N.S.C. Partners with Spain Football Club to Host Football Clinics in Belize
A delegation of technical staff from a football club in Spain is in country carrying out a series of football clinics for female and male football players. They arrived in Belize on Wednesday through a partnership with the National Sports Council and the Football Federation of Belize. Today, the media was introduced to the program at a press conference and thereafter, the contingent headed out for day one of the clinics that will take them across the country. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Inside the conference room at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, a plan of action was shared on the newly formed relationship between the National Sports Council, the Football Federation of Belize and Tavernes Football Club out of Spain. Sports Director Iris Centeno trained with them several years ago and is now working with them to engage in football clinics in Belize
Iris Centeno
Iris Centeno, Director, National Sports Council
“Every time I attended workout, I would say you all should come to Belize and help me see how we can empower through the sports. I spoke to them regarding the vision which is to use sports to change our country. I believe strongly that sports can help us make a better Belize for us all. I want to be able to contribute not only to make history when it comes to accomplishing or winning tournaments. To me sports is more to change lives, help our youths, out kids.”
A delegation of four persons from Tavernes Football Club in Spain will be in country for about eight days visiting with different clubs, scouting out the best junior athletes in Belize. They include head coach Tomas Tendero, assistant coach Jonathan Garcia and captains Gemma Ibarra and Rebeca Lopez.
Gemma Ibarra
Gemma Ibarra, Captain/Player, Tavernes Football Club
“We came here to make bridges between Belize and Spain so we can see the people of Belize play football and they can also see us play football and maybe int he future they can come to Spain. For sure you are all welcome. We are trying to empower women because in Spain we are doing that and in Belize we want to do that too.”
Philip Marin
Philip Marin, Technical Director, Football Federation of Belize
“Tavernes Blankes is a professional club from Spain, from Valencia Spain. It was established in 1969 so the club is over fifty years old. At the football federation, we have been doing a lot with our national teams. We have over seven national teams that participate annually in international tournaments. We are hoping that with this partnership with Tavernes FC that they can help us to structure our club in the region that we may be able to have all categories in each club. Tavernes FC, their structure is very unique where they have clubs from grassroots, clubs at youth and in both gender male and female. The purpose of their visit here in Belize is for them to observe our female players and also to conduct clinics throughout the country.”
Minister of Sports Rodwell Ferguson says that the exchange program is just the beginning of what’s to come under the leadership of the newly appointed Sports Director Iris Centeno.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“Just connecting with Spain; it’s magnificent for Belize. Spain didn’t even know where Belize was, and because of Iris, she was an ambassador to Belize and she brought them here. So it is very enlightening and this will take us a long way and in Belize we need the support from a major country like Spain.”
Reporter
“So what we can expect from it?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“Well, according to Iris, this is only the beginning. It will be an exchange program between ourselves and Spain so I am hopeful that this will go very big and we will receive mileage from it.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
