National Football Team beats Club Heredia in Melchor de Mencos

Belize’s National Team Jaguars is training hard for its upcoming matches at the Gold Cup scheduled for July seventh in the US. It’s been a long, hard road for Team Belize which has endured serious challenges in coaching and funding. But the goal is set and as part of the Jaguars’ training the Football Federation of Belize has been seeking out friendly matches. In fact, the team has just returned from a successful match against the First Division Club Heredia in Melchor de Mencos, which they won two-nil. And on June eleventh they travel to Antigua, Guatemala to face off against the Guatemalan National Selection. Mike Rudon has the latest story on Team Jaguars.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

Vice President of the Football Federation of Belize Rawell Pelayo is the man in charge of Belize’s National Selection as it prepares for the Gold Cup in the US in July by playing a practice match against Guatemala’s National Selection on June eleventh.

Rawell Pelayo, Vice President, F.F.B.

Rawell Pelayo

“The Federation itself had made some preparations since we were looking for teams to have practice matches with. So they informed us that the national selection of Guatemala had chosen to play a friendly match with us in Antigua. We jumped on the idea immediately because as preparing for the Gold Cup, the national team needs as much training as possible. So we will be leaving on the ninth to give them a good day rest on the tenth and play the game on the eleventh in Guatemala.”

And while there were hiccups along the way, Pelayo says that training is well underway and he is confident that the team will be ready.

Rawell Pelayo

“We began with the concentration for three days and that has never been stopped since January. Whenever we have these matches, any matches coming up any week, we train three days. But now we’ll have a full camp on June. We start the complete week. We have several matches on line and as you can see we just played Guatemala in Melchor De Mencos Heredia which we defeated two goals to nil and I am happy to say that I am satisfied with the way the team is going. We have a basic eleven, and we have a basic bench and this what is important that you need to put together just before you go on to the big match to the United States.”

Marlon Kuylen

Even with training proceeding as scheduled, there is still the very critical matter of funding, which has been and continues to be a major hurdle for the team. But in the midst of a financial crisis for the F.F.B., there was a small ray of sunshine today.

Marlon Kuylen, Executive Member, F.F.B.

“Yes, we sent him a letter last week and I was presently surprised when he personally called me yesterday inviting us to come to his office today. And so three of the executives went over to his office this afternoon, and we spoke about our challenges, what we have done so far; our upcoming plans. And before we left from there, he gave us a promise that tomorrow morning, we’ll get a check of fifty thousand dollars towards our project.”

The pledge by government is significant, but is still just a small drop in the bucket and the F.F.B. is hard at work fundraising. And that’s where Belizeans at home and abroad come in.

Marlon Kuylen

“We have been planning for the past few weeks to host a telethon because yes it is costing us about five thousand dollars a week to have the team in camp. So June fifteenth we will have the telethon at MCC Tennis Court and princess Hotel. We are appealing to all Belizeans at home and abroad because we’ll have a center set up in New York, L.A., Chicago and Florida and of course our Belizeans at home to come and support us because we really need the funds.”

Rawell Pelayo

“I’m happy to report to the nation and to everyone that the players are high-spirited, they are ready to give their hearts to it. They understand, they see the support we are getting from the other corporate businesses that are coming in with us; they are seeing the support we are getting from all the Belizean folks at home and abroad. So these guys are really pumped up right now and I think we are set to do a good job against the United States.”

The team leaves Belize on the ninth and plans to stay on after the game to allow for additional practice in Antigua. Mike Rudon for News Five.