Baby jaguars given a hero’s welcome

The Under-Fifteen Football team returned to the jewel this afternoon to a warm welcome that climaxed with a motorcade through principal streets. The team performed remarkably well winning three of four games but Honduras went on to win the tournament. While the baby jaguars did not bring home the medals, they were honored for strong sportsmanship and invited to stay on for the closing of the games in Grand Cayman. The young athletes say they were thoroughly motivated by the experience. Duane Moody has that story.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The Belize National U-fifteen football team arrived at the P.G.I.A. just after one today. And as was anticipated, the young athletes were met by the media as well as family members and fans. The team was then taken on a motorcade that took them from Brodies on the Philip Goldson Highway to the Radisson Fort George for a press conference.

Ruperto Vicente

Ruperto Vicente, President, F.F.B.

“It’s the first of its kind. It’s the first time we are sending out a U-fifteen team and they have done extremely well. So we are proud of them. The federation is now focusing on youth development. We are going to be spending most of our time, energy and monies on youth develop from the federation.”

The players were ecstatic and elated about the hero’s welcome they received. They spoke of their first ever experience at the CONCACAF U-fifteen Championships in the Grand Cayman Island.

Randy Augustine

Randy Augustine, Striker, U-15 National Team

“The second game against Jamaica. I played and got three goals and I got the man of the match. I’m very proud and happy; most of all I couldn’t do it without the help of my teammates. They encouraged me to do it and I did everything for the country.”

Alexander Cadle, Goalkeeper, U-15 National Team

Alexander Cadle

“It’s a good feeling that the whole country was proud of us and that helped us win.  I want to give you guys thanks for all the support that you gave us and for sending us all the messages telling us that we did good and to wish us luck.”

The baby Jaguars as they are referred to played four games; they won three and lost one—scoring a total of ten goals and taking three. The team was recruited in one day and according to Assistant Coach for the team, Alex Noralez, the team only had six weeks to prepare for the tournament.

Alex Noralez

Alex Noralez, Assistant Coach, U-15 National Team

“Our philosophy is we play and we do not allow the other teams to play. We suffocate them in their field and I think a lot of people loved that about us. We did not throw ourselves back.  As far as your question with how the reception was, and even with CONCACAF, hats off all the time; kudos to us and the coaching staff and to the federation. And they wanted to know what we are doing. They asked us how long did we have these guys. And when we told them it was only six weeks, they did not believe it. So that is what we did in six weeks so imagine what we can do if we had more time.  We realized that we cannot try to be like our Central American brothers that have all the technical skills, but we understood that we are fast. And trust me, when we say that mark Samuels is fast and Randy Serano is fast, they are fast. So we used that to our advantage and not only that; all of the boys are clicking. So they knew when we get the ball, through the mid or through the wings. They know exactly who to give it to and the guys were running. So that was our strength.”

Duane Moody for News Five.

The UNCAF U-sixteen Central American championships is planned to be held in Belize from November sixteenth to the twenty-fourth. And according to the F.F.B., Belize is planning to get even.