Carillo wins Manatee Mountain Bike Race
James Adderley
Good evening I’m James Adderley and we’re sure glad you could join us for this rendition of Sports Monday. The long awaited clash between the BFL football champion Kulture Yabra of Belize City and Builder’s Hardware Bandits of Belmopan took centre stage at capital city Saturday night. And yes folks, pre-game hype was certainly justified.
As soon as the ballgame kicks off Norman “Tilliman” Nunez sends hello to his former team mate Charlie Slusher, now in the Bandits goal, but the launch skirts over the crossbar.
However, it’s the Bandits will the best scoring opportunity early when Julio Valle unleashes from point blank range, but fails miserably to find the target. At the other end, David McCauley brief to force his will on the right side, but his shot is corralled by Charlie Slusher. On the next play, Norman Nunez lets go this wicked shot at Charlie Slusher that ricochets off the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Tilliman Nunez thinks he has a clear shot on goal here, but his shadow, smart Osoboro, appears out of nowhere to make the stop. Of course, Yabra has control of the action right now and how the Bandits dodged this bullet is simply amazing. Edon Rawley then displays his one on one move to fire at Slusher who makes the save.
For sure, this is one service from Landi Pinelo, Robert Muschamp would like a repeat of, as he squanders a golden opportunity. So “Tilliman” tries to open the scoring on this lead pass from Manu McCauley, but instead of striking the ball, he becomes a boot mark on Osoboro’s features.
The breakthrough for Yabra finally comes thirty-six minutes in, when this corner kick ends up in front of David “Manu” McCauley who shakes the card for the 1-zip lead, which holds up to halftime.
In second half, Belmopan comes out focussed on the equaliser, but on this press all they come up with is a clash of bodies. The Bandits insist and this vicious long range from midfield forces Shane Moody to come up with the save of the day.
At the other end, this frenzy in front of the Bandits goal creates excitement, but not enough to impress the scoreboard. David McCauley then tires to make two goals in the match, but the left foot is smothered by Slusher.
Downfield, Julio Valle fires off this tricky left foot, but Moody makes two stops in a row to chill the situation, but he goes down for a couple of minutes before he would continue play.
Nevertheless, the best scoring opportunity for Belmopan comes when Julio Valle smacks this ball over the crossbar. Kulture Yabra goes on to make it three wins in a row, with the 1-zi regulation victory over their archrival, the Bandits.
In other BFL matches over the weekend, Acros Verdes scorched Lazio 1-nil. Griga United clobbered Jacintoville 4-zip, Juventus jerked Corozal F.C. 4-1, while San Pedro won the battle of the cellar dwellers with a 2-1 victory over Acros Bombers.
Turning to the cycling scene, we take out Yabra Bridge for the start of the Gales Point Manatee Mountain Bike Race Sunday morning, as some thirty-four off the best cyclists in this nation make a bid for fame and fortune.
Through Faber’s Road, the pelathon on a slow pace trying to get out of the city traffic. But by Burton Bridge James Welch has stepped up to take the first station prize. He usually does this anyway. Around mile ten, this seven-man unit completes the breakaway that would rule the day.
At Hattieville, Mateo Cruz steps up to take that preemie after surviving a rather hard challenge from American Jonas Carnay.
This trio leads the way into the coastal road at La Democracia and this lone chaser just happens to be Gustavo Carillo, a former Cross Country champion. Wondering about James Welch? Well, don’t bother, the first station prize seems to have enough for him as he chooses to ride the back of a pick up truck to Gales Point.
In meantime, its Gustavo Carillo who pulls away on a solo flight. And here he is entering Gales Point Manatee with arms outstretched in victory as he takes the top prize.
Mateo Cruz then forces Jeffrey Zelaya into third place, Paul Trapp pulls up fourth, while Jonas Carnay rides in here to round out the top five.
Gustavo Carillo, Winner
“I had a little bit of problems there on the smooth road. I got about twenty miles, I sprinted for a station prize and I had to chase for a long time. And then I just waited for me team mate Jeffrey Zelaya and he did a lot of good pacing for me, let me rest up. And we catch them guys real quick and I attacked about ten miles ago and everyone was pretty tired, so I just kept going.”
Mateo Cruz, 2nd Place
“I felt pretty strong, nationality comes first, I don’t care who is out there, once he is not a Belizean, I’m going to work hard. We have to grow up in this cycling community and represent Belize to the best of our ability. I don’t really care who comes in, once I beat them and they are the best, I’m better than them and that’s the way I think right now. I am ready for Guatemala and whosoever comes. I don’t care who is a pro, if I beat them, I am better than them. I had him in big trouble down the stretch, it just work out that Jawmeighan wasn’t at a hundred percent today and I had to step up. Jeffrey block for Gus and it worked out.”
That’s our show for today, we certainly invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
