Sports Monday with football and cycling winners
James Adderley
Good evening I’m James Adderly and we welcome you to this jam packed serving of Sport’s Monday.
We start off with the opening match of the Belize Bank Super League Football Tournament as the defending champion and now named Raymond Gentle City Boys United hosted Paradise Freedom Fighters of Punta Gorda inside the MCC Ground’s yesterday.
In fact a moment of silence was observed for the fallen leader of the City Boys championship team Raymond Gentle who lost his wife on 12th January 2011 and as he sleeps, on the show continues.
Make no mistake about it folks it’s a new and improved City Boys that comes out to defend its title and we’re only 3 minutes into the action when newcomer Ryan Simpson receives this pass from off the left side and what a way to start with his new club as he gives them a 1-zip lead.
It should have been 2-zip 2 minutes later when Jason Young picks out Leon Jones but his right away right foot offering rises over the horizontal bar.
The visitors try to reply off this set piece in front of the goal but Alexander Peters line drive screams past the face of the goal.
It’s more Paradise Freedom Fighters when Frank Lopez evades his man to fire this low cruise missile but goalkeeper William Johnson stays on top of things.
We’re some 30 minutes in when Tyrone Muschamp faces Stephen Palacio in a one-on-one situation and the referee rules penalty in what he interprets as a take down by the goal keeper.
International player Deon McCauley steps and finds the near corner for the 2-zip City Boys lead.
Folks we’re some 15 minutes after intermission when Alexander Peters attacks for the Freedom Fighters. Williams Johnson come out to defend his goal – Peters outstretched right foot stamps on Johnson’s right foot and the goal keeper’s foot in broken.
Fortunately, a BERT Ambulance was immediately summoned to minister to the fallen player who was then whistled away to be treated at the KHMH for an injury which not only ends his season but could also end his career, and yes, he is in serious pain.
When the action resumes Tyrone Muschamp beats his man, the ball then reaches Ryan Simpson who moves 2 defenders out of the way and then deals to Deon McCauley who scores his 2nd of the match as Raymond Gentle City Boys United open a 3-zip W over Paradise Freedom Fighters.
In the other action on opening day Hattieville Monarch and Griga Knights battled to 1-1 stalemate. Placencia Assassin crushed Cayo South United 3 to 1 and Orange Walk United settled for a nil-nil draw.
This week’s schedule find Griga Knights will host Placencia Assassin at the Carl Ramos. Cayo South will visit Hattieville Monarch. Orange Walk United will be inside the People’s Stadium against Paradise Freedom Fighters and it’s an all city clash when Third World FC sees action against City Boys United.
Checking the results of Week 4 in the Super League 1st Division season at the MCC Grounds, Brown Bombers struck Kelly Street with a 2-zip blast. Ebony Lake edged KHMH Authority 1-zip while Atlantic Insurance and Yabra FC rallied to a 2 all tie.
Kaya Cattouse
In the meantime folks, the Delhart Courtney Female Football Tournament as presented by FFB kicked off over the weekend and tournament coordinator Kaya Cattouse filled in the details.
Kaya Cattouse, Coordinator, Delhart Courtney Female Football Tournament
“The competition start this weekend; all the games were played. We have ten teams in the competition from all over the country and the games that were played this Saturday and Sunday were very successful.”
James Adderley
“How long will it last and when can we expect the champion to be won?”
Kaya Cattouse
“Well we foresee this cup lasting until about June or thereabout because the preliminary round is six weeks and after that eight teams will advance into the quarter finals and we’ll do home and away matches go along to the semifinals and then the finals with the two teams.”
Bertie Chimilio
Meanwhile folks President Bertie Chimilio of the Football Federation of Belize informed us of the upcoming friendly between Belize and the Cayman Islands.
Bertie Chimilio, President, B.F.F.
“We are now preparing for the World Cup 2014 eliminations [which] will start in September of this year and we’re gonna start that with a first game against Cayman here in Belize on the twenty-seventy of march. We go back to Cayman for the twenty-second of May. Already in the pipeline we have games with El Salvador and Guatemala in the plans, but nonetheless we still have to confirm those games.”
James Adderley
“These are friendlies we’re talking about?”
Bertie Chimilio
“Yeah these are friendlies on the FIFA dates and we want to make sure that come September 2011, we should have at least fifty of our players having played three or four international matches and pick eighteen out of that and ready to confront the world.”
James Adderely
“Who are we matched up with for the frist round of this quail-finals?
Bertie Chimilio
“It’s gonna take a new format James really. The format now is gonna be groups. It’s good for us because we gonna play more games, but it is very, very expensive. We continue to work despite some obstacles being put in the way, but any obstacles that comes we jump by, we jump over and we ask the folks in Belize to come and support this international match.”
Turning to the cycling scene for the 6th time in a row folks the elite riders of the Belize Cycling Association were unable to complete the 26 mile ride to Hattieville and back under the 1 hour limit. The closest they had been was Greg Lovell’s time of 1 hour 42 seconds.
Nevertheless, 46 riders are off in search of the big W and included are the women cyclist, junior riders and the Masters Class.
At the turn around point a large group has grabbed the pace dividing the pelathon in 2.
In fact, the finish in front of Leslie’s Imports finds a delightful field sprint and it’s Brandon Cattouse who powers out of the pack and grabs his 2nd big W in the 6 races featured so far – but in a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 42 seconds. Byron Pope pulls up 2nd, Erwin Middleton moved in 3rd, David Henderson finished 4th while the veteran Rogue Matus rounds up the top 5.
Now folks, here is the sprint for the Jr. riders and its Gian Zetina with the burst to take it in 1 hour, 12minutws and 25 seconds. Some 8 minutes off the pace set by the senior Giovanni Lovell takes 2nd but watch Ethan Neal of Twin Towers on the outside going to tap – he takes 3rd place but is unceremoniously stopped by a parked red pick-up truck which should never have been there – the smashes into the windshield and is badly hurt and has to be taken to the hospital. It’s a situation that should have been under the absolute control of the BCA who have expressed extreme remorse. Fortunately, Ethan experiences no broken bones and has vowed to continue in the sport and Sport’s Monday wishes his valiant Jr. rider a quick and complete recovery. Folks, let’s not see a preventable mishap like this occur again.
Meanwhile Shalini Zabaneh took the women’s class in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 42 seconds finishing with the elites and naturally Rogue Matus takes the Masters prize with that same time of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 42 seconds.
In basketball news, the action in the DigiCell U-17 tournament continues fast and furious. In Friday night’s schedule ACC Deacons had to fight off a strong challenge from All Star Ballers to eek out a 78-74 victory. Terrigue Gabb led the way with 16 points, Jovanie Martinez put up 15 points and Travis Bermudez added 14. For All Star Ballers, Akeem Richardson topped all scores with 19 points; Brandon Harris hits 18 points and Keron Moss stretch for 17 points but in a loosing effort. In other results from the weekend, Belama Hittaz beat Dog Pound Boys 37-25; ACC Deacons shopped YMCO 50-20, Blazin Blazzaz bombed Truckers 51-26, Complex Admiral crushed Caye Caulker 85 to 25 and Kruzzars didn’t say sorry in a 104 to 15 blowout of Seh Sorry.
Finally folks, we want to say heartfelt congratulations to the Belize Karatekas under Master Kelly who competed in the Mexico International Taekwondo championships at Chetumal on Sunday and from a crew of 23 fighters, 4 to 30 years of age, brought back 30 trophies.
Jah Overall, I’m James Adderley.
