Sports Tuesday with the multifaceted James Adderley
Good Evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
Much has been said about Friday’s disaster inside the FFB Stadium where an over-confident Belize National Football Selection was unceremoniously knocked off its high horse by a 4-1 blast from their Grenadian counterpart – a team they had blanked 3-zip in the away game of this 2-game series inside the 20145 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Added to the bad attitude was the soggy pitch inside the FFB Stadium – a result from the torrential downpour – and it quickly became obvious that the local team was unable to perform properly in a mud and water affair. We must also take into account that Team Grenada had strengthened up its lineup and more importantly was extremely focused on avenging the 3-zip defeat.
Belize 1st threat and goal comes some 25 minutes in when Danny Jimenez tries to link up with Deon McCauley but Josh Charles comes up with a timely intervention. Again Belize looks potent with Jimenez who centers to Kafu Roches who heads to Deon McCauley, but the striker could not keep the launch down. Meanwhile, on the next press, McCauley does everything right in search for a goal only to be denied by Josh Charles. Folks we’re some 42 minutes in when Shane gets this shot off despite being surrounded by 3 blue shirts and the right foot launch surprisingly beats Shane Orio as Grenada takes a 1-zip lead. Just before the half expires, Ian Gaynair gofts this ball to Marcus Julien in front of the Belize goal and his right away shot easily beats Orio for the 2-zip lead. On a soggy field, you don’t pass inside the box.
5 minutes into the 2nd half, Craig Rocastle finds Lancaster Joseph off this set piece and Joseph takes advantage of poor marking inside the 18 to nod the ball in for the 3-zip Grenada lead. Down by 3, the Belize team lost its composure and normally Kafu Roches would have converted this chance but today everything is working against us. Kafu then tries to make amends with monster launch only to see Josh Charles come up with the best save of the match. Our team continues to press for a goal as Deon McCauley fires this left foot bomb that crashes offt he crossbar as the drought continues. Folks, goal number 4 by Grenada simply adds insult to injury – Dalton Eiley should have come up with the block but even worse the save; however, Clive Murray’s left foot squeeze make it a 4-nil showing. Immediately the fans start abandoning the stadium and if I could have left, I would have too. In the waning minute of the ballgame, Ryan Simpson off the bench triggers this grass head burner that beats Josh Charles as Belize gets the consolation goal in the 4-1 loss.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow especially after the high expectation the nation had going into this match. Nevertheless, our team had no time to lick their wounds as they took the bus Saturday morning headed to Guatemala City for tonight’s matchup with Guatemala. People we might have lost the most important moment in our quest to reach the World Stage.
In other football news, play in the Belize District Female Football League saw Sherry Tracey come up with a pair of goals and Christina Joseph added another as Millennium rolled our Island Stars 3-1. The Island’s only goal came from the boots of Lilian Joseph. meanwhile in Game 2, Loida Contreras led Ladyville Orchids to its 1st win; scoring the only goal of the match to beat Untouchables 1-zip. And then Hattieville Heats and Ladyville Tornados battled to a 1-1 tie. Ashlyn Gordon scored for the Heats while Marcelina Mai hit for Tornados.
In cycling news, the BCA presented the 7th Orange Walk Bypass Criterium yesterday and the visiting Depredadores Team from Mexico swept the top 3 spots with Hector Rangul, Carlos Hernandez and Eduardo Lada finishing in that order. Jose Choto of Western Spirit was the 1st Belizean to finish grabbing 4th in 1 minute 36 seconds off the pace. Big Mighty Lewis took the Master Class with Barney Brown 2nd and Ritchie Halton rounds out the top 3. Oscar Quiros of Cayo Uprising took the Junior and Youth Class with teammate, Juan Umana 2nd and Johnny Quintal of Depredadores took 3rd place. In the Tim Mites Class, Michael Escobar grabbed the Win with Geron Lovell and Cory Rodriguez finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. The Belize Cycling Association reminds the cycling community that the Sagitun Classic is set for November 13th, 2011.
In other cycling news, the veterans in the Weekend Warriors staged two events at Punta Gorda over the weekend sponsored by BNE. Floyd Williams took Saturdays 30 mile Criterium in 1 hour 25 minutes 27 seconds with George Abraham 2nd while Orin Jones rounds out the top 3 from among 12 riders. Dean Boyce finished 4th. We mention Boyce because on Sunday this C Class rider controlled the pace in the road race from Tide Belize to Big Falls and back – a distance of 39 miles. Here he ius being trailed by Chris Romero and George Abraham. George Abraham then opted for a solo flight but here is Boyce reeling him in. It’s a 3 man race to the tape, but Boyce steps out to take the ride in 1 hour, 52 minutes 55 seconds with George Abraham finishing 2nd and Chris Romero 3rd. 14 riders took part.
Finally in table tennis news, play in the Brothers Habet Team League on Saturday saw Rivero’s Welders crush Luz 5-2. Hurricane blanked Suga City 5-zip and Racqueteers mashed up No Mercy by that same score all in 1 divisional play. In 2nd divisional action, Garage H 2 handles Turds in 5-zip finish while BDF Spin Kings edged Fantastic Four, 5-4.
Jah Over All, I’m James Adderley.
