B.N.F.A. Pres. will talk…eventually
The football action may have returned to the field of play, but we have certainly not heard the last from disgruntled players who staged public protests over the treatment of former national coach Leroy Sherrier Lewis. One man absent from the media spotlight in recent weeks is B.N.F.A. President Dr. Bertie Chimilio. Today News 5’s Jose Sanchez caught up with him in Belize City and asked for an update on where the controversy stands.
Jose Sanchez
“Some of the media were saying that you were hiding. But you are here, so when will you have a statement regarding the protests?”
Dr. Bertie Chimilio, President, B.N.F.A.
“Let me tell you something, Belize is very small and it’s unfortunate that when people want to really cast some bad light on you, they write all these things. I came into the country some time ago and I’ve been very busy at my clinic, doing my own work. Football isn’t the only thing I do, football is part time and I have to live, I have to survive. Those who cast aspersions it’s unfortunate they have done that and you all say you saw me and were following me and I have no problem with you all following me and asking for an interview. I am here at some point when I get the official report of everything that has happened, the video tapes, the tapes of people protesting, I will make a statement. That will have to go to our international bodies and whatever has to be levied on anybody will come down. But nevertheless this is a free country and people could to do their protest.”
Jose Sanchez
“So we’ll have a statement from you by when?”
Dr. Bertie Chimilio
“As soon as my people have gathered the tapes of everything we’ll have something to say.”
The current controversy was sparked by the resignation of Coach Lewis. Lewis, a Costa Rican popular with the players, left the job in anticipation of being fired by the B.N.F.A. He had made public statements in Honduras criticising the B.N.F.A. as well as the regional and international football associations and would likely have faced severe sanctions had he stayed on the job.
