Yabra upset in BFL action
Good evening I’m James Adderley and we urge you to gather round for this crisp portion of Sports Monday. The Belize City football fans crowded the MCC Grounds Saturday night for the monster semi-pro football match-up between Kulture Yabra of the city and Juventus of Orange Walk. Both teams enter the fray in second and third respectively in the standings going into week XV separated by a single point. You know this is a big ballgame.
Juventus comes prepared displaying good offence early when Luis “Chino” Briceño looks to move the scoreboard before even the second minute of action.
We’re not sure what’s up with Kulture Yabra today, but it’s a weak start for the host team as they get pushed back on their heels as exemplified by this corner kick.
Eleven minutes in, the unthinkable–at least for the city fans–happens. A corner kick from the left side finds Danny Diego and this cruel header gives Juventus a 1-zip lead.
Less than four minutes later, Juventus becomes the beneficiary of a misplay by Gigante in the Yabra defence, who gives Mario Sikonga a gift and he makes the city team pay the maximum price.
Even with a 2-zip lead, the O.W. team continues to press the pace and they look good on this effort, but there’s no movement on the scoreboard.
Attempts leading to goals and Juventus totally controlling the ballgame, another defensive error gives Lennox Mejia a shot and goal and he makes the most of it to give Juventus a monstrous 3-zip lead.
Meanwhile folks, we’ve all been waiting for a Kulture highlight and it finally comes thirty-six minutes in, off this corner kick. But the city team nevertheless can’t convert despite a valiant effort by Marcelino Tun.
Still, it’s Juventus in the driver’s seat and Lennox Mejia makes Charlie Slusher aware of the fact that he could hold a couple more goals. At the half its O.W. up 3-zip.
Can Kulture Yabra comes back in 2nd half play? Mario Sikonga thinks not as he tries to give Juventus a 4-zip lead, but fails.
Nevertheless, it’s a more energized Yabra on the field now and they look dangerous when Emory Nunez centres to Marcelino Tun whose header rises barely over the crossbar.
Sports fans, maybe the stars were aligned against the city team because even when Stanley Jordan gets beaten by this spotkick from Norman Nunez, the ball does not break the goal barrier and the keeper recovers to make the save. it’s the closest Yabra would get to score, as Juventus takes the 3-zip big W.
In other results from around the league, Builders Bandits trampled Jube Santa Elena 7-1. Lazio Jumex humbled Yabra Dolphins 7-zip. Sagitun edged Caye Caulker Turquoise 1-0. Metro Stars drew with Real Verdes 1-1, while Acros and Griga Tropical rallied to a scoreless stalemate.
Turning to the Belize Youth Soccer League, yesterday at Ajax Field in Port Loyola, Ajax Paradise and Mahogany Strikers drew 2-2, while Brown Bombers landed on Grass Roots with a 5-1 score-that’s at the Under-13 level.
At under-15, Brown Bombers hurt Ajax Paradise 5-2, while Berger Stars and Mahogany Strikers fought to a 1-1 draw. And in the curtain closing Under-17 match-up, Raptors routed Cadet Corp 7-1.
In cycling news, we take you to the start of the 5th Valentine Cycle Classic 8:30 Sunday morning inside San Ignacio. It a ninety mile ride that finishes inside Belize City and it’s quite a turnout.
Coming into Belize City it was a nine man lead pack, but by the time the race reaches the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, it’s a one man show, as Quinton Hamilton, just back from six week training in Cuba put on such a pace there were absolutely no takers.
And here is riding to the tape uncontested to be the baddest today. Congratulations.
We now join the sprint for second place and here is Barney Brown riding for Santino edging out his teammate Mateo Cruz. Good show guys.
Quinton “The Baddest” Hamilton, Winner
“From the moment I started the race I felt the speed and I said I’m just going to have patience and wait until down the stretch because the race is only eighty-five miles and I did a lot of races in Cuba before I came back. So I was well prepared and down the stretch, the Belizean guys just faltered and got a little weak and I just said it’s time to go at this point.”
“After this’ I just hope these guys try to open their eyes and try to go to Cuba and leave Belize if they are going to conquer Belize. At this moment I’m trying to conquer Belize, but if I am to do so, I need to go outside and do more and international races.”
Hey folks that’s it for right now. We want to say good show to the cycling community. I also want to take this opportunity to thank our cameramen for their great and hard work over the weekend.
