F.F.B. shows off new jerseys and jaguar teammates
‘On the Road to the Gold Cup’…is Channel Five’s focus on the national ‘A’ selection football team’s journey to the July 2013 Gold Cup to be held in the United States. The Belize Jaguars have been in camp for months now preparing to take on the United States, Cuba and Costa Rica in three games to be played in Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah and Hartford, Connecticut. The Football Federation of Belize had a press conference today at the Radisson Fort George where they formally introduced the head coach of the team and his technical staff as well as the roster of the players and the official logo of the Belize Jaguars. Also unveiled was the players’ kit with their home and away jerseys courtesy of Nike.
Marlon Kuylen, Executive Member, F.F.B.
“We have the official Belize jaguars logo and if you look behind us, it is on its banner here. So that will be on all our promotional items. Genesis arts had come up with this design and they will be selling these promotional items. 
And each item, fifteen percent of the proceeds will come to the national team. So now I’d like to introduce our head coach, Mister Ian Mork; our assistant coach, Mister Carlos Slusher; goalkeeper’s coach, Kent Gabourel. And now we are proud to come to one of the items that we have been having talks with Nike about sponsoring our national teams. Their headquarters are in Portland, Oregon, where we will be playing U.S.A. in our first match. So when we go up there, we will have a full meeting set with them, to come fully on board to sponsor all of our national teams. In the meantime—even though they have not had all the official talks and contract signing and so forth—they have been kind enough to give us the uniforms, the travel uniforms and playing uniforms that we will be using at the Gold Cup.”
Ruperto Vicente
Ruperto Vicente, President, F.F.B.
“We are not going to settle for the first round of competition. We will not only participate…this is in the past. Participation is all in the past. We will not invest and this nation will not invest its monies in young people who will only go to a tournament to participate. That is in the past gentlemen and that is in the past Belize. We are not entering tournaments to win, not just to participate. We are winners. We were never trained to win in the past, but now as we move forward in the football federation, understand that we are now on the winning quest. We are on the winning road and you must develop, all of us, must develop the winning attitude. We gotta win. We cannot settle for just participation. Other nations must now begin to consider you as serious football players and the nations must also consider Belize as a serious football nation. We have the talent and we must display it. I call on you to represent us well and to do your very best to not only beat the United States, but humiliate the United States. We must do that, but I cannot do it. You must have to do it.”
Strong words Ruperto, very strong words indeed. But, I like the attitude because whether you think you can, or think you can not. Either way you are right.
And let this one fact not escape your notice: It was by design, that the mighty USA scheduled those games to be played in population centers that have minimum Belizean or for that matter Caribbean residents. They have flexed their muscles and used everything to their advantage.
But David defeated Goliath, so can Belize humiliate the USA.
After all, our Softball Ladies did it back in the 80’s.
Shane (Moody) Orio needs to have a sit down with his Aunt Elsie, the Star pitcher of that game and get some pointers. Yes, they CAN be defeated! Soh, Less goh!!
Now dis da what i like see. This new set of football guys look so professional and really doing good for our youth and belize. I feel so proud that we youth get to see football on a whole new level. Nike supporting the team – WOW and kudos to management.
I like the new style and the NIKE COMPANY MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING, MORE LOOKING PROFESSIONAL. Bravo to the FFB committee that is really working hard with these youths trying to showcase their talents to the world, showing that we have talent too. My best wishes that they advance and win at least be 1-0 to uncle sam that would be historical for us the Belizeans. Keep up the good spirit, never give up guys, the Jewel is with you all the way to Gold Cup T. Go like David against Goliath history can be made.
This is AWESOME. This is a really nice jersey (coming from a super football fan).
Go team Belize. By the way, Bayern Munich.
This is AWESOME. This is a really nice jersey (coming from a super football fan).
Go team Belize. By the way, Bayern Munich. TREBLE
GO JAGUARS! You are already winners for getting to this point. Just continue to hold your heads up high. Kudos to Mr. Vicente and the FFB. I loved Mr. Vicente’s spiel about not settling with just particiation. I only wish that at least one of the games was held out here in California. We would have had a lot of Belizeans attending and supporting the Jaguars.
Good Luck Jaguars and I am looking forward to hear Belize’s name ring on game day.
GO JAGUARS! You are already winners for getting to this point. Just continue to hold your heads up high. Kudos to Mr. Vicente and the FFB. I loved Mr. Vicente’s spiel about not settling with just particiation. I only wish that at least one of the games were held out here in California. We would have had a lot of Belizeans attending and supporting the Jaguars.
Good Luck Jaguars and I am looking forward to hearing Belize’s name ring on game day.
Yes Mr. Vicente you are trying your best for the national football team to make sure they represent Belize in a professional way. The late Andy Palacio Backing Band known as the Garifuna Collective are preparing to embark on a 25 stop to North America Tour and then to Europe in the summer and they are not asking for donations. Why is it that any time the Belize national football team is representing Belize abroad the federation is always out of funds. Sports all over the world make billions of dollars yearly and especially footballers, the players become rich instantly and all over the world they have great stadiums because it makes money.
WHERE CAN I WATCH THE NEWS FOR THIS ?
I am responding to Charl, who asks why it is that anytime the BMNT represents the country they are always out of funds. It is not a cheap venture to sponsor a national team, because you cannot think only of the airplane fare, you also have to consider the accommodations, the support and administrative staff. FFB is not traditionally an income generating body. In fact, if you look at any jurisdiction’s football federation, they never generate funds. In Jamaica, for example, the Reggae Boyz are sponsored by Nike. You think the Jamaican government, with its debt being at 120% of GDP, can afford to support the national football programme all on its own? Don’t be naïve! It takes money to get these things done, serious money.
You have no clue as to how things are being run, yet you want to suggest that they are being run badly, simply because the administration is seeking sponsorship, and welcomes financial support from its fans, which is something that ALL national football administrations do? Please, be realistic! Even the high and mighty Brazil, Italian, English and American football administrations have to get sponsorship. I would venture to say that Vicente and his team perhaps have been TOO conservative in seeking sponsorship, but I won’t even say that, because times are hard and people are holding on to their money for things that are life preserving, and unfortunately FFB doesn’t preserve life.
I commend Vicente and FFB. I hope they do score a goal against the USMNT. Belize needs that moral and sentimental upliftment. Stop beating down on something you have no clue about, Charl.
Where can we get these jerseys? I would really like to get a couple.
I need them both home and away kit. Where can i buy them in the US. Nike.com don’t have them and can i have one shipped from Belize. See you in Portland and Salt Lake.