Bzean star to play old teammate in int?l football game

James Adderley makes a special appearance tonight to preview international football action scheduled to be held at the Norman Broadster Stadium in San Ignacio on Thursday night. And as he explains, what makes this game different is that one of our opponents has a very familiar face.

James Adderley, Reporting
Amid shifting alliances, total confrontation on the existence of two presidents currently inside the football federation of Belize, the sport continues to reinforce the fact that it does posses a life of its own. This morning we visited the Philip Goldson International Airport to witness the arrival of Puntarenas F.C. of Costa Rica currently locked in a two game CONCACAF series with Hankook Verdes of the Jewel. Already down 5-zip from the away game we got this perspective Jose Lara captain of Hankook Verdes on that particular outing.

Jose Lara, Captain, Hankook Verdes
?The thing is that it is hard because we have a lot of young players. Then the trip was hard and we really felt tired. The ? unintelligible text ? the stadium is really hard so we feel it. Actually in the first forty-five minutes we handled kind of good but in the second half it wasn?t good for us.?

James Adderley
?So you are at home now and you don?t have these logistical problems, what can you tell the Belizean public to expect from Hankook Verdes tomorrow night??

Jose Lara
?The only thing I have to say is we are going to work hard for the team and the whole country because we are representing Belize. Right now we are at home so we want to win for the whole country.?

Of course folks Puntarenas brings with it one of the two Belize balers competing on the international scene today, and in fact Shane Orio?s appearance in Belize has certain engendered major interest in Thursday night?s ballgame at the Norman Broadster Stadium. For the former B.P.F.L. goalkeeper his dream is within reach.

Shane Orio, Goalkeeper, Puntarenas
?It is a footballer?s dream to leave Belize and to play internationally. I perfectly believe that presently I am in the best country right now for football in Central America. The most talented players with the most respected team throughout Central America. It feels good to one of the Belizeans and I know that Ryan is also in Panama and we always keep in touch. So for my part it is nice to be out there playing, and especially to know that I have somebody else out there that is going through the same experience, like Ryan.?

We were even more impressed with Shane Orio when he made this statement.

Shane Orio
?This is my last year with Puntarenas. They have offered a contract, an extension but we need to sit down and talk to them. My goal is to be in Europe playing. Hopefully this year I will be able to have a good season that I had last year in Costa Rica and hopefully things will work out for me.?

About Belize?s 5-zip loss at Puntarenas last week Shane had this to say.

Shane Orio
?I?ve learnt in Costa Rica that if you plant a defensive team and you play to draw it is more likely that you are going to lose. We are at home, and it has been a year and almost six months that we haven?t lost in Puntarenas. We did what we had to do.?

James Adderley
?You coming here to you home town, obviously you are a professional, there are no mix emotions that you are feeling??

Shane Orio
?No mix emotions. I am defending the Puntarenas t-shirt from Costa Rica. No mix emotions. I have to think about me first then I can think about Belize and the people.?

Luis Diego Arnaez is the technical director for the Puntarenas team. After stating the 5-zip win at home will allow him to play defensive. He had this to say about Shane Orio.

Luis Diego Arnaez, Technical Director, Puntarenas
?Shane was a great surprise to football in Costa Rica, not only to our team but also on international level. I have commended on how well he has played in his stay in Costa Rica. Overall he acts like a professional even though he is not playing for big team he takes it very seriously. On the international level as well as in Costa Rica he has gained a lot of respect and has earned a name for himself.?

And so folks the stage is set for Thursday seven thirty p.m. inside the Norman Broadster Stadium, San Ignacio. I?m very proud of Shane Orio, but come tomorrow win or loose or draw … Hankook Verdes has my vote.

This is James Adderley reporting for News Five.