Belize Bank donates over $6,000 to National Football Team

The 2013 Gold Cup Games are quickly approaching. The Jaguars are set to leave for the United States on July fifth for the first of three games against the United States, Costa Rica and Cuba. As the team trains at camp, the Football Federation of Belize is also on a drive to raise additional funds to cover costs for participating in the games.  This afternoon, the team got help from a friendly sponsor. Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The Belize National Football Selection and their journey to the 2013 Gold Cup in the United States…it is a historic event for the sport as it is the first time that Belize is qualifying for the CONCACAF games. For months now, the best of the best athletes in football have been in camp training…all in preparation for the tournament in which they will be playing against the United States, Cuba and Costa Rica. But standing between the Football Federation of Belize and this opportunity to represent the jewel in this international outing is three hundred thousand dollars. That is the amount needed to front accommodations, travel and other expenses for some twenty-seven athletes and coaching staff. Following, a telethon and several other fundraisings, approximately half the amount has been collected.

Ruperto Vicente, President, F.F.B.

Ruperto Vicente

“That amount has increased to a hundred and fifty-six thousand dollars, but we still needing more. We need more monies because the players deserve good treatment; they deserve the best because they are representing us in the United States. This is like an army. We are preparing an army for battle and we are going up against big nations—nations who have been in the World Cup, nations who have been in tournaments long before us. And of course, as I’ve always said, we are not going into the tournament for just participating in the tournament, but we are going in to win. And so today, we are winners because six thousand plus dollars is an opportunity for us to secure that win against the United States.”

One of the main corporate sponsors for the F.F.B. is the Belize Bank. The bank has been assisting the team on its journey and today handed over an added donation from a fundraising initiative.

Misty Michael

Misty Michael, Marketing Manager, Belize Bank Limited

“When we were approached by the F.F.B. late last year to come on board as a corporate sponsor for the team, we automatically jumped on that opportunity. And we’ve been there from the beginning; before we knew that they would have even reached this point, they had our support. We are definitely on board with them. On May twenty-fourth, we launched a second promotion in which credit and debit card holders were able to participate and for every swipe of their card, we donated fifteen cents to the F.F.B.  So it was a contribution on both sides. The bank gave the money, but it was the customers using their cards that enabled us to make that second donation today.”

Ruperto Vicente

“Belize Bank has been one of our great partners; they’ve come through big time for us and certainly this time around they’ve taken on the initiative of the swipe and have raised this amount of money for our national team and certainly it is going to help the national team in its quest to the Gold Cup.”

Misty Michael

“We handed over a check to them today and we will continue it for one additional week. So we encourage our customers to continue using their cards because there is still time to contribute.”

Today’s event also featured the winning draw for two tickets to the Gold Cup Games courtesy of the Bank. Elenita Requeña Carrillo was the lucky winner.

Misty Michael

“This afternoon, we held our road to the Gold Cup raffle in which one lucky Belize Bank Credit Card Holder will win a round trip ticket for two to see the opening game for team Belize at the CONCACAF game this summer. They also win fifteen hundred U.S. in spending cash as well.”

But with the glass half-full, there is much need for more support for the Belize Jaguars and there are several other events being held to muster the remaining funds.

Ruperto Vicente

“There is going to be a concert next weekend, there is going to be a barbecue this Saturday by the BelChina Bridge. So we are encouraging all Belizeans to come out and purchase a barbecue. By purchasing a barbecue, you are really supporting the national team.”

Duane Moody

“What are you guys going to do if you are not able to come up with the funds, the three hundred thousand [dollars]?”

Ruperto Vicente

“Well it is going to cost us more backing out of the tournament now than for us to participate. So we will have to participate; we have no choice in this matter. We run the risk of being sanctioned, we run the risk of being fined thousands of dollars—more than what we need now—if we do not participate. We are going to participate. Belize is on its way to the Gold Cup and there is no turning back.”

The team is expected to depart for the games on July fifth…if the total monies are not collected in time, the team will leave the jewel on the seventh. Duane Moody for News Five.