Sagitun tops Yabra; moves into finals
Good evening I’m James Adderley and you’re strapped in for another ride on what we call Sports Monday. With the Builder’s Hardware Bandits already waiting in the wing, the battle to become the other finalist in B.P.F.L. football championship was fought at the M.C.C. Grounds yesterday as Kulture Yabra hosted Sagitun of Independence in a do or die confrontation.
The home field advantage and the pressing need for the big W gives Yabra early impetus end this miss from point-blank range by Oliver Hendricks in the opening minutes is unforgivable–that’s what you call a gift my man.
It’s more Yabra when Tilliman Nunez smacks this spotkick that smashes in the near upright. Here’s another good press by the two line defending champion, but its just more excitement.
Down at the other end, Sagitun finally gets some offence when Francis Arzu bounces this shot off a Yabra defender. It rolls harmlessly to the keeper. But it’s all Yabra with the possession game and Eden “Yellowman” Rowley fires this missile that ricochets off the crossbar. Now it’s Tilliman’s turn to impress the scoreboard, but the match’s vital statistics remain unchanged.
At the other end, Wilhelm Coe tries to get something going for Sagitun with this half volley, but it doesn’t quite have the power. At intermission neither team has a goal to show.
So we go to second half and in the opening minute, Norman Nunez launches this wicked grasshead burner that just inches outside the sticks. Now hold everything, Norman Nunez gets take down inside the eighteen by Dalton Eiley. Referee Ruperto Vicente rules penalty. As usual, Yabra sends for Vallan Symns; he beats Giovanni Rodriguez, but guess what? The pill rolls outside of the sticks as the Yabra fans groan in disappointment. This is the second miss by Vallan Symns in this post season.
This right away attempt by Landi Pinelo looks good–but it’s only a shining moment, not a true goal. But here it comes, Francis Arzu somehow get this ground ball past three Yabra defenders–Tyrone Muschamp can’t come up with a good clearance. It finds Roberto Muschamp whose left foot punch scores the first goal of the ball with some twenty minutes to go.
Yabra new finds itself with a sense of urgency, but Tyrone Muschamp’s offering is deflected off target. The frenzied pressure from Yabra continues with this header from Nunez, but it misses this target.
And when the long whistle blows, the 1-nil holds up to send Sagitun into the 2003 B.P.F.L. championship.
Hilberto Muschamp, Sagitun
“Well definitely you feel great. The league and everybody thinks that Yabra was the superior and every time we play them we dominated them. We showed them that Sagitun has heart; we were down but not out.”
Janelle Chanona
“I notice you guys going for the defensive strategy, but second half was all yours.”
Hilberto Muschamp
“It wasn’t a defensive strategy first half, we just weren’t in our game. We were not playing the way we’re supposed to and with all that Yabra couldn’t capitalise. I just told my guys to the back, we have to keep it tight and one goal will win this game.”
Janelle Chanona
“Now Saturday you go to Belmopan to face the Bandits, what are your expectations there?”
Hilberto Muschamp
“Simply, they can write Sagitun’s name on the trophy already, they’ve beaten us twice already, but it was luck, by penalty shootout. We just need to go with the same momentum off this game and ride into Belmopan and take it at the Michael Ashcroft.”
Tony Zabaneh, Owner, Sagitun
“Who’s your daddy? Sagitun has beaten them three times in this season. The one against us was given to them in their hometown. We come and show them; it’s the worst I have seen Sagitun play and still we beat Yabra. Worst I have seen Sagitun play football.”
Janelle Chanona
“So weh unu wah do when you take on Belmopan?”
Tony Zabaneh
“Dah then you wah see good football again, with Belmopan. We’ll give them what they deserve, because we have to be the champions this year, nobody else. I’ll give Mr. Vera what Mr. Vera came to get when he deserted our team for apparently more money. Apparently it’s a matter of money.”
Janelle Chanona
“So it’s personal?”
Tony Zabaneh
“For money…definitely it’s personal. And I wah ker the same ten buses weh I bring yah today to go to Belmopan next week Saturday night.”
This three game series gets off Saturday at Belmopan where Builder’s Hardware Bandits will host Sagitun. First there were eight teams in the hunt, and then there were four. As Yabra and San Pedro now exit, two remain. Incidentally, San Pedro fell 3-1 to Belmopan.
In other news, Roque Matus posted a time of three hours, thirty-five minutes, eighteen seconds to win the Castrol Non-elite Cycling Classic, which left Santa Elena yesterday at 9:00 a.m. and concluded at the Constitution Park some seventy-two miles later. Lindy Gillett took second, Armando Esquiliano third, Patrick Bennett fourth, while Preston Martinez rounds out the top five.
In closing, we just want to tell you that this Sunday brings up the B.T.L. Cycle Classic, an eighty-mile package, which will be on the Western Highway. We are gonna keep you posted.
That’s it nevertheless, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
