Bmp. Bandits draw against league leader Yabra
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’re locked into Sports Monday. The battle for supremacy in the Regent’s Cup tournament raged at the M.C.C. Grounds. Yesterday we headed into week thirteen as the defending champions Kulture Yabra, hosted Builder’s Hardware Bandits.
A quick look at this picture featuring David “Manu” McCauley, Charlie Slusher and Derron Jones would have you think that this is the Yabra line up, when in fact these three footballers are former Yabra players.
But, it’s a former San Pedro striker now in a Yabra uniform in the person of Oliver Hendricks, to make the first attempt at goal. Yabra keeps insisting off the long range when David Serrano fires this right foot punch which crashes off the crossbar.
Make it three consecutive Yabra attacks when Norman “Tilliman” Nunez splices this trick shot at his old team-mate, but again it’s a case of close but no cigar.
It’s more Yabra when Gigante Perez floats to Robert Muschamp, only this header it right at bright eyed Charlie. We’re still looking for a Bandits highlight when Tilliman Nunez tries another trick shot that just inches outside the sticks.
The Bandits finally get something to fire late in the half, and while it’s from close range, the left foot simply can’t find the target and at intermission, we have a scoreless ballgame.
Second half brings out a more offensive-minded Bandits team and they should have done better here on this press. Belmopan keeps growing in stature in the second half and here’s their best look at goal at this juncture in the game. Close again, but no cigar.
Meanwhile folks, the curse of the crossbar continues for Yabra when Erwin “Bird” Flores knees this ball in a scoring attempt.
Late in the ballgame, Nunez tries to steal the win for Yabra, but fails to score and also fails to find the streaking Hilberto Muschamp, squandering a big time opportunity.
Off the bench, Deon Frazier comes into the fray and tries to give Belmopan the lead in moneytime, but the left foot launch can’t get past Shane Moody. Still, the baddest shot of the match comes from the boots of Gigante Perez, but the bullet travels wide.
It’s another tough situation for Charlie Slusher when Harvey Alvarez smacks this shot into the far corner only to see it bounce off the crossbar. And when the long whistle blows, the battle for supremacy in the B.P.F.L. settles into a scoreless stalemate.
In other Regent’s Cup play, Griga United rolled over Jacintoville 3-zip to take the lead in the standings. Acros Real Verdes moved up after cooking Lazio F.C. 7-zip. Acros Bombers and San Pedro struggled to a 2-all draw, and Juventus Stars was held to a 1-1 draw by Corozal F.C.
In other football news, collaboration between the Football Federation of Belize and Channel 5 will bring the Gold Cup Soccer Tournament currently in session in the United States to the airwaves in Belize. We got some details from F.F.B. President, Dr. Bertie Chimilio.
Dr. Bertie Chimilio, President, F.F.B.
“I was ordered by President Jack Warner to have been selected as a match commissioner for the Gold Cup Miami venue, which was held from the fifteen of January to the twenty-sixth. I just came back in yesterday and while I was there I had the opportunity to talk to some guys from SATUPLE and they’re very much interested in Belizean football, despite that we are not up there in international football, but they do recognise we have good talent. They kindly donated to the Football Federation of Belize a decoder box, which we’ve kindly have asked Channel 5 to assist us in bringing down the playoffs of the Gold Cup and finals so the Belizean folks can have look at it.”
James Adderley
“It seems that you’re bringing the Gold Cup to Belize in an effort to inspire the standard of play we’re seeing on the field in our semi-professional football league.”
Dr. Bertie Chimilio
“That is so, one of the problems is that we probably see football on FOX and ESPN and what have you, but the world needs to see us too, the world needs to see us play. And through these types of co-operation with SATUPLE, we could eventually get our football out there, so that folks could see out players and eventually one or two of them could assist our football in it’s development.”
Channel 5’s first broadcast comes up on Wednesday, so stay tuned right here for game time.
Finally folks, the National Horseracing Association had elections of officers on Sunday at the Sylvestre Stadium in Burrell Boom. Richard Hoare emerges as the president, Robert Lightburn is the vice-president, Fitzgerald “Palas” Joseph is the secretary and treasurer is Hugh “Micky” Hulse. Channel 5 takes this opportunity to wish them maximum success.
That’s it for now, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
