The Sporting Highlights with James Adderley.

James Adderley

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.

After a tremendous performance at the 12^th Copa Centro Americana at Costa Rica that saw the National Football Team of Belize in 4^th place among the 7 countries of the region, Belize looked to build on that momentum by hosting the Soca Warriors of Trinidad & Tobago in an international friendly staged at the FFB Stadium inside Capital City, Belmopan Saturday night.

Stacked with at least 6 foreign based players and with the memory of that scoreless ballgame against the Jaguars in 2010, the visitors try to get Kenwyne Jones going. Jones strikes for Swansea in the English Premier League and on this individual press is contained by Dalton Eiley, Captain of the host team in the early going. The Soca Warriors then try to open the scoreboard off this set piece triggered by Christopher Birchall who bends this ball to Daniel Cyrus. Cyrus’ vicious header brings out a spectacular save from Woodrow West who punches it out and the defensive header by Dalton Eiley gives Cornell Glen a shot at goal that misses the target. It’s more offense from Trinidad when Joevin Jones centers off the left side forcing goalkeeper west to intervene. The 1st legitimate attempt at goal by the homeboys comes off this set piece outside the 18th, triggered by international goal-getter, Deon McCauley. But it has not the power to rattle Cleon John in the visitor goal. McCauley then turns provider for Danny Jimenez who brilliantly moves his man out the way only to miss the target. Nevertheless, the Belize offense continues to gather momentum as Deon McCauley gets this blocked ball across the face of goal to Trevor Lennon whose left foot launch rises over the crossbar.

So we go to 2nd half and a couple minutes in, Deon McCauley fires this long range attempt at goal, but this shot was never going to get past Cleon John from that distance. In the meantime, this nice pass from Harrison “Kafu” Roches almost frees up Deon McCauley but the impressive recovery by Carlyte Mitchell shuts down that move. Now here’s a coach’s nightmare, Ian Gaynair simply gifts this ball to Cornell Glen and is fortunately rescued by an alert Woodrow West. At the other end this is a nice build up by the Belize offense, McCauley to Roches who sets table for Evral Trapp who doesn’t deliver the power needed to make it count. Meanwhile folks, it was a competitive, but clean ballgame until this incident between Devon Jorsling of Trinidad and Tyrone Pandy almost explodes into fisticuffs, but referee Irnfan Basdemir handles the situation expeditiously and correctly by chasing both off the field of play.

Trinidad almost score this ball when Dalton Eiley gives this ball to Densil Theobald who finds Keon Daniel and his left foot launch forces goalkeeper West to conceded a corner kick. The corner kick is launched by Marcus Joseph and it creates the perfect opportunity for Trinidad to steal the win until Erval Trapp boots it out of danger amid the confusion on defense. For the second time in 2½ years, Trinidad and Tobago are held to a scoreless stalemate by a Belize Team rated over 60 points below them. For sure our national team has come a long way, especially defensively, but we certainly have a long way still to go.

Turning to the cycling scene, the 14th annual junior cross country classic took to the George Price Highway yesterday as 19 hopefuls suited up for the 70 mile ride that would finish at Leslie’s Imports just outside Belize City. Oscar Quiroz Junior comes in as defending champion in his last outing as a junior rider. And we are off in search of the best from the representatives of the future in Belizean cycling. The 1st big move of the race is made by Delon Gentle of BECOL Uprising who should have recognized from his team appearance in the 1st of our 2013 edition of race for the garland. When Delon Gentle rolls down Cement Hill and heads across the Hawkesworth Bridge in uncontested fashion, he has already won all 7 station prizes in the first 10 miles of the ride. The chase behind him comes from Zamir Guerra of Cayo High Road and his teammate Michael Wagner. Of course, the main bunch is just some 25 seconds off the pace.

At Red Creek Bridge, Gentle is caught by Guerra and Wagner to make it a 3 man lead. However, the BECOL rider takes a final premie at Cessa Cement office to push his total to 11. We pick up the action at Belmopan cutoff and its Tarique Flowers riding unattached who grabs that station prize with a new 3 man lead that includes Zamir Guerra and Michael Wagner. Flowers would give way to Zamir Guerra at La Democracia, Michael Wagner would step up at Rockville and Guerra at Hattieville and Wagner at mile 8 as this trio would run all the way to the finish line. The trio continues to work well in the on the road alliance to prevent the chase pack from making inroads into the lead.

Now here’s the sprint for the 2013 title. On the outside is ZAmir Guerra and he easily beats his challengers to grab the win in 3hrs 34mins 38secs. Michael Wagner of BECOL Uprising holds off Tarique Flowers for 2nd place as this trio beats the field by some 12½ minutes and we say congratulations. Joslyn Chavarria Junior, another BECOL rider, wins the 3 man sprint for 4th place while Giovanni Lovell of Telemedia is forced in 5th place and the defending champion; Oscar Quiroz Junior has to settle for 6th in his final appearance as a junior rider. Good show guys. We now look forward to the 85th running of the Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic which gets underway at 6 a.m. on Holy Saturday.

Finally folks, the battle of the sexes raged again on the George prize Highway as the University of Belize presented the 36th annual pelathon yesterday and we find the females who started at Belmopan Market Square and ended at the outskirts of Belize City, there’s not a man in sight. When the race passes the Civic Center on the Boulevard, female power is in full force as they follow the baton to its final destination. Upon entering the ITVET compound on Freetown Road, there’s no doubt that the females have won the 36th edition rather convincingly narrowing the overall margin to 18-15 which remains in favor of the males. Ladies we send you our heartfelt congratulations. Speaking of the makes, well guys you’re simply 15 minutes late so I’ll just have to wish you better luck in 2014.

Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.