F.C. Belize wins R.F.G. Cup
Good evening I’m James Adderley and here’s this week’s dish of Sports Monday.
The drums summoned Belizeans from every corner of the Jewel as the Carl Ramos Stadium came to life with Game II of the R.F.G. Insurance Title series between F.C. Belize and Revolutionary Conquerors at Dangriga yesterday.
As visitors, F.C. Belize comes in from a position of strength having taken Game I in a 1-zip blaze at the M.C.C. grounds last week but they quickly learn this is crunch time.
Nevertheless, it’s the host team Revolutionary Conquerors will be the first real chance at goal on this nice feed, only Elroy Kuylen is half a step behind.
F.C. counters with this smash by Dion Flowers from off the right wing – Woodrow West mishandles but Mark Leslie’s follow up is obstructed by tough defence.
Dangriga then goes to the set piece for some offence – Norman Tilliman Nunez does find the seam with this swing unfortunately the header fails to find the target.
At the other end Jeromy James unleashes this bomb that forces Woodrow West into an acrobatic save.
In the meantime Dennis Serrano allows Vallan Simms to cut off his attack without him getting off a shot.
The Conquerors insist off this corner kick and how this header misses remains a mystery. And at the half we have a scoreless ballgame.
In second half the tension rises to the max and in fact Norman Nunez should be thanking his stars for not getting a red card for this fowl on his former running mate Vallan Simms.
On this F.C. press James keeps this ball alive to Deon McCaully who can’t get the pill past West.
Then it’s Charlie Slusher’s turn to give up some body for the team but you know the guys are athletes.
Folks, again the set piece brings potency to the Griga offence – Kareem Haylock gets the ball to the right spot but the finish is certainly lacking.
Suddenly in the ballgame folks, goalkeeper West looks rather shaky and is truly lucky to be let off the hook for this mistake.
Folks, we’re at the seventy-eight minute of the ballgame when the give and go between Deon McCaully and Mark “Kelo” Leslie ends with Kelo’s left foot shaking the net – F.C. Belize leads 1-nil in Game II and 3-zip in the series at this juncture.
In two championship confrontations F.C. Belize keeps the Revolutionary Conquerors scoreless while able to score a goal in each ballgame and we say congratulations to the 2007 R.F.G. Insurance Cup Champion F.C. Belize of Belize City.
Deon McCaully, F.C. Belize
“We played an excellent game. Our team just came out – we know that we had the championship – so we just out and we play the hardest game we could play and that dah how come out with today, a big victory.”
“I do my part inna the game. I give the assist. We come out today and we seh anybody weh score dah just that because the victory dah fi F.C., you know.”
Elroy Kuylen, Revolutionary Conquerors
“We came in second, we’re sub-champions, we appreciate that. Most of out players have been to the finals but they didn’t step up their game the way they should and well, we can live with that because we went all out and we was playing with a man down and now we will just prepare ourselves for the CONCACAF.”
Now let’s head to the Civic Center for yesterday’s decisive Game III between M& M Promise Keepers and Cal-Port Flames for the championship in the Shine Your Light Christian Basketball League.
We’re in the third quarter when Jacob Leslie goes glass for two to give the Flames a three point lead. He would strike for 16 points.
On the next possession Danny Reynolds takes on his man for two of his 14 game points as the Flames take a five point lead.
Down court Gregg Williams is left unattended and he strikes for two of his game high 25 points as the Promise Keepers fight back and tie the ballgame at 35 points apiece.
We’re in the third quarter when Gilbert Gordon squeezes in this long three – he would contribute 11 points for M & M.
It’s a one point lead for M & M Promise Keepers when Gilbert Gordon calmly sinks these two free throws to extend the lead to three.
Jacob Leslie then gets his chance to force a tie but sinks only two of his three free throws – that seals the 71-70 win for M & M Promise Keepers.
Jason Lamb emerged MVP of the league and we say congratulations and to the league we say good show.
Turning to the cricket scene, we’re at Crooked Tree on Saturday for Game II of the Harrison Parks National Cricket Championship series where Brilliant, with a one game lead, plays host to Benny’s Wicked Eleven of Flowers Bank.
It’s a tight ballgame with Flowers Bank having batted in 171 runs in their turn at bat.
Brilliant has Jermaine Smith and Lawrence Banner at bat right now with 169 runs and one wicket to go so the pressure is on.
Here’s the bowl to the sixteen year old Jermaine Smith – he smashes it to the outfield, it goes for four runs – Brilliant wins 173 – 171 with one wicket to spare to repeat as National Cricket Champions. Young Smith emerges Man of the Match so let the celebrations begin.
Finally in news from the Guinness 9-ball Pool Tournament here in Belize City, Advance got a 10-zip win over Sunspree, River Bottom edged Tanga 6-4 and Mike’s stopped MJ’s 8 to 2.
At Belmopan, Salvapan Shatazz blanked Magnificent 7, 5-zip, Cardinal Pharmacy beat Donaldo Welders 4-1 while Special Effect Spoilers edged Las Flores 3-2.
And that’s our show for today. We certainly welcome you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
