James Adderley’s Mind-blowing Sports Update

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.

The premier football league of Belize kicked off its inaugural season with matches spread out across the nation over the weekend. At the MCC Grounds yesterday, FC Belize opened against World FC of Cayo and in the opening minutes Jaime Brooks of World FC misplays this spot kick launch outside of his goal but is eventually bailed out by his defense. We’re some 20 minutes in when Jeremy Bernadez pushes this ball across the goal mouth to find Jeremy James and FC Belize takes the 1-zip lead. A few minutes later, James gets the opportunity to score his 2^nd goal of the match but this time he misfires.

On this FC press, Jermaine Zuniga does everything right only to see his ambition to score foiled by a big time save from the Cayo goal. It’s more FC Belize and this set piece triggered by David Ramos forces a rise by Jaime Brooks who makes the save. Folks we’re into 2^nd half play when Leon Cadle takes down Albert Velasquez in front of the referee—he gets a yellow card but jaws about it for which he gets red-carded off the field.  Despite the numerical disadvantage, FC Belize continues in the role of protagonist and maybe the referee cheats Jermaine Zuniga of a goal by not applying the advantage rule on this play. In the meantime, Ricardo Ayala takes down David Ramos not once but twice and guess what he gets away both times. Jeremy Bernadez then gets this nice opportunity to increase the FC Belize lead, but apparently he doesn’t get it yet that delay is dangerous. Here Bernadez gets another chance to shake the net; however, Jaime Brooks foils this attempt with a nice save. On this play, Brooks does get beaten by the header from Eric Martinez unfortunately for him, the goal negated by a foal throw.

Folks, on a whole, World FC showed very little offense against FC Belize and in fact to describe this match as well-played would be an overstatement of the facts. Of course it’s opening day and we expect things to get better.

In other action around the league on Saturday night at the MCC Grounds, Police United arrested Placencia Assassins in a 1-zip affair on a goal by Orlando Jimenez while at the Norman Broaster Stadium, Amin August’s goal gave San Ignacio United a 1-zip Win over Toledo Freedom Fighters. On Sunday at Cayo, San Pedro got goals from Jeffrey Smith and Kenny Whitfield while B.D.F. got goals from Brian Waight and Harrison Tasher in a 2 all stalemate. At Belmopan, the Bandits blanked Verdes 1-zip while up north at San Felipe Barcelona got goals from Oscar Acevedo and Christopher Hendricks while Osmar Duran scored twice for Juventus in a 2-2 draw. Looking ahead 6 matches are scheduled for the weekend. On Saturday the B.D.F. will host Juventus at the Norman Broaster, then on Sunday San Pedro takes on World FC at the MCC, San Felipe Barcelona will host FC Belize , Hankook Verdes travels to the Placencia Assassins, San Ignacio United will host Belmopan Bandits and Police united travels south to P.G. for a date with the Toledo Freedom Fighters.

Around the curve heading to the tape, the 2 man battle continues—it’s Edward Reyes on the inside when Byron Pope zips pass him and Pope of Benny’s Megabytes holds on to win the 17^th Valentine’s Classic in 3 hours 20 minutes 23 seconds while Edward Reyes of D & D Cycling settles for 2^nd. 27 seconds later, 2 D & D riders, Kyne Gentle and Richard Vera, pull up to take 3^rd and 4^th respectively and we must give big time credit to D & D Cycling. Luigi Urbina of C-Ray and Gregg Lovell of Santino’s then ride in 1 minute 48 seconds behind the winner to grab 5^th and 6^th in that order.

At the junior class, it was Deezan Spence of D & D taking top honors as Juan Umana of Cayo High Road Cycling finished 2^nd and Riis Cattouse of C-Ray rounds out the top 3. And on the ladies side, it was kaya Cattouse and Kirah Eiley—both of C-Ray—finishing 1^st and 2^nd while Shalini Zabaneh of Sagitun finished 3^rd. hey folks, we’ve got to say things have certainly changed in female cycling.

Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.