Football Telethon raises over $100 thousand…400 more needed

Jaguars have not been combing through the dense forests, but also on the playing field. The national football selection, also known as the Jaguars, has been working extremely hard to prepare for the 2013 Gold Cup. Recently, the team played friendly matches with professional clubs in Guatemala. And following a win and a draw, the team found itself in another unfamiliar field this past weekend. The Jaguars took center stage in an all day telethon televised by this station and others. The Football Federation of Belize (F.F.B.) has been working to raise funds to help advance the team’s chances at the Gold Cup. Half a million dollars is needed and following Saturday’s telethon at the Princess Hotel and Casino, the Jaguars raised over one hundred and twelve thousand dollars. It’s far below what the national team needs, but F.F.B. President Ruperto Vicente is sure that the team won’t be defeated by a lack of cash.

Ruperto Vicente, President, F.F.B.

Ruperto Vicente

“All the hosts and shows have really come out and support us. And the effort, we wanted to raise five hundred thousand Belize dollars for our national team. We did not reach the mark today, but I am sure by the end of the month, before we go to the United States, we would have reached that mark. We are hoping for that. But I also want to say thanks to the National Team Committee and to the committee that organized this event today. So thank you very much Belize, thank you for the support and thank you for supporting our national team, thank you for supporting our boys.”

Rene Malik, P.R.O., F.F.B.

“Despite the slow start today, I’m proud to announce that we’ve raised so far for today a hundred NAD twelve thousand seventy-nine [dollars] and eighty-four cents. And of course we want to emphasize that although the telethon is ending off right now, we still have our bank account at the Belize Bank. It is in the F.F.B. National Team’s name, 680-003-011-008-330. We have the link, the credit card link on the federation’s website. We also have another credit card link that our folks in Miami have up as well. All of these will be available. You can call us. If you have a check to give us, we will make sure we find a way to get there—we will get the check from you, we’ll get the cash. We just need to keep going until we get closer to the mark.”

William Neal, Host

“And you said we had one hundred and twelve thousand right? Well bump it up to one hundred and fifteen thousand because Diana Foreman courtesy of B.E.L. announced that they are making a contribution of three thousand dollars.”

Rene Malik

Rene Malik

“Thank you so much B.E.L. for contributing to our efforts today.”

Marlon Kuylen

“I can’t forget the people in Dallas that are having a backyard barbecue and all the proceeds are coming to the national team. And they so far have raised a thousand U.S. and they are saying that meat is still on the grill. And of course Sidasheari in Maimi and they raised over eight thousand U.S. for us.”

William Neal

“So we definitely would like to thank everyone who is doing, making efforts internationally to make sure that everything…and the entire crew who worked behind the scenes from Channel Five.”