”
Paul Lopez
“So that has a lot to do with height as well right?”
Jevia Leslie
“It helps with marking the ball, covering, and helping our team with the defense. So you know like, most of those really hard hits we can get an opportunity to close up a block on it. You just have to know timing, you have to know the placement with the ball, all of that, because you can be tall and know how to jump but don’t know how to mark the ball. You have to be aware of all of those things as well.”
Team Belize will take on Panama on Sunday night in the first match. They are scheduled to take on Costa Rica on Tuesday night and Honduras on Wednesday night.
Paul Lopez
“What keeps someone like you dedicated to practice and the sport at this level?”
Jevia Leslie
“I would definitely say, having a relationship with god, because a person like me I didn’t have a lot of patience, but like prayer and worship and having family and friends that motivates you that honestly that is the reasons I can keep going and my team as well, cause you see how hard these other teams play and you want to be at that level and win gold. Belize is my country and I would love to work towards that.”
Tickets for the games are already on sale at the Belize Civic Center. Coach Jose Fontes told us why it is important for fans to be present to witness these games in person and to cheer on the national team.
Jose Fontes
Jose Fontes, Coach, U-19 Volleyball National Team
“It is very important to have the fans out here supporting us. It is one big party the girls playing on the court is the music and the fans are going to be dancing to that music. So, we need them out here dancing. We need their support.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
