Football Federation of Belize is broke. Weh di money deh?
There’s no money in the bank account of the Football Federation of Belize. Its new president, Ruperto Vicente made that statement at the first press conference since Dr. Bertie Chimilio was ousted after fourteen years as president. Vicente has not met with Chimilio since the election but he says that his executive is waiting for the 2011 audit report. That report should explain why the federation is broke even though it received over one hundred thousand dollars for the New Year. Vicente was flanked by his new executive when he told the media that despite the financial shortcomings, the executive will not go on a witch hunt to find out what happened with the finances.
Ruperto Vicente, President, F.F.B.
Ruperto Vicente
“When we say we are broke, there is no money. We had checked at the accounts at the Scotia Bank and there is only a thousand dollars in that account. Presently for the staff, we have a budget or a payroll of thirteen thousand dollars per month that we must meet and there is no money for that. The staff at the federation are heavily paid. So we do not have monies presently to meet that salary budget. Yes FIFA will be sending some money this week. The FIFA subvention is two hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars per year which equals to close to five hundred thousand Belize dollars for the year. Out of that for this year, we only have four hundred thousand dollars because the past administration had requested an advance of a hundred thousand dollars. We have to request those funds every three months. We do not have anything to start with and that is the reason I said we are not going to embark on a witch-hunt, we are not going to spend our energy looking for those things; we are going to start and develop our sports. Football is not going to be properly improved if we do not have a strategic plan. Football needs a strategic plan so we are going to be embarking on that. Nobody is going to invest in football if we do not present them with a strategic plan; where we are going. So we are going to come up with a plan for the next five years.”
Vicente says that a committee will be appointed to regularly review the finances of the F.F.B.
I had heard rumors of Mr Vicente taking it over a long time ago, but it never happened. Well now it has happened and i bet we will see changes. Dr chimilio has been robbing the federation of hundreds of thousands. I know Mr. Vicente personally and i will support him in any choices and decisions he makes. GO DO IT Mr Vicente.
I think before we accuse anyone of stealing, shouldnt we wait for the audit report? just because there is little money, doesnt necessarily mean someone stole monies.
Plus Fifa is an international organzation that has to deal with lots of developing countries like belize where corruption is rampant. I am sure they are on top of how monies are spent. I cant see them just cutting a blank check without necessary verification.
We as belizeans seem to have a habit of disparaging others based on gossips or “yer i so” which is unfortunate and unfair.
sydney g
Syd I agree with much of what you wrote but let’s put some commonsense in the mix now!
After 14 years: 1) Belize does not have a home pitch to play on (forget the idea of a stadium I am talking about a football field only); 2) We do not have a pitch that is internationally acceptable; 2) Our players still have to go do manual labour to make a living and then go to work out in the evening; 3) We have no professional team; 4) There is not facility to work out (lift weights to build strength, indoor track) when it is raining…Any of this is starting to make sense? So either he is an inept leader or he has little integrety or he is is a plain crook. Pick any one of these; it is not good for any organization and he should have been gone a long time ago. So eventhough what you said makes sense legally it flies in the face of common sense.
Plain and simple Chimillio stole the federation money.
I hope lessons have been learned. Don’t allow the “head” to remain in place for more than say 4 to 7 years. I may be wrong but I think i heard Doc say on Ch-7 something about having 3 million dollars?????
i agree mr. Chimillio stole the money. look at the south neglected. look at female football for the longest i have not heard about a national female team when fifa sens money evry year. where is the money? i think now is the time to change the name from bertie the bullfrog federation of belize back to FFB. we at the south is so tired of Chimillio and his crooked self. look at the national team that went to play at Trininad last year these guys did not get pay weh d moni deh scamp chimillio?
thanks for the change now we will see progress out wit the old scamp and in with the new.
yah burtie the bullfrog stole the moni. look at the south neglected look there is no intrest in female football weh d moni deh? like those guys who went to play at Trinidad last year they never got pay, weh d moni deh? am so glad that there is no more butrtie the bullfrog federation and now its back to FFB. THANKS Syd we needed the change