New Site Erei are kings of Belizean football
Tonight Belizeans are reeling from a series of murders and shootings that have left a trail of bloody violence across the old capital. And while our coverage tonight will include a full report on those senseless killings, we will begin our newscast on a different note: a story of celebration from the cultural capital, Dangriga, where one of its teams conquered a long-running curse to be crowned the football champions of Belize. Sports Monday comes front and centre as James Adderley has the story that has given “Griga” all the bragging rights it could ever hope for.
James Adderley
Good evening, I?m James Adderley and you?ve just joined the show we call Sports Monday. Yesterday thousands flocked to the Carl Ramos Stadium inside Dangriga where the Regent?s Cup Tournament unveiled its final showdown as Dangriga?s New Site Erei by way of the B.P.F.L.?s B League, hosted big bad BOCA, formerly of the F.F.B.?s A League, for all the semi-pro marbles inside Belize.
It?s a battle of the south, and quite fittingly the traditional drums herald the tiding of big things to come and boy we were not disappointed. But before we get into the mix, have a slight taste of this cultural rendition of the national anthem. After some quarter century of searching, Belizeans are surely finding their true identity.
Nevertheless, last week?s game one settled into a scoreless stalemate, which means the winner today takes the all. Wilmer Garcia understands this, so he flies at this nice drop inside the eighteen and comes up with nothing but air.
At the other end, this individual effort from Harrison ?Kafu? Roches proves to be a stunner because as his right foot screams pass the goal mouth, the right defence from BOCA unwittingly smacks the pill into the net and Griga leads 1-zip some ten minutes in.
Folks we?re some twenty-one minutes into the ballgame when BOCA F.C. gets to display its ability on set pieces. The two decoys break up the Griga wall, Marlon Barnica heals to Wilmer Garcia, the left foot smashes its way into the back of the goal and we have a 1-1 tie.
New Site jumps right back into the action and tries to steal the lead on this press, but Dion Frazier?s volley bounces off the V.
At the other end, Julio Valle?s header finds the near upright and that is a good look he gets right here people.
Isaias Reyes then finds Wilmer Garcia, who launches this beautiful left foot that forces West to come up with this best. At intermission we?ve got a 1-1 ballgame.
In second half, Julio Valle gets busy on this penetration into the New Site defence, but he fails to control the situation.
Jose Lemus has punch with the right foot and it would have benefited BOCA had it stayed down.
New Site counters with this wicked right foot splice from Lloyd Nunez, but the ball inches pass the wrong side of the lumber.
Norman ?Tilliman? Nunez then raises this launch over the wall, but he also raises it over the crossbar.
In the meantime, this shot is almost criminal as Lennox Castillo misses the target.
The two-man game almost works to perfection for BOCA on this move, but West passes the test.
Still, after regulation play it?s a 1-1 tie so we head to overtime.
We?re under lights in Dangriga when ?Kafu? Roches fires this outside bomb with bad intention, but it?s not to be.
Ryan Simpson gets half a chance to score the game winner for Griga right here, but gets let down by a bad first touch.
This after two hours of football play inside the Carl Ramos Stadium we still have a 1-1 tie, so we must go to penalty kicks for the final decision. We missed the first conversion by Griga and we must apologise for that, but we can tell you that Woodrow West in goal for Dangriga makes supplication to the most high as he prepares his defence.
BOCA starts the shootout with Marlon Barnica, but it?s West?s prayer that gets answered with this big time save.
Aaron Nolberto finds the far corner successfully for New Site. Walter Jimenez gives BOCA its first penalty conversion. Harrison Roches makes it a 3-1 lead. Wilmer Garcia gets his conversion. Elroy Smith makes it 3-2 with this power punch. Mervin Alvarado keeps BOCA in the hunt with this very, very strange conversion. Give it up for Lennox Castillo, who gets on to the scoreboard with his penalty kick, while Julio Valle is simply masterful as he humbles West to keep BOCA alive.
Now hold everything! Norman ?Tilliman? Nunez is now the man of the moment. It is his team and it is his championship; it is his opportunity to win it right here. The ball tangles into the far corner and a drought of some twenty-eight years for Dangriga football is washed away by the 5-4 win on penalty kicks.
We got to say heartfelt congratulations to the might New Site Erei. We also got to tell you that Norman ?Tilliman? Nunez has won six semi-pro titles: three with Juventus, tow with Kulture Yabra, and this one in 2006. Like we say, when you?re big you?re large and when you can make your fellow players better, that?s the best you can do.
In the ensuing pandemonium after the big W for Griga, our colleague Kwame Scott was able to grab a few interviews.
Norman ?Tilliman? Nunez, New Site Erei, 2006 B.P.F.L. Champs
?It certainly feels good you know. I see how the people feel, it?s been a long people want a championship in Dangriga, I think I know how they feel and I feel the same way right now too.?
Woodrow West, New Site Erei, 2006 B.P.F.L. Champs
?This victory means everything to me. This is my first year and nothing is sweeter than this, to be home and with a championship for the first time. And I want to say that this championship is not for only me, it?s for my father because he didn?t win a victory in his football career and I get this one is for him.?
In other sporting news, the National Primary School Basketball Championship concluded on Saturday inside the City Centre here in Belize City. Stann Creek took the female title in a 24-21 score over Cayo, despite the mighty performance from Zanely Morales who emerged with the MVP honours; we got to send congratulations to you.
Meanwhile, Ijahman Young led Belize to a 43-21 blow out over Corozal to take the male title, and we say big respect to the Belize City team.
Finally folks, in cycling news, we do want to tell you that the M and M nine-days stage your gets off February the fourth and extends to February the twelfth. You won?t want to miss it.
That?s it for now though. Jah over all, I?m James Adderley.
