Light failure kills football play-offs in Cayo
Good evening. I?m James Adderley, and certainly we?re glad you could join us for this dish of Sports Monday. With Wagiya of Dangriga already into the Regent Cup finals, Hankook Verdes hosted F.C. Belize inside the Norman Broaster Stadium yesterday for game two of this semi-final home and away series.
In today?s ballgame somebody has got to win and somebody has got to loose after last weeks scoreless draw at the M.C.C. Grounds … and you know the winner moves on.
The first real push of the outing comes from F.C. Belize when Deon Flowers tries to play the give and go with Deon McCauly in a play that doesn?t quite work out.
The home team responds off this corner kick that Anthony Gonzalez tries to put away.
The green machine presses again when Orlando Jimenez duels to Mr. Marlon Mesa whose header is solved by Mr. Charlie Slusher, who seems to be in form today.
Verdes continues to grow in confidence as Orlando Jimenez launches this crucial half volley that forces Charlie Slusher to make the adjustment in the air, and guess what he does.
At the other end, Vallan Syms finds Jeromy Jones off this spotkick but the header inches over the crossbar.
Jose Lara then tries to give his team the lead off this thunderous spotkick but it?s right at Charlie Slusher. Verdes continues to dominate now as Marlon Mesa works his way for a one on one appearance against Charlie Slusher … and the veteran goalkeeper shines like the star he is.
Now here?s a twist to this already intense confrontation, referee Williams concludes that Jeromy Jones, who already has a yellow card, is guilty of delaying the ballgame. That gets him another which reduces the visitor?s rooster to ten men.
Nevertheless, the home team takes advantage of the numerical imbalance when Shamir Pacheco launches this long range missile, which forces Charlie Slusher in to an acrobatic save.
Just before intermission Earl Peters deals to Everal Torres and his power crunch beats Charlie Slusher, but the crossbar intervenes.
And then Shamir Pacheco fires this long range missile that sees Charlie Slusher make a shoulder save that he knows little about.
In second half Verdes further consolidated its role as protagonist. Earl Peter sets table for Anthony Gonzalez who tests Charlie Slusher with a potent right foot, but like we said Slusher is on top of things.
In the meantime, we?re late in the second half when it becomes obvious that lighting problems at the venue has cropped up.
There?s a rather extended discussion among the parties involved and an attempt is made to fix the electrical problem, which we must say should have been readied but the Sports Council, but that fizzles out.
The pitch is then abandoned and the match is officially called off with sixteen minutes remaining. But at press time this morning we couldn?t get any word for the B.P.F.L. concerning this matter. We understand that they will be having a meting later and the official word will be coming out at that time, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, here is the different takes from both sides as a result of this particular altercation.
Norman ?Tilliman? Pipersburgh, F.C. Belize
?From the ballgame started we had problems with the officials. I think we had the ball in position and they gave one of our men a red card which took us out of the ballgame completely. We had to fight and fight and keep the game alive. In all that we still kept our composure and kept the game to a nil-nil ballgame.?
James Adderley
?Looking at this abrupt ending could you give the fans an idea of how your team sees how this ending came about??
Norman ?Tilliman? Pipersburgh
?Well certainly my team looks good and feels good about what is going on. We have been holding up with ten men, so for something like this to happen is a relief. If the games would start over I think it would be in our favour to see how we played the ballgame today with ten men. I think if the game would play over I think it would be in our favour.?
Jose Lara, Hankook Verdes
?It is very disappointing for us because this is our home. We expect to have everything like the light and everything. We didn?t know that the light was not working, because this whole week be were done by four o?clock.?
James Adderley
?Who is responsible for this particular problem??
Jose Lara
?I think it?s the commissioner for the game. I don?t know his name, but he is in charge of this place here so he suppose to know that from the beginning of this week.?
James Adderley
?So how does Verdes recover from this particular incident? You had F.C. Belize to take out and it didn?t happen so what is your plan for game three if it comes up??
Jose Lara
?Right now we have to wait for the decision of the league this week and then the only thing we have to do is work hard, because there is nothing else to do.?
Meanwhile in the other play-off match Saturday night, Wagiya of Dangriga crushed Belmopan Bandits 5-2 to arrive at the finals as we mentioned earlier on.
Turning to the basketball scene, the elite over thirty-five competition at Big Birds Isle continues to roll. Regular season reached its natural conclusion Saturday night with Fayah Haat Carnation mashing the Bulls 48 to 41, and Early Risers Wheels rolled over Kulture Builders 67 to 56.
As a result the play-off finds undefeated Albert Hawks at the number one seed, the Bulls are second, Early Risers third and Kulture Builders makes it as the number four seed.
The play-offs get off Wednesday night with Bulls facing Wheels and Albert Hawks will open against Kulture Builders. And if you are in the area it is quite an entertaining outing for you and the kids.
Hey folks, that?s our show for tonight. We certainly invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah, over all I?m James Adderley.
