Belize & Trinidad meet on the football field
Good Evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
It was the 10th day of September when our national Football Team hosted their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts, also known as the Soca Warriors, inside the FFB Stadium at the Capital City, Belmopan. We must say the pre-game ceremonies added pump and circumstance to an occasion that brought Belizeans from near and far to witness our boys in action against a team that had made the World Cup Finals in 2006 and came in at 76 by FIFA compared to 176 for the home-side.
Both sides needed a win to satisfy their fans, especially Trinidad who had lost 3 out of 4 in recent international friendlies, so they try to open the scoreboard with this Hughton Hector offering that bounces harmlessly past the target. The visitors follow off this set piece fired by Trent Noel that forces our international goal keeper Shane Orio to get busy. Belize finally gets its offence going same half an hour in when Elroy Smith deals to Harrison ‘Kafu’ Roches and his heel play at goal is only denied by the crossbar. It was good to see the 2 international combine their skills. At the other end, Hughton Hector fires this grass head burner that looks more dangerous than it really was and at the end of the half, we’ve got a scoreless ballgame.
Immediately into the second half, Devon Jorsling launches this vicious spot-kick that hits the far upright and somehow bounces to the other side without breaking the line and Belize sigh in relief. It’s more Trinidad when Daniel Cyrus catches up with this corner kick but he did not put on enough to beat Shane Orio. On the very next play, ‘Kafu’ Roches sets up Victor Morales who is taken down inside the 18 by Jovin Jones and Referee Mejia from El Salvador rules Penalty. Belize sends for Elroy Smith, Marvin Philip is beaten but the crossbar rejects the effects as Belize squanders a perfect opportunity to score. Meanwhile, Trinidad gets this chance to open the scoreboard when Kevon Carter speeds down the left side to unleash this left foot that bounces past the far post. A few minutes later, the 4th international to start on Team Belize, Elroy Kuylen gets to strut his stuff with this wonderful strike off the set piece, forcing Marvin phi8lip into a big time save.
Late in the ballgame, Devon Jorsling again gets to display his potent left foot but Shane Orio leaps to handle the threat. Belize then gets its turn to steal the win as Deon Burgess gets this open look at goal but his left foot shot screams over the crossbar. ‘Kafu’ Roches also gets the opportunity to become the hero with this look at goal the groundball pushes in contained in Marvin Philip as the friendly international concludes in a scoreless draw.
Harrison ‘Kafu’ Roches, Belize Nat’l Team
“I believe dehn bwai coulda mi do wah little better but I appreciate the work weh we do together because dah wa short while too. I believe pan the longer run we will perfect our little error.”
Elroy Smith, Belize Nat’l Team
“I just decide fi gone straight through the middle and hard and well you done know. Well people the tell me the man tip the ball but I noh know, it just hit the crossbar and gone over. So dah just bad luck fi me.”
James Adderley
“It’s a game of inches and sometime you are on the wrong side of the inches and we understand that. How you feel about the team that you played with today? Do you see the development of Belizean football from where you sit now in a professional league now in Honduras?”
Elroy Smith
“Yeah well with the lee training weh they get fi the month or so, to me you see that ih change lee bit. I noh know if dah the system weh the coach the play or not but you see the difference in the skills in a lot of the other players who the play in Belize right now.”
Shane Orio, Goalkeeper, Belize Nat’l Team
“There’s a lot more we can improve on. There’s a lot of things we can better ourselves. The players here in Belize, I would encourage them to work harder in their team so that when they come to the national team, it’s much easier. And for myself, it is always a pride and honour to represent my country. So if it’s like 10 under 20 players, I am always willing to come to the national team because the most important thing is to give back not only to the country but also to the federation who have given me the opportunity to be an international player.”
Turning to local football, the Belize Bank Super League Championships series brought game II of the 3 game series to the MCC Grounds yesterday with City Boys United hosting Nizhee Corozal who came in with a 1 game lead.
With the 2010 title on the line City Boys get busy early as captain Raymond Gentle deals to Dalton Cayetano who miscues with the final touch.
At the other end Sergio Villanueva finds Andrew Allen who looks for the early lead only to see Charlie Slusher handle the situation.
City Boys came right back with this pass from Whitfield Patnett to Dalton Cayetano but the striker’s launch sails over the crossbar.
Meanwhile folks 8 minutes after intermission Sergio Villanueva works on the City Boys defenders to find Darnell Mossiah who turns on this ball and finishes it into the far corner to give the Nizhee Corozal a 1-zip lead for the 2nd time in 2 weeks.
In the meantime Shawn Thurton puts City Boys title hopes in jeopardy and Charlie Slusher in harms way with this soft header to goal that sees Sergio Villanueva create a half a chance to score and the goalkeeper has to give up his body to save the goal. Both players would continue.
The home team now becomes desperate in its guest for the equalizer so Jason Young centers into the box, goalkeeper Berth Morriera ouches it out to Dalton Cayetano who misses the target.
City Boys continue to mount the present using this corner kick but the subsequent header by Dienmercy Pierre does not have the pace to beat Morriera.
Folks we’re into injury time and Corozal feels they have the title in hand when Godson Mitchell centers into the danger zone but the ball takes on a life of its own and drops into the net to force a 1-1 tie with about a minute to go.
So we must go to overtime play since a winner must emerge and Charlie Slusher almost looses this routine save on this set piece launch from Antonio Castillo but gets a reprieve.
Folks we’re in the final minutes of the 30 minute overtime when Deon McCauley gets to strut his international stuff with this right foot power pinch that jumps off the crossbar. That ball park would have erupted.
Now we’re down to penalty kicks. Edwardo Perez of Nizhee goes first and beats Slusher.
Dienmercy Pierre of City Boys comes up with the appropriate response and makes it look professional.
Antonio Castillo simply allows Charlie Slusher to read his move and pays for it.
Deon McCauley wasn’t about to let Morriera off the hook and smokes it into the fore corner.
Now its goalkeeper against goalkeeper when Benito Morriera steps up and he wins rather convincingly.
Captain Raymond gentle then steps up and makes it a 3 in a row for City Boys.
Next up is Andrew Allen and he hits the crossbar.
Godson Mitchell who scored that phenomenal goal to force overtime could seal the deal with a conversion deal—the kick is well placed and City Boys extend the championship series with a 4-2 big W on penalty kick.
John Pollard, Coach, City Boys United
“Today, I didn’t use the Haitian at the beginning. I brought them in from off the chairs because I need the explosion. They brought the explosion to the game and I guarantee that I would have been victorious today by any means necessary.”
Godson Michael, City Boys United
“Everybody done know we dah Haitian and we know how to do it. But everybody done know we strong and know how fi do it.”
The series now moves to a neutral ground. As soon as we get confirmation on this venue, we’ll be sure to pass it on.
Finally folks, we turn to cycling and here is the start the Elite/Masters/U-23, 30 laps criterion race staged on Albert Street and charged by the Belize Cycling Association yesterday and some 40 riders are off. At the finish its a 5 man sprint Chris McNish pulls out from behind to overtake his Megabyte’s teammates to grab top spot in 1 hour 5 minutes 5 seconds. By now, Pope settles for 2nd place as Benny’s Megabyte. So 1-2, Edgar Arana of Typhoon is 3rd, Peter Choto and Allen Castillo, both of Ramis finds 4th and 5th respectively. As to female side, Shalini Zabaneh reign supreme. While Melvin Tillett of C-Ray took the first 20 lap in 46 minutes beating out Juan Flores and Daniel Choto of Cayo High Road Cycling. The next big end on the cycling calendar comes up on October 12th and it’s called the Bypass Criterium in Orange Walk.
Jah Overall, I’m James Adderley.
