Belize - Belize News - Channel5Belize.com - Great Belize Productions - Belize Breaking News
Home » Environment, People & Places, Sports » Pirates, Verdes and PLB Goes At It off the Field, Playoff Games Are In Limbo
May 8, 2023

Pirates, Verdes and PLB Goes At It off the Field, Playoff Games Are In Limbo

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We kick things off tonight with some controversy in the Premier League of Belize.

Football teams across the country are waiting with bated breath for the start of the 2023 playoffs. It was expected to begin weeks ago, but, there have been some delays in the season’s schedule. This is due to a dispute largely between the San Pedro Pirates FC and Verdes FC. It all began with a match between both clubs that was scheduled to play on April eighth, in San Pedro.  The game was postponed based on a decision by the match commissioner. That has led to several outcomes that the San Pedro Pirates’ management is saying have been unfair to its football club. We spoke with Carol Maldonado- Claros, owner and manager of the San Pedro Pirates.

 

Carol Maldonado- Claro

Carol Maldonado- Claro, Owner & Manager, Pirates FC

“When the week start the starts the general secretary of the league’s office send you information how many officials will be here to get hotel room and account for meals, transportation from Belize City to San Pedro and make sure somebody is there to pick them up and bring them to the hotel and to the stadium. I called all over for accommodations and the only accommodations it was crazy money, it is written somewhere, three hundred and sixty-eight U.S. a night. I called back the office and informed them I couldn’t find any accommodation for them. The office through the GS and I mean the office didn’t do it they didn’t do it intentionally. The office suggested, contact the traveling team and request if they will be any space that the referee can return back to Belize City. I contacted the president and explained the situation. At the moment he said I don’t see anything wrong with that. Plus, we are taking a boat that will hold close to a hundred persons and a lot will stay for the weekend in San Pedro. So, there will be a lot of space, I don’t see anything wrong in that. So when I picked them up I saw bags, I saw family and I was like huh they are coming just for the day and heading for the night and brining big bags and I put that in my mind, when I reached my business I went in the office and called the leagues office. I said, GS did you advice the referee department? That is where like hell broke lose. The referee came to them and said so you don’t have accommodations for us? That is not acceptable and we are going back.”

The match was eventually called off. Verdes FC launched a complaint and the match commissioner submitted a report on what transpired. According to Claro, with those two documents, PLB’s Organizing Committee ruled that the situation be deemed a forfeit on the part of Pirates FC and that Verdes FC be granted  three goals and the victory. Claro and her team launched an appeal of the decision before the league’s Appeals Committee. That ruling was published over the weekend.

 

Carol Maldonado- Claro

“When the appeal ruled, there were very they words they used in their ruling, the board is squashed, void and null. So, whatever decision the disciplinary took was squash, void and null. Moreover on that decision, it says that the DC and the OC did not practice natural justice against San Pedro Pirates, which those two words were big. They did not give San Pedro Pirates to defend themselves. But then they come and say, they already said you did not practice natural justice but now you are telling me you are going to have a home game, it is your home game but let me punish you because you are not going to have it at home and you are going to incur part of the cost. So, Verdes has all their money, but now Pirates has to do an extra expense to travel out of San Pedro.”

 

We will continue to follow that one, as News Five understands that the Football Federation of Belize has gotten involved in the matter. Moreover, because these are the top two teams in the league, the season’s playoff matches cannot begin without these two matches being played.

 

From the pitch to the mat, a group of students from the House of Shotokan Karate embarked on a journey to Chetumal, Mexico, to participate in the Eagle Park Taekwondo Championships held on May sixth at Parque Del Queso.  Among the notable accomplishments, Amphree Swasey secured the first place medal in the children’s fighting division. Jamir Ayala emerged as first place winner in the men’s fighting division, and Leah St. Clair claimed the first place victory in the children’s girls fighting division.

 

Other outstanding achievements include Nephetia Lopez securing second place in the children’s girls fighting division, Myah Grant and Mycah Grant both achieving the second place in the children’s girls fighting division, Coyichi Lam securing the second  place in the boys fighting division, and Manon Mazella achieving the second place in the women’s fighting division.

 

Additionally, Joy Bowen claimed the second place in the tots-children fighting division, Lucas Martinez secured the second place in the children’s boys fighting division, Gordon Feinstein achieved the second place in the boys intermediate fighting division, Bention Feinstein emerged as the second place winner in the boys beginners fighting division, and Nicholas Hyde claimed the second place in the boys fighting division

 

Over eighty riders took their places at the starting line on Sunday morning for the Second Annual Gonz Cross Country. The race began in San Ignacio Town and finished in front of Leslie’s Imports in Belize City. In Central Farm it is Elwin Humes out at front all alone. Forty minutes into the race, approaching Mount Hope for the downhill ride, Kent Gabourel sprints for the station prize on top the hill. Exiting Teakettle, Dylan Levy is applying the pressure unto the lead riders, but Kent Gabourel does not let up. He latched on to Levy. A pile-up just outside Mahogany Heights Village, saw several riders leaving the race with injuries. We wish them a speedy recovery.

 

Almost two hours into the race, it is Hijo Requeña all alone up front. Entering Belize City only a few miles from the finish line, six riders are leading the race. Nearing the finish-line, Dylan Levy launched an attack with Kent Gabourel on his rear wheel. With about five hundred meters left to the finish line, Kent Gabourel gets out of his saddle and launch an attack leaving Levy behind. At the finish line it is junior rider, Delton Rojas that finishes first overall and takes the first place prize for the junior category.  He is followed by Kent Gabourel who finished first in the A category.

 

Kent Gabourel

Kent Gabourel, Winner, Gonz Cross Country

“I want to give thanks to the almighty father to bless we with the health and strength to be out here today. It was a very intensive tough race, a lot of big competitors out here. I wah never tek nobody lightly. At the end of the day I knew it would come down to a strong man race and it is always mind over matter.”

 

Delton Rojas

Delton Rojas, Junior Winner, Gonz Cross Country

“I work really hard. I put countless hours in bike. I just try do my best every time I come out man.”

 

And, finally for tonight, in our weekly Belize Elite Basketball League update, the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes secured a spot in the 2023 playoffs, following this weekend’s victory over the Dangriga Dream Ballers inside the Belize City Civic Center. Meanwhile, the Belize City Defenders are one victory away from securing the second seat in the playoffs after dominating in Orange Walk against the Running Rebels. And while all of that is happening, the voting process is now open for the 2023 All-Star Game. You can head over to BEBL’s website to cast your vote for your favorite all-star.

 

Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Until next time, be mindful that nature is the best play ground. Go out and have some fun.


Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

Advertise Here

Comments are closed