Meet the National Senior Men’s Football Team
The Football Federation of Belize is on a mission to make it once again to the Gold Cup and for some time now, it has been readying the National Senior Men’s team who they believe can make that a reality. They officially introduced the team, which included some familiar faces, as well as some young blood, who they say is the best national team they’ve ever had. Today, News Five’s Duane Moody was at the F.F.B. headquarters in Belmopan for the press conference.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Twenty-three athletes were introduced to the country at the F.F.B. Headquarters as the Belize National Senior Men’s Team to participate in a series of qualifying matches in the CONCACAF Nation’s League over the course of the next two weeks. It is their hope to make it to the seventeenth edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023.
Ian Jones
Ian Jones, Team Manager, National Senior Men’s Team
“This is the second edition of this tournament and I don’t want us to look at it as we are playing the CONCACAF Nation’s League; this is actually the road to Gold Cup. This is one of our best chances in terms of our grouping to once again have Belize in the Gold Cup which as you all know is the prestigious tournament for our region.”
The team is comprised of athletes from across the country, as well as Belizean football players overseas in neighboring Honduras, the U.S. and England.
Eugene Martinez
Eugene Martinez, Defender, National Senior Men’s Team
“This is a great opportunity for myself and for all the players here. I know there are a couple players that have been here for a while and I feel a sense of excitement going into this tournament – not because it is my first time here, but because God had sent me here for a reason.”
Angelo Capello
Angelo Capello, Midfielder, National Senior Men’s Team
“Based on everything that I see in training and the players can agree with me, personally, this is the best I’ve seen the national team train in terms of the way we move the ball, the way the team’s bonding like Eugene said. It is really exciting from my point of view. I don’t have much to say, the only thing is it is down to the fans to come out and see the hard work that everybody put in on the pitch.”
Evral Trapp
Evral Trapp, Captain, National Senior Men’s Team
“Feels so great to be around talented players from my country. The work that we di put in right now, very good. The coaching staff, assistance on and off the field – we di bunk with everybody. We have some experienced players and we got some young players and we got wah good mix. And I think if we go out on Thursday and move the ball like how the coach want and we do it as a group, I think on Thursday, we should get that victory weh we need.”
Also making the cut this year is star striker Deon McCaulay, who was part of the Belize Jaguars team that advanced to the Gold Cup back in 2013.
Deon McCaulay
Deon McCaulay, Striker, National Senior Men’s Team
“I think we have a very talented group of players right here. It is not impossible for us to make the Gold Cup with the team that we have. It is just up to us to give a hundred percent for the country. I would like more passion from the people, not only on social media, but also in the stadium. I personally think that we have a very good group. I know that everybody here is going to give a hundred percent. With the competition that we have, the hardest team would probably be Guatemala, but we are not underestimated anyone. But for us, we are going into each game one at a time and get a result in each of the game that we are playing. And if we do that, we’ll definitely make it back to the Gold Cup.”
In the CONCACAF Nation’s League, Belize will face off against French Guiana, Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Duane Moody for News Five.
