Hankook Verdes leads RFG Cup Competition
Good Evening, I’m James Adderley and you’re locked into this delivery of Sports Monday.
F.C. Belize came into Week Nine of the RFG Insurance Cup Tournament with a shot at zooming to the top when they hosted league leader Hankook Verdes inside the M.C.C. Grounds yesterday.
Indeed it’s a promising start for the Belize City team when Kello Leslie sets table for Jeromy James who fails to get the pill past the Verdes keeper.
And it gets even better when Tyrone Muschamp finds Jeromy James with this lovely pass that gives F.C. Belize a 1-zip lead at the eleventh minute.
Some nine minutes later Shannon Flowers beats goal keeper Jamie Brooks out of the way and maybe he should have gone to the waiting Jeromy James to make it a 2-nil lead.
At the other end, the F.C. keeper, Elroy Rawley, misplays this outside shot but Ricardo Jiminez cannot make him pay the ultimate price.
The visitors came up with more offense when Orlando Jimenez fires a power blast that veers outside the target and at intermission F.C. Belize hangs on to precarious 1-nil lead.
In the meantime Hankook Verdes comes out firing in second half as Orlando Jimenez forces Rawley into a big time save.
The equalizer for Verdes almost comes when Daniel Jimenez fires this low cruise missile in heavy traffic but again Elroy Rawley shines.
However, when Albert Thurton raises this spot kick into the danger zone, it’s Shannon Flowers who catches up with the pill to give FC Belize a 2 –zip lead at the sixty-third minute.
Folks the breakthrough for Hankook Verdes at the seventy-sixth minute off this corner kick that the defense fails to clear and Orlando Jimenez slaps it home to make it a 2-1 ball game.
With renewed vigor Verdes goes to the set piece again and Orlando Jimenez almost levels the ball game right here.
Folks we’re in the final minutes of regulation when the referee blows penalty on this particular play. We don’t really have a good picture but the referee rules anyways.
Daniel Jimenez steps up for the West and he ties the ball game at two apiece. So both teams share the points which leaves Hankook Verdes atop the standings going into this week of play.
In other results from around the league, the Belize Defense Force marched over Georgetown Ibayani to a 3-2 tune. Suga Boys Juventus jolted Revolutionary Conquerors 3-2 while San Pedro Dolphins and Wagiya battled to a scoreless stalemate out at the island.
Thus after nine weeks Hankook Verdes leads the league with fourteen points. Wagiya and the B.D.F. both show thirteen points but Wagiya has the edge. F.C. Belize shows twelve points, San Pedro eleven, Juventus ten, Revolutionary Conquerors and Santels post nine points apiece while Georgetown Ibayani stays in the cellar with five points. All teams have played eight matches so far.
Looking at week ten’s schedule, on Saturday Santel’s will host Revolutionary Conquerors out West while on Sunday F.C. Belize travels Worth to Juventus, Verdes heads South to Wagiya and the B.D.F. will hold fort at the M.C.C. Grounds against Georgetown Ibayani.
Turning to the Super League of Belize Football, the two current leaders clashed at the M.C.C. Grounds Saturday night as Forever Strong Kraal Road hosted Tex Mar Boys from Mango Creek.
We’re fourteen minutes into the ball game when Gary Young launches this left foot that travels wide. To the right of your screen Lorenzo Diaz appears as if out of nowhere at the end of this pass but he fails to find the sticks for Kraal Road.
Before the half expires Diaz gets another good look at goal but again he fails to convert.
Immediately into second half the Tex Mar Boys wake up and launch this bomb at Stanley Reneau who handles the situation.
The Tex Mar Captain Robert Muschamp mounts this individual effort on the left side that provides only excitement.
It’s more excitement when Ashley Torres fires this left foot at Reneau who again handles.
At the sixty-fifth minute the Kraal Road defense misplays this ball, Robert Muschamp gets possession to give the visitors a 1-zip lead.
Four minutes later Wilmer Garcia sets table for Robert Muschamp who come sup with a beautiful right away left foot that gives Tex Mar Boys the 2-zip win in regulation.
In other results Estrellas F.C. beat Belmopan Bandits 2-nil. Adventures got their first win by beating Alpha Barcelona 1-zip and Barrio Fino F.C. bombed Benque D.C. United 3-1.
Now here are the standings of week seven. Tex Mar Boys lead with fifteen points, Forever Strong shoes twelve, Benque D.C. ten, Estrellas F.C. nine, Barrio Fino seven, Alpha Barcelona six, Roots F.C. five, Belmopan Bandits three and Adventures in the cellar by goal differential with three points.
On this weekend’s schedule Tex Mar will host Roots F.C., Kraal Road travels to Barrio Fino, Estrellas F.C. will host Alpha Barcelona while Belmopan travels to Adventures at Cayo.
Meanwhile folks the country of Belize prepares to enter the qualifications for the 2010 World Cup of Soccer – we caught up with President Bertie Chimilio of the F.F.B. and selections committee member Dillon Jones.
Bertie Chimilio, President, F.F.B.
“Yesterday FIFA held a draw in Durban, South Africa for the 2010 World Cup preliminaries and we were paired with St. Kitts/Nevis. I think it is a good opportunity for us to show our level of football. Far away in the Caribbean, nevertheless, we have an opportunity now. The winner of this series would go on to play Mexico; that is a very, very big task. However, we are having some problems locally because we need to find to find a venue to play. I had a meeting with the Minister of Sports on Friday and he has promised that as much as his ministry can help he will help. So at this present moment we are putting through some plans that we will send to his ministry tomorrow and hopefully they could come up with the money to refurbish the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga as that is the only facility we feel right now that needs the least money to be upgraded.”
James Adderley
“Dillon, we’ve always had a history of not being competitive on the national level on the international scene. Maybe you could tell us what would be different this time?
Dillon Jones, Selection Committee Member
“The fact is that have involved not only the F.F.B. selecting players but we request that the teams be involved and I think that when you involve a broader spectrum you have better results, end of story.”
Finally folks, the Stann Creek Chess Club presented a tournament on Saturday for high schools and primary schools in the district.
Emil Montero of Ecumenical High took first place in the high school division beating out schoolmate Michelle Chun and Ivan Mejia of Delille High in that order. Michelle Chun, nevertheless, emerged the top female player.
Rick Pascasio of Holy Angels took the primary school division. He beat out Ever Ramirez of Seine Bight and Shamar Villafranco of Hope Creek Government School respectively. Coleen Tate emerged the top female player and we say congratulations to the organizers and participants.
That’s our show for today. We certainly invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
