National Team and BNFA focus on football
Today was the day of reckoning for an unhappy national football selection and a highly criticized Belize National Football Association. In the end while all was not necessarily peace and love, it appears that at least some common sense prevailed.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
After missing three practice sessions, Belize’s national selection football team was back on the field today at the MCC Grounds. While the team hopes to be victorious in the World Cup elimination game this Sunday against El Salvador, it has already managed to score a few goals against the Belize National Football Association. On Wednesday, April 5th, the players handed the BNFA an ultimatum letter, demanding, among other things, more respect from their coach and an apology, prompt payment of salaries and new uniforms. Many of their demands have been granted. At practice this morning, the players sported their new gears and according to team captain Norman Nunez, they also got the money they asked for.
Norman “Tilliman” Nunez, Team Captain, National Team
“As you can see, we are in our new uniform to work out. The phone has been here. The competition money that we wanted from last week. They have made a good adjustment and most of the things that we wanted.”
Delhart Courtney, Chairman, National Selection’s Committee
“For instance they were asking for a telephone in the dorm, the telephone is there. They also asked for a special person to be employed to do the work, to keep the dorm clean. That has been done.”
But what exactly is going to be done about the team’s “request” to fire coach Manuel Bilches come the end of the season remains unclear. News Five understands that last week Tuesday, Bilches and certain members of the team got into a misunderstanding, hence the demand of an apology the next day. Courtney says today, that was apology was made.
Delhart Courtney
“Let me mention here also that after I talked to the players this morning, the coach told them, in my presence that if they thought that if he had disrespected anyone last week, he was sorry. He apologized to them for that and he said he didn’t do it out of any animosity for any player, he just wanted to impress on them the importance of playing for your country.”
Coach Manuel Bilches declined to speak with News Five today about these issues, saying, he prefers to stay in the shade. Trenton Miller, National Team Manager and Vice President for the BNFA, says any decision about Manuel Bilches will be made after the season. Team Captain Nunez says he is willing to work with Bilches for the remaining two games.
Janelle Chanona
“As far as your relationship with Coach Bilches, how is that going?”
Norman “Tilliman” Nunez
“Well we haven’t spoke from morning. I don’t see I have nothing with him. I see me coming back, trying to fix up things and try to make things on the right track once more.”<
Janelle Chanona
“Is the team willing to work with coach Bilches next year?”
Norman “Tilliman” Nunez
“Well from right now I can’t say. At this point it’s up to the commission and the people who are in charge of Mr. Bilches to make that decision. But right now we have to work with him because he’s been here for a while and I think he can finish the job, the couple games that we have.”
Janelle Chanona
“How is this going to affect you all, going into the game with El Salvador this weekend?”
Norman Nunez
“Well actually it could affect us mentally but we have a little time to get back together and focus on this game and to be very strong when we go out there on Sunday.”
Janelle Chanona
“Some of the demands have been met, do you think this will give the team the idea that they have the power to control what happens inside the season?”
Trenton Miller, Manager, National Selection, V.P. B.N.F.A.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with power. There were certain things that needed to be implemented in the camp. Things like the equipment and we had in order, they just came in. Training equipment we have in store, it’s just a matter of utilizing all that we have. So it’s not about power, I don’t think.”
When the controversy first broke, Manager Trenton Miller told the local media that money was in the middle of the storm. Miller made allegations that members of government and private citizens with interest in the sport had used cash to lure the team into a strike. But Nunez denies all this.
Janelle Chanona
“As far as the timing of this whole thing, why did it come so late in the season?”
Norman Nunez
“Well, I see things just gather up and gather up and sometimes they come to buck where things just happen. And happen late part of the season. So it’s not our fault, we just trying to work on things right now.”
“Bribery is not in this situation none at all. We have never been bribed and no one has ever brought that up to us. We just receive a little small token, which we appreciated, from the Minister.”
Janelle Chanona
“So politics isn’t involved.”
Norman Nunez
“For surely, with all the players, politics is not involved. We don’t know what’s going on with the Sports Council and them but politics is not involved with our situation. We are just footballers and we want to keep it that way.”
“I just want the Belize people to know that don’t worry what took place, we’re focusing and trying to get back our minds, our heads together. Looking forward to a big game Sunday, just be with us and pray with us that we pick up a big victory Sunday.”
According to chairman of the national selection committee, Delhart Courtney, a commission of inquiry has been appointed to investigate the players’ complaints. The committee’s findings will be handed over to the B.N.F.A. Belize faces El Salvador on the field this Sunday in Orange Walk at the People’s Stadium. Belize needs a victory to salvage any remote chance to move up in the World Cup qualifying eliminations.
