Belize vs. Trinidad for football goal!

The Belize Jaguars are preparing for play against the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in anticipation of the Gold Cup in which Belize will be going up against the United States, Cuba and Costa Rica. Members of the visiting team began arriving today for the match which takes place this Saturday. But instead of the Football Federation’s Stadium in Belmopan, the game has been moved to the MCC Grounds because the stadium will be used for Band Fest. F.F.B. President, Ruperto Vicente explains why he is allowing what he previously criticized. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The newfound celebrity of the Belize National Football Team, its members still basking in the glory of their performance in the recently held UNCAF competition in Costa Rica, has seen them getting a lot of face time in the media.  Today, they have assembled at the F.F.B. Stadium, once again posing for the cameras.  This photo op however, does not precede a major announcement, instead it is for a promotion being held by a corporate sponsor.  The boys have gotten big overnight.

Tyrone Pandy

Tyrone Pandy, Defender, Belize National A Team

“Coming back from Costa Rica the vibe has been very different, I mean we have a lot of fans, more people notice you on the streets, I mean, you know.  So it has impacted my life a lot.”

To maintain their status they will need to triumph over their adversaries on Saturday when they are scheduled to meet the Soca Warriors of Trinidad & Tobago at the MCC Grounds.  The match is being billed as an international friendly, nonetheless, it is a game of show and prove for Team Belize.

Charlie Slusher

Charlie Slusher, Interim Coach, Belize National A Team

“This is the first outing or the first official training from after the Central American tournament so this is the first time the team is back together and for this game, and going into the Gold Cup, it’s not about starting over from scratch.”

Rightly so, representing the Jewel is the same lineup of players that has brought recognition to the red, white and blue.  Among them is goleador extraordinaire Woodrow ‘The President’ West.

Woodrow West

Woodrow West, Goalkeeper, Belize National A Team

“It really gives us a whole other mindset on playing for our country once more, you know, and we just need to continue work and with hard work then we could move on harder from now, you know.  So it just feels good, you know, and the game [on] Saturday to play [at] home is like a better chance for the fans to see us, you know, and I guess all the players know that so we’re contented at this point to work and aim for higher grounds, you know.”

Aiming for higher grounds is ambitious but it will not come without its share of controversy.  Instead of playing the home game here at the F.F.B. Stadium in Belmopan, it will be held at the MCC Grounds in Belize City.  The management of the Football Federation of Belize has allowed access for the use of its pitch as the stage for a marching band competition on that day.

Ruperto Vicente

Ruperto Vicente, President, Football Federation of Belize

“Before we discussed the international match with Trinidad we had engaged the stadium to the organizers of the Band Fest.  In fact, it was the city council for Belmopan that approached us on this venture, you know, and looking at the activities, you know, we realized that it’s an activity that we can accommodate because it will not damage anything on the surface of the pitch.”

While that is the current position of the federation, it seems as though they have wavered on their fundamental principle that non-football activities should not take place on the playing field.  The F.F.B. Stadium, in comparison to other facilities across the country, should be the mecca of international football in Belize.  Demographics, according to F.F.B. President Ruperto Vicente, ultimately influenced that decision.

Ruperto Vicente

“When we got the game with Trinidad, you know, it was then that we decided that the best venue for this game would have been Belize City because it is not a Central American team.  Had we played a Central American team then we would definitely want to play the game here at the F.F.B. Stadium because most of the Central American spectators are in this area.”

Belize has hosted the Soca Warriors in the past when the national selection drew at nil with them at the end of a friendly match two years ago.  Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.