James Adderley follows the female Cross Country winner

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. We take you immediately to the M.C.C Grounds where F.C. Belize hosted the Belize Defence Force in the final match of a two game series to determine who moves on to the championship round from this particular grouping. F.C. Belize went into yesterday’s match down 1-nil after losing game one last week. However, it’s the B.D.F. off the quick start as Lisbey Castillo and Orlando Jimenez work the two man game to perfection only to see Castillo botch the shot attempt it had created. The military then goes tot eh set piece in search of an early goal. Tyrone Pandy picks out Kareem Haylock who heads the ball back to Pandy, whose header is denied by a crowded F.C. defense. At the other end, Roberto Martinez finds Jeromy James who does not get enough on the header to beat Woodrow West. F.C. Belize knows a win is a must today so Jeromy James picks up this loose ball and fires at goal with bad intentions, but it turns out to be a high riser. F.C. continues to insist as Jerome Archer deals to James who is effectively constrained by the defensive effort of Tyrone Pandy. It’s another spot kick for F.C. Belize and it’s a dangerous shot by Harrison Tasher that forces Woodrow West to come up with a crucial save. F.C. appears to be in the ascending when Christopher Gilharry fires this left foot in heavy traffic which travels just outside the sticks and at the half we have a scoreless stalemate.

Folks, we’re some ten minutes into second half when Ryan Gill is red carded for game delay by referee Williams. We can’t show you the action; only the reaction and this F.C. officer is truly incensed by the call that he has to be restrained. The match resumes but F.C.’s coach Anthony Bernard is still upset and he too has to be escorted off the pitch. Meanwhile, this long distance bomb from Harrison Tasher almost gets past Woodrow West but it doesn’t. with the tension already thick as a well cooked cow foot soup, Referee Williams issues a second yellow card to F.C.’s Albert Thurton for delay of game. So now it’s time for play to resume and Referee Williams interprets Thurton’s reaction as another delay of game for which he issues a red card. Thurton is now livid and charges the referee but is intercepted by his teammate Ian Gaynair who then has to restrain the F.C. player. F.C. Belize in a show of protest abandon the field of play while the police enforce security for Referee Williams as they accompany him off the field of play. Even F.C. owner, Lionel Welch, is upset and he calls his team off the pitch as the situation continues to deteriorate. We must say folks that it takes all involved in the match to make it worth the fans investment and yes over reaction can hurt anybody. Nevertheless, by abandoning the field, F.C. Belize allows the B.D.F. to move on to the championship round. The B.D.F. will face Georgetown Ibayani who held Hankook Verdes to a 2-2 tie at the Norman Broaster yesterday after beating them 1-nil at Dangriga last week. Thus the series gets off this Sunday at Dangriga. In the meantime, Marvin Ottley, Manager of the Belize Premier Football League had this to say.

Marvin Ottley, Manager, Belize Premier Football League

“Whatever transpired yesterday regarding F.C. Belize losing three players actually, but two were ejected on the basis of delay of game tactics on their part. On the other hand, the team F.C. Belize walked off the pitch at that point in time, which at that time, the position of the league in regards to the regulations, the game had to end up in a draw at that point in time.

James Adderley

“What should have been done, what could have been done to avoid this particular situation?”

Marvin Ottley

“Well, I think it’s better game management and better professionalism in approaching a match of this magnitude, whereby the referee should have understood the scenario quite easily. Before the game there was a meeting with the security force, with the referees, with the clubs so I believe that everybody understood the magnitude of the game. I think sometimes the officials do lose scope of the magnitude of the game and then bring in the intents of the law. I think that basically in my view, probably have been his assessment of the whole scenario. But in fairness and in wellness of fair play in the FIFA motto, I think that created the problem that we eventually had yesterday.”

In other football news, action in the Belize Bank Super League over the weekend saw San Felipe Barcelona hammer Cayo South 7-2, City Boys held Hattieville F.C. to a 1-1 tie, Nizhee Corozal and Placencia also battled to a 1-all stalemate and Santa Elena beat Belize United 2-1. This weekend’s schedule will conclude the first round of regular play in the Super League. On Sunday Belize United battles Corozal at the M.C.C and San Felipe Barcelona will be inside the People’s Stadium against City Boys United while on Sunday Cayo South travels to Hattieville and Placencia Assassin will host Santa Elena.

Turning to the cycling scene, the twenty-first annual Female Cross Country Cycle Classic took to the Western Highway and at the start of the seventy-two mile race at San Ignacio we have the twelve best female cyclists in Belize all ready and rearing to go. And here they are moving out of the starting gate en route to Memorial Park in Belize City. By the time the race reaches the Belmopan junction it’s a five person lead; Jamielee Usher, Janelle Chanona, Shalini Zabaneh, Alicia Thompson and Gina Lovell. Shalini Zabaneh looks to run early and nobody sets chase. However, rolling through Roaring Creek this five person chase that includes Gina Lovell, Janelle Chanona, Jamielee Usher, Alicia Thompson and Marinette Flowers have decided to reel her in. it’s a feat they would be unable to accomplish because Shalini Zabaneh is intent on displaying her dominance in today’s race. We catch up with Shalini zipping through Hattieville as the solo flight continues. While we find the chase five; Chanona, Marinette, Jamielee, Alicia Thompson and Gina Lovell still in the hunt. Around mile ten, we cannot help but notice that the chase bunch has began to show signs of struggle in maintaining the pace. All this while, Shalini Zabaneh is content on her solo flight. The only rider who could sustain the chase is Alicia Thompson, who pulls out of the pack to make that statement. At Belcan Bridge Shalini Zabaneh continues her torrid pace, unperturbed by the chase effort behind her. And here is the 2010 Female Cross Country Champion, Shalini Zabaneh of Sagitun grabbing the W uncontested in a time of 04:26:21. About two minutes later—one-fifty-eight to be exact—Alicia Thompson of Belize Bank/BEL rolls in alone for second place. Seven-fifty-six later we have a four person sprint for third place: Marinette Flowers, steps up and grabs it, Jamielee Usher pulls up fourth and guess what Janelle Chanona takes fifth place in her first Cross Country while Gina Lovell has to settle for sixth place. Meanwhile, we must apologize for not getting an interview with the champion, but here’s what we do have.

Alicia Thompson, 2^nd Place, Female Cross Country Classic

“I would have at least waited, but one of my other strategies was to allow Shalini to go out there by herself because I knew that was what she wanted to do and allow her to die out there and thereafter make my move. But it just so happens that I made my move too late. I wanted to go; I made several attempts and the one that came out fruitful was the one that happened at mile eight so that was a little too late. It only really takes six weeks of intense training to get the job done, but I know that Shalini has been doing a lot. I don’t have the time as she does to do it but if I want to do it, I just need to put in that time and I’ll get it done.”

Marnette Flowers, 3^rd Place, Female Cross Country Classic

“I think I did well for training one month and a week. It’s not that difficult, it’s just my back. My bike wasn’t set for me and I didn’t get the setting for my bike. My legs are fine and I think I did pretty well.”

Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.