Hankook Verdes win B.P.F.L. Championship Series
Good evening I’m James Adderley and it is with great pleasure we bring you this serving of Sports Monday.
We’re inside the Norman Broaster where yesterday the B.P.F.L. championship series reached money time as Hankook Verdes of San Ignacio hosted the Belize Defence Force with both teams in a must win situation to claim the RFG Tournament title 2008 edition. In addition to homage being paid to the National Anthem by a well dressed marching band, the FIFA flag is being ceremoniously displayed, the CONCACAF banner is unfurled in deference to our football region, while the Belize Defence Force got to fly its national symbol and Hankook Verdes unveiled its team colours with style, I guess by now we all know this one is a big one.
Immediately into the action the home team attacks off the set piece that gives much excitement the Cayo hopeful. Still we’re only nine minutes in when Daniel Jimenez picks out his brother Orlando who in turn finds the left foot that beats Charlie Slusher to give Hankook Verdes a 1-zip lead. In response the military goes to Deon McCauley who comes up with this nice turn around offering that screams past the target. McCauley then mounts this individual effort but the left foot is right at Jamie Brooks in goal for Verdes. It’s another attempt to score off the spot kick by the B.D.F. and again it’s Jamie Brooks with the stop. Deep inside the eighteen Deon Flowers tries to power this right foot past Brooks, it does not happen. At the half Verdes controls the match with a 1-zip lead. During intermission the B.D.F. regroups to the rhythm of the drums of culture so let’s see what second half brings. The military comes out looking for the equalizer off this set piece but Jerome Serrano simply can’t pull off the in air splice. Fresh off the bench, Marcelo Soto launches this spot kick at goal only to see the near upright reject the shot. Soto gets another look at goal from almost the same spot; Jamie Brooks stops him this time. It’s getting late so Floyd Jones fires this bomb and again Jamie Brooks rises to the occasion and this is the moment Hankook Verdes has been waiting for all season long, the long whistle gives them a 1-zip W which hands them the 2008 RFG football title and we say congratulations to Hankook Verdes.
Daniel Jimenez, Hankook Verdes
“Well as you can see how the people of Cayo is reacting to this very important victory that we gave them. I think it’s something important for me because now I can finally achieve my dreams and other players in this league because we now get a chance to go and play international and that’s where we will bring the level of football for Belize to a high standard.”
Hankook Verdes Fan
“I have not seen a victory to my country—I guess if I’m making it right—since 1986, am I right? This was the last time Verdes have ever give his people a championship. Ruben, I was supposed to go back to the united states but Ruben, I am so happy right now my team brought a victory for this town.”
We also want to say congratulations to Jamie Brooks of Verdes who emerged MVP of the playoffs.
In the meantime the regular season awards saw Daniel Jimenez of Verdes take home the MVP honours, Jeromy James of F.C. Belize emerged with most goals scored and the best forward award. Shamir Pacheco of Verdes was voted best midfielder. Best defence went to Albert Thurton of F.C. Belize while Charlie Slusher won the best goal keeper award and we certainly sent heartfelt congratulations to all.
In news from the Super League, the best of three championship series kicks off this Saturday at Independence with Texmar Boys hosting Benque DC United. You won’t want to miss it.
In cycling news, we join Santino’s over twenty-three cat four and five race on Saturday as this fifty mile race streaks towards the finish line at Leslie’s Imports. Respect to Santi Castillo as he crosses the finish to win this event in impressive fashion edging out his teammates Leroy Cassasola and Glen O’Brian who settled for second and third respectively. The next race is set for Sunday April twenty-seventh featuring some sixty-five miles.
In other cycling news, the Culture Team swept pass the top three spots along with all stationary prizes in yesterdays Mountain Bike Race presented by the Belize Cycling Association. Kenroy Gladden took top honours, Paul Trapp finished second while Steven Dixon rounds out the top three. We also want to remind cyclist that the Corozal Maya Tours will be presenting a big time race on eleventh May, 2008 that will begin at Miami Beach in Corozal, heads to Orange Walk Town and swings back to finish right where it started at Miami Beach.
In the meantime, the Yarborough Sporting Club is presenting a pre-tournament in basketball and football for juveniles beginning Friday the eighteenth April at Yarborough field. To get in registration can be done with Stanley Reneau or Peel Off Maheia.
In closing folks, we take time out to give kudos to the Collet and Lake I Southsiders football committee who staged a series of successful sporting activities for juveniles at the St. Martin DePorres football field over the weekend. Back-a-town won the under fifteen football championships, Balls eleven took the under twelve football title, U.B. captured the under twenty-one basketball competition and indeed table tennis and checkers were also presented to the kids from the area and we want to say thanks to the organisers and especially to the Belize Action Committee who sponsored the trophies.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We certainly invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
