Good evening, sports fans, and welcome to another exciting edition of Sports Monday. I’m Paul Lopez, bringing you the latest action from courts, fields, and stadiums across the country. We’re tipping things off out west in San Ignacio, where the weekend’s spotlight was on the Belize Elite Basketball League. The Cayo Western Ballers were back on their home court, hosting the Belize City Thunderbolts, just days after handing them a tough loss at the Civic Center. Could the Thunderbolts bounce back, or would the Ballers keep the momentum rolling? Let’s dive into the highlights.
Four minutes in, the Thunderbolts have a nine-point lead, fourteen to five, as Flowers finds Jamie Carbajal who powered his way in for the layup. Check this play out shortly after, ball to Dennis Flowers the third. He sees Jaheim Ciego. A two versus one situation and Ciego dunks off the alley hoop. The first quarter ended with the Thunderbolts on top, twenty-nine to twenty-one points. Second quarter action, Victor “Vito” Evans, drives, spins, jumps and makes the shot. What a beauty. Thunderbolts up by eleven. Darnell Oden on the other end, immediately after, sizing up Charles Garcia and makes the jump shot to cut down the lead.
Let’s fast-forward to the last few minutes in the third quarter. All through the quarter, the Thunderbolts were able to maintain a lead, going up by eight points in a few instances. Here they’re only up by two points after a three from Ciego. Evans drives and dishes off to a wide open Clency “Cope” Lopez at the three point-line. Lead extends to five points. On the other end, Alrik Nicolas scores a three-pointer to bring the lead back to two. Nicolas again, off the assist from Ciego, this time to take the lead. But that quarter still ended with Thunderbolts up by two points, sixty-seven to sixty-five. The fourth quarter was where the Thunderbolts truly turned up the heat. With this clutch shot from Mathew Young, they stretched their lead to seventeen points. The Cayo Western Ballers weren’t going down without a fight, though, they clawed their way back to within four points with just twenty-three seconds left on the clock. But in the end, it was the Thunderbolts who sealed the deal, taking the win 87 to 81.
Now, from the hardwood in San Ignacio to the volleyball court in El Salvador, Belize’s National Senior Men’s Volleyball Team had a busy weekend at the Men’s Final Four Championship. They kicked things off strong with a 3–1 victory over the host team, El Salvador. Saturday brought a nail-biter against Guatemala that went the full five sets, but Belize came up just short. Still, they bounced back on Sunday with a win over Nicaragua to bring home the silver medal. Big congratulations to Team Belize!
And volleyball fans, the action isn’t over yet. This weekend, all eyes turn to the Belize City Civic Center as Belize gets ready to host the Under-23 Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship. We caught up with Belize Volleyball Association President Allan Sharp to hear what fans can expect from this highly anticipated event.
Allan Sharp
Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association
“Last year our girls pulled gold. It is the first time ever for Belize to pull gold and that is the U-21. For the most part it is the same girls. But we have been able to strengthen a little bit, because it is the U-23, one year later. So we have added some big guns to the team. The girls in the U.S. have returned. Five teams will be here, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize. It starts Sunday. There are two matches per day.”
Team Belize is set to play on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Game time is at seven thirty p.m. each day.
Now, shifting gears from volleyball to cycling, three young Belizean athletes made waves in the U.S. over the weekend at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. Devyn Major, Keith Enwright, and Ahmaad Cherrington took on the Category Four race, and they didn’t just show up, they showed out! Major sprinted to a first-place finish, Enwright followed right behind in second, and Cherrington rounded out the top ten in seventh. Big congratulations to these rising stars repping the Jewel with pride.
And finally, we head back home to the pitch for the William Dawson Peace Cup, where the mission is unity through sports. Saturday’s showdown between Graveyard FC and Survivors FC was a thriller. Three goals lit up the first half, with Survivors taking a slim lead. Graveyard pushed hard in the second half, but it was Survivors’ Tyrique Ciego who sealed the deal with a late goal, his second of the match, giving his team the win. Well Folks, that is all we have for you in this week’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Goodnight and welcome to this week’s installment of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. We kick things off tonight with a look back at the Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament Championship Match. Or should we say championship rematch? For some time, Belize United dominated the league, earning numerous championship titles. But that changed recently, after Berger United stepped onto the stage. They one the last tittle and this time around they were defending the defending champions facing off against Belize United.
Just five minutes into the first period, Berger United found themselves in hot water after a costly handball by Lionel Soberanis inside the penalty box. The ref didn’t hesitate, whistle blown, yellow card out, and Soberanis was sidelined. That opened the door for Belize United’s Shae Gordon, who stepped up to the spot and calmly buried the penalty, putting his team on the scoreboard early. Talk about setting the tone! But at the eleventh minute Soberanis atoned for his early error, with a timed kick off a high-flying ball. That one goes into the goal and ties the game.
Both teams were tied at one goal apiece going into the third and final twelve minutes period. But only three minutes in, Errol Peters for Berger United launched a rocket towards goal from just outside the penalty box. The ball rolled directly past the goalkeeper and into the net. Berger United erupted in celebration. Here is the goal of the match. A goal kick across the field to Zadlen Jones. And just like that, Jones delivers a moment of magic. He slips past one defender, and just as a second one closes in, he lets it rip. The ball sails high, right over the keeper’s head and into the net. That makes it three to one with only five minutes left on the clock. What a strike, and what a statement as this match nears its final whistle. Three minutes later, Belize United found some life off this sideline throw in. Kayden Castillo got that goal. Well folks that is how this one ended. Berger United successfully defended their title. They are the 2025 Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament Champions.
Let’s take a quick trip to Switzerland, where Belize just made basketball history once again. Our Over-55 Men’s National Team went head-to-head with Brazil in the gold medal match at the 17th World Maxi Basketball Championships. And guess what? Belize came out on top, eighty to seventy, clinching yet another gold on the international stage. A huge win and a proud moment for Belizean basketball.
Now, back home, week seven of the Belize Premier Basketball League is heating up. Friday night saw the undefeated San Pedro Tiger Sharks take on the EZ Investments Dangriga Dream Ballers at the Belize City Civic Center. Let’s dive into the highlights from that showdown. Jihad Wright exploded in this one for the Tigersharks, finishing with eighteen points and six rebounds from twenty-nine minutes of playtime. But he was not the only Tigersharks player to end the night with double digits. Keon Rowland finished with sixteen points, just ahead of Malik Hunt who had fourteen points at the end of the match and the balling junior minister, Devin Daly with twelve points. And Brian White may not be putting up big points, but he is efficient with the rebounds and the stats do not lie. White ended the night with fourteen rebounds.
Friday night brought a bit of drama before tip-off for the Dangriga Dream Ballers and not the kind you’d expect on the court. Kirk ‘Shabba’ Smith Jr. made his much-anticipated debut, but things got off to a confusing start when both teams showed up wearing the same color jerseys. That’s right, same colors, same court, total mix-up! The Dream Ballers had to improvise fast, throwing on red jerseys over their uniforms. But here’s the kicker, Smith didn’t get his red jersey until late in the first half. Talk about a debut with a twist. The Dream Ballers down double digits at this point and they were unable to work their way back. Despite the late start, Smith entered the game off the bench and finished with eighteen points and nine rebounds. It shows that Smith could have made a bigger difference to this one, had he entered the game at the start. Daniel Conorquie finished with fourteen points, though he was not his usual self from the three-point line, scoring only one of four attempts. MVP candidate, Deshawn Brackett may see another fall in his MVP ranking after finishing with eleven points and three rebounds.
Ultimately, the San Pedro Tigersharks came out of this one with the big W, defeating the EZ Investments Dream Ballers, ninety to eighty-two points. The Sanpedro Tigersharks now holds on two eight wins to zero loss record. They are the only undefeated team in the league and the favorites to make it to the Jaguar Cup in their division.
Also, the Cayo Western Ballers overcame the Belize City Thunderbolts in Belize City on Friday night, eighty-seven to eighty-two points, while the Corozal Cerros Suns blew the Punta Gorda Panthers away inside the Andres Campus Civic Center. That match ended with seventy-two to forty-nine points. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Goodnight, welcome to this evening’s installment of Sports Monday. I am Paul Lopez, bringing you the latest from across the country. Tonight, we begin with the race for the National Road Champion. This is the Male Elite category at their starting point in Roaring Creek Village, as they geared up for a seventy-mile race west through the hills of San Antonio Village then back to Roaring Creek. Under twenty-three and some master riders rode the same distance.
Among the riders are names like brothers Cory and Justin Williams, and Jyven Gonzalez. Erick Trapp, Derrick Chavarria and the likes. Leaving Teakettle Village, heading west, Cory Williams leads a small chase group going after lead the rider in the lead, Justin Williams. The main peloton behind them is on the chase as well. Going into San Ignacio, one lead rider, young Jaylen Briceno was holding a forty-second gap between the main field of riders. Heading into the western hills through the Caracol Road on the way to San Antonio Village, the group is mostly intact. But it quickly became a race of endurance as the hills began telling on the riders’ legs. 1:33:26 These three riders going at a pace of seven miles an hour up this difficult incline. Exiting back onto the George Price Highway in Santa Elena two riders in the lead, Cory Williams and Derrick Chavarria, with another pair, Jyven Gonzalez and Jalen Briceno.
Going into Teakettle Village, the race is down to three riders playing cat and mouse and testing legs. Jaylen Briceno was dropped. A mile from the finish line, Chavarria launched an attack. Williams gets out of the saddle and Gonzalez does the same. The pace picked up to thirty miles an hour. Chavarria, Cory Williams punched the turbo button, and Gonzalez did not hesitate to respond. It was an all-out sprint to the finish line, with Williams ultimately defending his title for back-to-back championships. Back on the bike for the Road Championship is the Women’s category, Kaya Cattouse and her return was spectacular. She secured the title, reminding everyone that she still has what it takes.
Kaya Cattouse, Winner, National Road Championship
“The race really was reminder why I step back for the most part since the start of the year. This is the first federation race I ride since January and the fact that I think I want to give the upcoming cyclists some room to grow, because lining up automatic the race dah what fight for second place because when you come out there and working hard is only right you execute. I think slowly I will start to make my exit because the competition is no longer there and I would like to help the upcoming cyclist; pass on the knowledge I have gained.”
So, Cattouse’s exit, at least from local races in this category, is imminent, unless something changes with the number of elite women riders training and competition. From cycling action, we take you to the Capital City for the revenge match of the season. The Capital City Kings took on Cayo Western Ballaz. Here are some highlights from the overtime thriller.
Western Ballaz led by as many as seven at the end of the first quarter, with twenty-one points to their opponent’s fourteen and they were able to maintain that lead throughout the entire first half. We are going to fast-forward to the final quarter. The tides had turned for the Kings and they were in the lead by eight points entering the fourth and final quarter. Here we are in the last four minutes of this one, down by one-point, Western Ballaz Jahiem Ciego goes to the free-throw after being fouled in the act of shooting. He makes both free throws and the Ballaz take the lead by one point, eighty to seventy-nine points ballgame.
Jahiem Ciego slipped under the rim but Darnell Oden there to clean up and further extend the lead. Oden again big on the inside, a five-point lead for the Ballaz with three and a half on the clock. Clutch three from Jayden Lopez to tie the game at eighty-four. One minute left on the clock, it’s an eighty-eight to eighty-seven ball game, Ballers down. Alrik Nicholas finds the opening and drives to the rim and gets the clutch bucket. Ballers up by one. Kings in position. John Kelly tried to go up over Nicholas and draw the foul. A chance to tie the game or take the lead with forty-six seconds on the clock. Kelly catches the first and misses the second, sending it into overtime at eight-nine points apiece.
The Kings scored twelve points in overtime, while holding the Ballers to nine. It was a successful revenge match for the Kings, winning the game with one hundred and one points. Ballers finished with ninety-eight.
And finally, this Saturday saw heavy rainfall over Belize City, but that did not stop the Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament and its eager young participants to hit the football pitch. In one of the matches, Blazing Strikers took on Tut Bay United and brought them down one goal to nothing. Jahlee Goff scored that goal for Blazing Strikers. Ladyville Rising Stars took down Ebony Lake in similar fashion, one goal to nothing. Justin Magana was the loan goal scorer for Ladyville Rising Stars. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
Belizean football has seen its fair share of stars but few shine quite like Shane Orio. From commanding the goalposts as the national team’s trusted keeper to now shaping young talent off the field, Shane’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Tonight, we’re heading to the Capital, where his passion for the game lives on through a football academy that’s more than just drills and goals, it’s about building character, discipline, and dreams. In this week’s Look on the Bright Side, Sabreena Daly takes us inside the legacy Shane Orio is creating, one kick at a time.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
He once defended the goalpost for Belize with pride. Shane Orio’s nearly two-decade career includes leading Belize at World Cup qualifiers and winning an international club title with Puntarenas FC in Costa Rica—the first Belizean to do so. His gloves carried grit and glory, inspiring generations.
Ian Gaynair
Ian Gaynair, Former Teammate
“Everybody loved the way he keeps in the goal. He’s definitely a father figure for football and a leader. He’s a captain. He was a great leader and he really taught me a lot in football.”
For many young athletes, Shane Orio’s name means excellence and determination. His success showed aspiring footballers what dedication looks like and sparked hope across Belize.
Moses Leslie
Moses Leslie, Member, Shane Orio Football Academy
“I’m only 12 year wells, but I knew that Shane used to be one of the best goalkeepers in Belize. Um, he taught me that football is a team sport, another individual one.”
Now, Shane focuses on nurturing Belize’s youth through the Shane Orio Football Academy, which serves boys and girls ages four to thirteen. The academy provides a safe space where kids can build skills, grow confidence, and dream big.
Shane Orio
Shane Orio, Founder, Shane Orio Football Academy
“It has always been one of my goals to come back home and share my experience with kids. Beyond that, I want to offer them the same opportunities that were given to me when I was young. The difference now is that I’m offering these opportunities at a younger age to help with their development and future goals.”
Another key figure in Belizean football and a close friend of Shane Orio is Ian Gaynair. Like Orio, Gaynair has been a major inspiration for young players through his dedication on and off the field. Their shared passion for the sport and for developing new talent highlights the importance of bridging the gap between today’s leaders and tomorrow’s stars.
Ian Gaynair
“Shane comes from a very professional background and behavior, so he has a lot to offer. I think it’s an honor for me, Shane, and some other ex-national team players to give back by having our own little academy. Around Belize, we don’t have many places like this, especially football academies at a semi-professional level. Most coaches are just trying, but many are not at the level to know exactly what they’re doing.”
For any young footballer, exposure beyond Belize is a big deal. This July, four U-13 players will travel to Costa Rica to develop their skills. The chance was made possible through Orio’s long-standing ties in the region. It’s a moment of growth—both for the players and the dream behind the academy.
Shane Orio
“At the U-13 level, our main measuring stick so far is that we’ve been back-to-back champions in Belmopan—that’s one indicator. But for me, the real test will be in Costa Rica: seeing how the players perform physically on the pitch, how they manage tactically, and most importantly, how they handle the mental side of the game. Will they be able to cope with the tough days and challenges ahead? For me, this trip will be a learning experience for all of us, but especially for the players—to see where they need to grow and what adjustments they need to make if they want to reach a professional level one day.”
Moses Leslie
“It’s a great opportunity. It shows me how far I’ve come, from playing football in my yard to now getting the chance to go to Costa Rica. When I’m out there, I hope to improve and grow as a player and maybe even get scouted by a football team in Costa Rica.”
Ahmad Neal
Ahmad Neal
“It means a lot because I’ve never gone abroad or out of the country before—not even for vacation. I’ve never left Belize. This means a lot because there are a lot of opportunities in Costa Rica.”
Shane Orio’s story is more than personal success—it’s the foundation of a legacy that will shape Belizean football for years to come. From guarding the net to mentoring youth, he’s creating pathways and opening doors. And if you ask him, with all the success and accolades he’s earned, the legacy he hopes to leave is one of giving back to his home.
Shane Orio
“The legacy that I want to leave is the legacy of giving back to the kids, giving back to Belize. I played with a lot of players from different countries, and some were able to settle in Costa Rica—foreigners, again. Some foreigners settled in Honduras, and I also played in Guatemala, where some foreigners settled as well. But my dream was always to come back home, at least to help the kids, to help the athletes, to help the country.”
Like a goalkeeper, still guarding the net, Shane Orio is protecting Belize’s football’s future– ready to pass the ball to the next generation and watch them make the game their own. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly
Get ready, Belize—some serious volleyball action is coming your way. In less than a month, the country will play host to the Under-23 Women’s Central American Volleyball Championship, and it’s all happening right inside the Belize City Civic Center. So, if you’re a fan of fast serves, fierce spikes, and Team Belize pride, mark your calendars. We caught up with the President of the Belize Volleyball Association to hear how preparations are going and what fans can expect when the tournament kicks off.
Allan Sharp
Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association
“As with the past few years we are hosting the U-23 Female Central American Championship. This is right next to the seniors, so we will have a lot of the big guns coming and a lot of the big guns we will have on our own. We have our own big guns. Five teams coming, but Nicaragua and Costa Rica says they cant make ti this time. So, in the case of Costa Rica, not a surprise we felt like they may not want to come again. But nevertheless, the other five countries will be here to battle. The teams arrive July eighteen and they depart on the twenty-fifth. That is a Friday to a Friday. The tournament will being on the twentieth, the Sunday the twentieth and it runs through Thursday. Two matches per day and you will see the information popping out because we are one month away. So that is what will happen.”
Good evening, Belize. I’m Paul Lopez, and welcome to your weekly dose of action on Sports Monday. We had a jam-packed weekend of sporting excitement, and we’re diving right into it. Let’s tip things off with week six of the Belize Premier Basketball League. The Belize City Thunderbolts were back on their home court Friday night at the Civic Center, facing off against the Capital City Kings. Now, outside it was all wind and rain—but inside, the Thunderbolts were bringing the heat, looking to settle the score after a tough loss to the Kings just a couple weeks ago in Belmopan. Let’s look at how that rematch played out.
Victor Evans taking Jayden Lopez all the way inside on the drive to put up the first basket of the game, and its an And-1. Jayden Lopez, responding on the other end with a three-pointer off the assist from Brandon Flowers. Five minutes in the first, the ball game is at eleven to three, the Kings down by seven points. Flowers with the layup to cut down the lead. Nisani Mendez shortly after with the step back and made three-pointer. Victor Evans on the other end, over Mendez from the arch. That is good. The first quarter ended with the Thunderbolts in the lead; twenty-two to fourteen points, an eleven points quarter for Evans. Shane Pratt here early in the second quarter, misses his first three-point attempt. John Kelly with the offensive rebound, finds Pratt again and that time the three is good. Twenty-two to nineteen, the Thunderbolts still in the lead.
And Evans responded immediately at the other end with a beautiful jump shot over Pratt. The first half ended thirty-nine to thirty-four, with the Thunderbolts still in the lead. They led from the start of the game up to this point. The Kings coming alive early in the third, Jevaughn Mckenzie makes a three. Flowers followed with a nice layup off the Mckenzie assist, again the Thunderbolt’s lead is cut to three points. Late in the third, with three minutes left on the clock. The ball finds Clency “Cope” Lopez at the three-point line and he extends his team’s lead to ten points, fifty-five to forty-five. The Thunderbolts went on an eleven-three run to end the third with eighteen points lead.
The Thunderbolts realized their largest lead of the game in the fourth quarter, twenty-five points lead. And it was all but over for the Kings at that point. They tried to claw their way back but were unfortunately unable to do so. Evans led the game with twenty-four points, while Mathew Young came out with twelve rebounds and eleven points for a double double. Brandon Flowers and John Kelly also had double double performing nights, with twelve points and thirteen rebounds and eighteen points and thirteen rebounds respectively. Also, the EZ Investment Dream Ballers brought down the Corozal Cerros Suns on Friday night, sixty-nine to sixty-three points. The Tiger Sharks are now six and zero after defeating the Punta Gorda Panthers eighty-to seventy-five on Saturday inside the Civic. On Sunday….
Now, that is enough for basketball, but as we said it was a rainy Friday night and Saturday across the country. But that did not stop football from playing in both the William Dawson Peace Cup and the Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament. The Yabra Greens was the stage for this weekend’s Peace Cup matchups. The mud and winds were no match for Ceasar Ridge FC and Graveyard FC. They came to play. Eleven minutes in, Lawnie Leslie timed the ball perfectly for a kick from outside the penalty box and through the legs of the goalkeeper. A tremendous effort from Leslie. Watch Leslie again on the left-wing sprinting towards the penalty box. Leslie connects in front of the goal and gives his team two goals to zero lead.
Fifty-nine minutes into this one, young Zebulon Leslie for Graveyard FC sprints down the left wing in similar fashion and celebrates one goal for his team. But Caesar Ridge would come back to score three additional goals, including this miss and recovery from Leslie for a hat-trick, his third goal of the match. CRFC won the game five goals to one. In the Youth football tournament Belize United’s youth team defeated the Reality Youth. Shae Gordon out the gate with back-to-back early goals for Belize United. Marques Martinez with a goal in the fourth minute for Reality Youths as well. Belize United won this one, three goals to one. Ladyville Rising Stars overcame Sampson Academy two goals to one. Fredrick Garbutt and Elton Anthony scored the goals for Ladyville, while Lloyd Burgess rose to the occasion for Sampson Academy. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one!
Good evening and welcome to this week’s edition of Sports Monday. I am Paul Lopez, here with your sports review for tonight. Let’s begin tonight at the Sandhill Football Field for week two of the William Dawson Peace Cup. In our highlight match, Jane Usher Football Club went up against Caesar Ridge Football Club.
Nineteen minutes into this one, Ceasar Ridge in possession of the ball. It is passed off and second touch to Leslie, sprinting towards goal. Leslie had a defender and the goalkeeper on him, and he kicked the ball between both of their feet and into an exposed goal. In under a minute, Jane Usher FC sent the ball downfield. Number fourteen for Ceasar Ridge stepped up to defend against Delory Andrews, but Andrews shook him off and found a narrow opening to the goal and tied the match. That’s the first half. In the second half of the match, at the fifty-fifth minute, Caesar Ridge with a corner kick, the ball eventually cleared out. Cesar Ridge regained possession, and the ball is sent flying toward the goal. The goalkeeper got a hold but fumbled the ball and Herson Benites took advantage. Caeser Ridge FC went up two goals to one. And that is how this one ended, in favor of CRFC.
The Belize Premier Basketball League is now in week six of its inaugural season. Each day of this weekend saw matches played in different parts of the country. On Friday night, the Capital City Kings hosted the EZ Investment Dream Ballers for a showdown that saw the Dream Ballers rise to the occasion. Kings fell, despite a forty-point performance by Nisani Mendez, while Deshawn Brackett led the EZ Investment Dream Ballers with twenty points. Another big night for Brackett, who is now the first player in this new league to score a total of one hundred points across all games played to date. In San Ignacio, the San Pedro Tiger Shark won yet another road game, this time against the Cayo Western Ballaz. That game ended eighty to seventy-five. The Sharks are now five and zero this season, the only undefeated team in the league, so far. And then on Sunday afternoon, EZ Investment Dream Ballers hosted the Punta Gorda Panthers in a battle of the southern teams. Dream Ballers edged out the Panthers, sixty-nine to sixty-two. The Belize City Thunderbolts will host the Belmopan Capital City Kings on Friday Night in Belize City.Now back to some more football action with the Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament.
We have highlights from two matches played on Saturday at Berger Field. In the first game, Royal Fusion and K.P. Strikers female teams went head-to-head in two fifteen-minute halves. And it didn’t take long before Alvian Strikers scored their first goal. That one came from Priya Bladen. She found her way through the clutter in front of the goal and placed it in with a soft ground touch in an open area. That is one for Alvian Strikers and the only goal scored in the entire match. So, the Strikers took that one.The male under-ten match played out differently. In this one, Belize United took on Ebony Lake. And boy did Ebony Lake give a formidable Belize United team a run for their money.
Five minutes into this one a goal kick for Ebony Lake went across the field and Jerrod Tillet in front of the goal. He did not hesitate to fire towards the goal, outplaced the goalkeeper and sent the ball into net. That’s one for Ebony Lake. Two minutes into the second half, Ebony Lake’s goalkeeper Shafique Martin with another goal kick that flies across the field. But this time it bounced inside the penalty box and over the goalkeeper’s head into the goal. That’s two goals for Ebony Lake, as Belize United desperately searched for something. But, their answer came two minutes later from Azair Gaynair. Off the Belize United corner kick, Gaynair was directly in front of goal to put the ball in. He was able to cut their opponent’s lead to one. But that is as far as they went. Ebony Lake came out on top, two goals to one.
Well folks, that is as we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. We do hope that all the fathers out there had a blessed and enjoyable Father’s Day weekend. Catch you in the next one.
Tonight, we shine a spotlight on a Belizean legend whose name echoes through the courts of history and into the hearts of future generations. Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn isn’t just a basketball icon—he’s a mentor, a trailblazer, and a living testament to the power of purpose. In this edition of The Bright Side, we take you on a journey through the life of a man who turned a game into a legacy.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
In the late 1970s, basketball in Belize was more than a sport, it was a movement. And at the heart of that movement was a teenager named Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn. At just seventeen, he became the first junior player to join the Belize National Basketball Team. By nineteen, he was dominating the league, leading in scoring, rebounding, and assists, and earning MVP honors.
Sabreena Daly
“How did you fall in love with basketball?”
Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn
Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn, Basketball Legend
“Well, my older brothers, they played basketball and the team used to come to the house after games and they used to eat burgers and hang out. Ever since I was a kid growing up, there were basketballs rolling around on the ground. From what I can remember, I was familiar with basketball by the time I was two years old.”
Known to many as Pulu, he shares how basketball didn’t just teach him discipline, it helped steer him away from the dangers of street life. Growing up in a tough neighborhood, the game became more than just a sport. It gave him structure, guidance, and a reason to stay focused. For Pulu, and many others like him, basketball was a lifeline that offered hope and direction when things could’ve easily gone the other way.
Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn
“Sports is a discipline. I got my discipline from basketball, and there was a thin line between basketball and being a gang member because I grew up in the streets with one of the first gangs, called the Wild Bunch. A lot of the guys I was with ended up in jail or without a future. So I was fortunate that basketball opened doors for me and led me in a different direction.”
With raw talent like Lightburn’s, it’s no surprise he left crowds in awe. One person who remembers it all is “Press” Cadogan, a well-known figure in Belize’s sports media and lifelong friend of Lightburn. He took me on a trip down memory lane, sharing some of the unforgettable moments he witnessed from the unstoppable force that was Pulu Lightburn.
Gilroy “Press” Cadogan
Gilroy “Press” Cadogan, Friend
“One of the most memorable things about Pulu Lightburn was when he got into Wesley College between 1974 and 1978. From the time he was 15, he was better than anyone in the whole country. He played junior leagues; he played for the SJC Bucks and the Calico School Sailors, leading SJC to win many titles in a row.”
That standout talent would even catch the eyes of university scouts, ultimately making him the first Belizean to receive a basketball scholarship — a move that opened doors not only for his career, but for the next generation of young athletes.
Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn
“I was the first Belizean to get a basketball scholarship. I went and did two years. It was a junior college. I got my associate’s degree and came back home. I was given a job as the first National Sports Director. I organized the first summer camp with over a thousand kids in five different disciplines: basketball, football, softball, table tennis, and track and field.”
Basketball has always been at the heart of Pulu Lightburn’s life. He started out as a standout player, but over the years, he’s become just as well known for his role as a mentor and coach. Through his Future Shock program, he’s helped shape the lives of young athletes for three generations, guiding them to follow in his footsteps. Like many young talents, Pulu once dreamed of making it to the NBA. That dream didn’t come true, but he says his real success lies in the lives he’s touched and the players he’s inspired along the way.
Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn
“I wanted to make it to the NBA. I came back home and played in the Belize League. I also played professional basketball in Mexico and Honduras—around this region.”
Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn
“I have a different generation of followers—people who know me for more than just being a basketball player. Back in the past, people knew me as a player. But this next generation knows me as a coach. The kids in the streets all want to play for my team because we set a certain standard, play with energy, and have a strong reputation. They also know that the Future Shock program creates real opportunities in life.”
To love the game is to honor those who paved the way. As a Hall of Famer, Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn has done just that—living the legacy and passing it on. Through his work with young athletes, he’s keeping the heart of the game alive, proving that while the past shapes us, the future is where the real promise lies. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.
Is there finally some movement on the long-awaited audit into the Ministry of Youth and Sports? Well, sources tell News Five that the Audit Department has wrapped up its investigation, but, so far, the final report hasn’t been made public. For years, the unions have been calling for a deep dive into the operations of the National Sports Council and the Department of Youth Services, especially over the past five years. And now, it seems that the audit may be complete. Today, we asked Minister Anthony Mahler about what’s been uncovered so far. His response? There’s a clear need for stronger checks and balances and a higher level of accountability.
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Youth and Sports
“That we need to put in some more of the checks and balances which we have been doing, that there has to be a higher level of accountability which we will do and that we need to show the nation that we will do things differently under Minister Daly and I’s leadership.”
Paul Lopez
“How much of that audit speaks to wastage within the ministry of youth and national sports council?”
Anthony Mahler
“Well it does not speak about wastage. It speaks about proper checks andbalances and proper accountability for certain initiatives.”
Paul Lopez
“Checks and balances in terms of what?”
Anthony Mahler
“For example when you disburse monies in out district committees then there has to be accountability for it. When there is no accountability for the renting of facilities, that should come into a consolidated fund. That did not happen. These are some of the things we are talking about, relatively minor. We are talking about not a great deal of money after salaries anyhow. It is not this rampant corruption that people want to talk about. We are just in this environment where they want to paint all politician as corrupt. Throughout history that has happened. So, as politicians we have to take our lumps and deal with the environment we are operating in.”
Paul Lopez
“But in terms of does money not being wholly accounted for, one would imagine it impacted the development and investments in youth and sports under the former minister?”
Anthony Mahler
“Not really, because nobody pays much for any of these facilities. You are talking about a small amount of money. It is just how things are managed.”
Paul Lopez
“Is anyone to be held accountable for the findings there.”
Anthony Mahler
“We have not gotten there yet. We are still going through all the information, and we will see.”
Hey, good evening and welcome to another exciting edition of Sports Monday! I’m Paul Lopez and trust me, we’ve got a lot to cover tonight. So, let’s dive right in. We’re kicking things off down south in the Culture Capital, where history was made with the first overtime showdown in the Belize Premier Basketball League. The EZ Investments Dangriga Dream Ballers had their home crowd fired up inside the Russel Chiste Garcia Stadium, but they weren’t the only ones bringing the energy. San Pedro Tiger Sharks fans made the trip too, turning the arena into a battleground of cheers and chants.
This is five minutes into the first quarter. Dream Ballers were holding the Tiger Sharks to three points and Deshawn Bracket comes in with the layup to extend their lead to nine points. Six minutes into the first, the Tiger Sharks have five points, and Brackett nails a two-point jump shot to give his team eleven. But the Tigers Sharks went on a seven-to-nothing run in the last two minutes to tie the game at the end of that quarter. At the end of the first half, the EZ Investments Dangriga Dream Ballers had a one-point lead with thirty-two points. The second quarter saw both teams exchange blows. That kept the game close.
And they kept exchanging those blows at the start of the third quarter. Here is Francis Arana with a smooth three-point shot two minutes in to tie the game at thirty-six. Tyrell Grifith followed shortly after with a wide-open dunk that set the Tiger Sharks on an eight-to-nothing run. But the Dream Ballers has a weapon that is not talked about enough. He goes by Deshawn Bracket. Two minutes to end the third, down by eight. Brackett, clutch three-point jumper. The game is now forty-five to fifty. Less than a minute later, Brackett from the three-point line again and that is good. The Sharks’ lead is now cut to two. Eighteen seconds on the clock and Brackett breaks through two defenders on his way to the basket and gets up over two other defenders to tie the game.
Let’s go to the last three minutes of the fourth. Deshawn Brackett with another three to give his team the sixty-one to sixty points lead. Keon Rowland responds on the other end with a driving layup. Daniel Conorquie with a massive three on the other end to take back the lead. A Malik Hunt driving layup and Keon Rowland layup gives the Tigers Sharks a two point lead, with forty second left in the game. Deshawn Brackett tries, he is fouled inside the paint and goes to the line to shoot the two most critical free throws of this season so far. He makes both clutch free throws and sent the game into overtime. After a hard fought five minutes of overtime, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks came out on top with seventy-seven to their opponents seventy-four. Let’s quickly look at some of the tops stats from this one. Look at Brian White finishing with twenty-one rebounds for the Tiger Sharks. Keon Rowland had nineteen and made some big plays. Francis Arana finished with twenty-two. But the top scorer of the night was Deshawn Brackett, with thirty-three points.The Tiger Sharks also won against the Capital City Kings on Sunday inside the Belize City Civic Center. The Kings defeated the Belize City Thunderbolt on Friday night in Belmopan. And the Punta Gorda Panthers and Corozal Cerros Suns double header weekend in PG saw the Panthers victorious in both games.
Let’s go overseas for a bit to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where some of our well-known pro cyclists have been competing in the three-day Tulsa Tough Race. On day one, Jyven Gonzalez secured the victory for Legion in the Men’s Category one and two race with a sprint-off to the finish line. On day two, Derrick Chavarria won in the same category for Legions with a similar sprint finish. Chavarria also dominated on day three. These are exciting wins for both of our cyclists.
And the Belize District Football Association’s First Division Finals turned the light on inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex on Sunday night. Tut Bay Football Club faced off against Ceasar Ridge Football Club in the Championship matchup. We now know who the big dogs in town this season are. Tut Bay Football Club with a dominant performance over their opponents. Thirteen minutes into this one, ball towards goal. Tut Bay’s Tom Moguel and the goalkeeper face off. The extra push by Moguel and the goal is scored. Early second half of the action, a Tut Bay player goes down inside the penalty box. Francis Arana called for heavy contact. The referee was awarded a penalty shot to Tut Bay. Devin Thurton puts it in. Less than ten minutes later, Tut Bay gets possession on the far side. They control the ball down the line until it finds a sprinting Shamar Thomas. He took the shot, and it was just too much for the goalkeeper, Thomas, to celebrate.
At the seventieth minute, Ceasar Ridge FC has possession inside the penalty box, a hard tackle and their player hits the ground. Whitefield Fisher secured Ceasar Ridge’s only goal in this one. Tut Bay Football Club is your Belize District First Division Champions. Staying on football, Belize’s Senior Men’s National Team fell to Panama on Saturday night inside the FFB Stadium in Belmopan. Home field advantage was a non-factor in this one for Belize. On the other hand, many fans are commending the team for what is being described as marked improvement. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.
