Category: Sports

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. Playoff season for the BEBL has officially kicked off. Number one seed, the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes are playing the number four seed, the Dangriga Dream Ballers in a three-game series. The first match of that series was played on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The Hurricane made a statement in game one.

 

In the first quarter, Victor Evans, guarded by Edgar Mitchell, makes some space and gets the jump shot in. On the other end, Kevon Laurie goes up big, draws the foul and makes the basket. Glency “Coope” Lopez comes up with the steal and makes good on the bucket. Here is some game time action from veteran Alex Carcamo, showing the youngsters how to get it done.

 

 

 

At the start of the second quarter, Hurricanes were up by only five points, a twenty-six to sixteen ball game. Deshawn Brackett coming into the paint hot does a pump fake mid-air and gets the ball in. Eyan Rene finds Lopez on the fast break. Things really started to go downhill for the Dream Ballers in the third quarter. The Hurricanes outscored them by nineteen points. Mitchell finds Kyron Molina at the three-point line, and he drills it over Carcamo. Kirk Smith Jr. goes up surrounded by four defenders. He is blocked but somehow manages to recover the ball. He gets it into the hands of Evans and the MVP did what he does best. Lopez again slithers his way through the Ballers’ defense, catches a glimpse of Sidibe Bourama, passed and Bourama finished with the dunk. Dunk of the night goes to Tyrie Orosco off the assist from Evans. That play looks much better in slow motion.

 

The Hurricanes won game one hundred and five to seventy. They are heading to Dangriga on Friday night for game two, as the Dream Ballers face elimination.

 

And then on Sunday evening, the Belize City Defenders and the San Pedro Tiger Sharks faced off in the second three-game series in the playoffs. The San Pedro Tiger Sharks are hoping to make it to the finals two years in a row, while the Defenders are looking for redemption after their 2023 performance.  And this was not a match to miss.Nigel Jones with the early dunk off a fastbreak assist from John Kelly. Daniel Conorquie responding for the Sharks from beyond the three-point line. Jones again muscles his way in to get the basket. Bobby Arthur-Williams, big inside for Sharks over two defenders. D’von Campbell, from way beyond the three-point line, drills it in.

 

 

The first half of the game played out evenly on both ends of the court. The two teams ended the first half with thirty-seven points apiece. At the end of the third, the defenders were trailing by only one point with the game at fifty-one to fifty. Williams for the three and he misses, Conorquie in position at the three and he makes the bucket. Conorquie again from the three-point line extending a Sharks lead to seven points in the fourth quarter. The Defenders slowly chipped away at the Sharks’ lead. The Defenders are down by two points with just over a minute left in the game. Jones finds Daniel Estes who slams it in. Big points for the Defenders.Defenders now with a chance to take the lead with fifteen seconds on the clock. Jones works his way around Keith Pollard along the baseline and gets a big basket.Six seconds left on the clock, Jihad Wright to Arana and watch Pollard as he slides under the basket. Arana is aware, passes the ball and Pollard sends the game into overtime.

 

The Defenders would go one to win game one eight-six to seventy-nine points.

 

From basketball, let us now move into some football action. Port Loyola Football Club is your 2024 Premier League of Belize Closing Season Champions. Here we see fans celebrating Port F.C.’s first goal against Verdes inside the Norman Broaster Stadium. Belize City fans celebrated the goal as their team came into the second leg with a defeat under its belt.

 

 

 

 

But that celebration seemed to have taken a turn when a fence in the stadium broke under the weight of cheering fans. A couple of those fans continued pulling at what was left of the fence and the celebrations continued. Notwithstanding that display, Port Loyola F.C. has an incredible story to tell, going from a team that was struggling to carve out a name for themselves in the league four years ago, to becoming a championship team in the PLB. This also means that Port Loyola F.C. will represent Belize in CONCACAF.

 

 

 

And in other football action, the Anthony Mahler Under- Thirteen Mundialito Tournament continued Saturday. Here are some highlights from the match between Ladyille Rising Stars and Sampson Academy.

 

Eight minutes into the match, Sampson’s Anthony Cowo converts a spot kick into his team’s first goal of the match. Twenty-one minutes in, Rising Stars’ Akeem Eiley makes good on a loose ball in front of the goalpost to tie the game. Immediately after, Jaron Lewis sent one flying from midfield, outplacing the goalkeeper. The disappointed look on the faces of his teammates. Ladyville Rising Stars would come from behind to score two more goals and secure the victory.

 

 

 

In a second game on Saturday, Reality Youths took on Leaders of Tomorrow. Reality Youths’ Javen White goes full speed into the penalty box, sees an opportunity and puts the ball over the head of the goalkeeper and into the goal. With only a few minutes left on the clock, Leaders of Tomorrow’s Darwin Hernandez kicks towards the goal and the goalkeeper seemed to have been under the impression that the ball would go out of bounds. He left in and the rolled right into the net. That match ended one goal apiece.

 

Well folks that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.

Today, sixteen, young, promising, Belizean athletes are making the trip to Costa Rica to participate in the annual Central American and Caribbean Athletic Championships. This prestigious event allows athletes across the region to showcase their talents and dedication in various sporting disciplines. In 2023, Belize brought home seven gold, eight silver and two bronze medals in various disciplines. Today, we attended a press conference held with the delegation before they departed for the competition. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with that story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The 2024 CADICA Games are almost here, and sixteen Belizean athletes are brimming with anticipation. Last year, the delegation returned home with seventeen medals, and the Belize Athletic Association is confident that this year will be another success. At the final press conference held before athletes left for Costa Rica, we spoke with BAA president, Cojac Smith, who said that they are simply encouraging the participants to do their best.

 

Cojac Smith, President, Belize Athletic Association

“We just encourage them to do their best and whatever results are yield from that, then we’re okay with it. So we just want the athletes to be okay, performing and at the peak level and don’t have any additional pressure in what type of medals they bring down. But to be honest with us, with you, and the Belizean public, the Athletic Association is very confident in this group of kids that we’re sending out. So we think that they’ll do well.”

 

Over the course of two days, the athletes will participate in a variety of running, throwing, and jumping events. Smith said that the level of preparation the athletes have been able to achieve while balancing  schoolwork is commendable.

 

Cojac Smith

“It has been arduous. It’s a year in process. They’ve been training with their coaches. Some of them are from out district. One of the things that this association wanted to do was capture at least from throughout the country getting the best possible at least that we could get throughout the country. So we did some research and got somebody at least him from the high school nationals that went and we were able to get someone at least there. They went to the nationals that we did recently and they performed well and they met the standards. So it’s not a easy process balancing school as well as athletics. So you have to give kudos to these young people that are pushing forward and trying to balance both of it.”

 

The delegation will be accompanied by several coaches, chaperones, and a physiotherapist to assist with any discomfort or injuries. Minister of Sports, Rodwell Ferguson said that it is crucial that Belizeans continue to support sports as it is expensive to maintain.

 

Rodwell Ferguson, Minster of Sports

“I believe every citizen in this country should be proud to say I contributed for the team that went to represent our country because when they come back and they win, we all make a big hooray and say congratulations. But we don’t ask ourselves, how much have we contributed?  And as the Minister of Sports, what I have noticed lately, that many letters are coming to the Ministry and the National Sports Council for requests. We do not know if these letters are authentic. Anybody who wants to do a quick fundraiser, wah write and seh I di do X, Y and Z in sports and I expect to get a contribution. Our budget is very small. We have to spend it wisely.”

 

Ferguson said that in order to assist the association with funding, he had to get creative.

Rodwell Ferguson

“Fortunately, you are lucky that when you came over two and a half months ago, I had to put on my thinking cap and we were able to sponsor over seventy-five percent of your trip going to Costa Rica, so we expect you to come back and make Belize proud.  I also want to commend the coaches. Miska was in Venezuela that they go and they take very good care of our children. That is the most important thing. Because the parents expect that when they come back, you might see that the child was well disciplined, and they performed to the best of their ability.”

 

 

We spoke with Rupert Cardinez, who competes in one hundred and two hundred meter runs and hurdles. Last year, he brought home two medals for Belize.

 

Britney Gordon

“Last year, you said you took home a medal. What medal did you bring home?”

 

Rupert Cardinez, Athlete

“For one hundred I get a silver and for my next race in El Salvador I get a bronze for hurdle.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So how are you feeling? You’re about to make this long journey over to Costa Rica to represent Belize. How are you feeling right now?”

 

Rupert Cardinez

“Well I feel good Because I’m only going with one mindset. I just want everybody to be proud.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Are you confident.”

 

Rupert Cardinez

“Yes ma’am. Really.”

 

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. How do you stop a category five hurricane from blowing you away? The Belize City Defenders found a way on Friday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. The Defenders took on the Hurricanes in a season rematch that brought out fans. The Belize City Defenders took down the Benny’s Belize Hurricanes, sixty to fifty-six points. Yes, it was a low-scoring game. The top scorers for the Defenders were Nigel Jones and John Kelly. Jones scored fourteen points, got ten rebounds, all ten of them were defensive rebounds. He also had six assists, though he made six turnovers as well. Kelly finished with twelve points and nine rebounds. He also shot with seventy-five percent accuracy from the field. But it really was a close game. It was tied at thirty points at the half.

 

The Defenders got away in the third quarter and went on a run that gave them an eight-point lead at the end of the third. The game came down to the last minute in the fourth quarter. Hurricanes down by three points with twenty seconds left on the clock, Victor “Vito” Evans is at the line shooting two free throws. He makes the first one and brings the score to fifty-five, fifty-seven. He makes the second shot and brings it to a one-point game. Defender’s Everald Tablada is fouled on the throw in. He misses his first free throw and counts the second one, stretching the lead to two points. Defended by Jones, Evans goes up for the jumper and it is no good. Jones gets the ball and finds Kelly all alone on the other side. And, that basket sealed the Defender’s win against the Hurricanes.

 

Nigel Jones, Belize City Defenders

“Well I feel like we needed this win. You know we played them the first time and they came out. We looked bad. We looked banged up the first time. But we just wanted to come back and show that when we have our full team we can compete with anybody in the league.”

 

John Kelly, Belize City Defenders

“We been the work hard for this whole ah this week, put in a good workout because this team mih hungry whole week. So, we know we mih wah come out fih fight.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What does do for your hopes of winning the championship this year?”

 

John Kelly

“This dah just motivation . We wah work harder and we wah play harder. This dah playoffs.”

 

The Benny’s Belize Hurricanes had several of its players out on Friday night, including Clency “Coope” Lopez and Jamal Harris. There is not much information on why Lopez sat out, but we understand that Harris is facing some internal disciplinary action. According to police reports, the Pro-American basketball player got into a physical altercation with his partner last week. Allegations are that he physically assaulted her. We understand that the matter is no longer with the police, as both individuals have agreed to resolve the conflict out of court. But Hurricane fans may likely see Harris sit out the next few games.

 

Let’s move into some football action. The Anthony Mahler Under Thirteen Mundialito Tournament is in full swing. It all goes down inside the Berger Field on Saturdays. Ebony Lake played Berger United in a match that ended eight goals to zero in favor of Berger United. The first goal of the match was scored by Zaylen Jones off a penalty kick at the fifteenth minute. Two minutes later a second penalty was awarded from a handball inside the box. Goalkeeper Rojaun Mahler scored that one. And again, two minutes later, Jones scored another goal. Three goals were scored in six minutes. Jones scored four of the eight goals his team entered.

 

In the female category, Alvian Strikers played against Phoenix F.C. After two ten-minute halves, both teams were unable to score a goal. And, in a third match of the day, Tutbay Yabra faced off against defending champions Belize United. Tutbay was able to hold off Belize United up until the eleventh minute when Shae Gordon found himself in front of the goalpost with the ball. Gordon did not hesitate to kick the ball and give his team the lead.  A beautiful team effort that led to a one nil ball game at the end of the first period. Twenty-three minutes in and Tutbay’s number six made a grave error at the goalpost by stopping the ball with his hand from going into the goal. Perhaps it was simply a reflex, but it cost a penalty shot. Christopher Gilharry took the shot and made it. Belize United won that match, two goals to zero.

 

Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.

In Early April, the Belize Athletic Association held its elections, where Cojac Smith was elected as the president with a vote of thirty-five to thirty-four over Jaheed Smith. With a newly elected council, the association hopes to open a new chapter of better accountability and support for athletes. President of the association, Cojac Smith spoke with us about the goal to secure more sponsorships and raise public awareness for sporting events.

 

Cojac Smith, President, Belize Athletic Association

“We recently had an election that concluded, the current vice president, mister Jaheed Smith against myself, a member of the association, and we were vying for the vacant position from mister Deon Sullivan, who had resigned about a year ago. So the conclusion, it was a close race and I ended up winning and winning by a small margin at one vote. So we have a new executive. Now we have some new members, new executive members, as well as some incumbents from the previous executive and we’re trying to move athletics as far Athletics as best as we can in a more Constructive way and being more just be more accountable producing a better product for Belize so that we can vie for more sponsorships and donors and stuff like that. So that’s the direction we’re trying to put it and just move athletics further developing the country developing sports Developing the athletes and the coaching’s as well. So that’s what we’re looking for. Nothing comes without money.”

 

Reporter

“So my next question is, how do you propose to bring in all those needed funds that will be needed to do all of these things?

 

Cojac Smith

“We’re looking at partnerships with different businesses, any businesses that are willing to partner with the association. We’re looking into collaboration. So, if anyone that’s listening to this newscast that wants to collaborate with the Belize Athletic Association and partner with us, to see how best it could be beneficial to both parties. We’re open to that. They could reach us at the Belize Athletic Association page on Facebook, or they could reach me at 632-2622, or they could always just contact me then, and I could have them talk to the General Secretary to work that out. But we’re just trying to be as collaborative as possible, and one of the things that Track and Field has not been doing It’s visibility. We’ve not been visible. So that’s probably one of the reasons we’ve had, have the support from the business community as much as we would want to. So it’s just to getting that started and also to push a better product that we’re producing as an executive. Just being more accountable could producing our financials and stuff like that, whereby we could vie for different sponsorship internationally and locally.”

 

Over twelve weeks of highly competitive football in the William Dawson Peace Cup came to an end on Sunday. Twelve teams, comprised of more than two hundred and fifty players and staff, started the tournament on January sixth. But there can only be one. After playing in six different venues over the course of the season, the final match was played inside the MCC Grounds. Tutbay Football Club took on Ceasar Ridge FC to see who will be crowned champions. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The William Dawson Peace Cup ended on Sunday with a match that was worthy of a championship game. Ceasar Ridge FC took on Tutbay FC in a match that ended in a penalty shootout. The game was played inside the MCC Grounds. The sounds of cultural drumming and singing filled the air to start the afternoon. Richard Mendoza secured the first goal of the game for Tutbay off a shot on target from outside the penalty box. Mendoza was in front of the goal to take advantage of the goalkeeper’s fumble. Seven minutes later, Tyrone Guy returned the favor for Ceasar Ridge from a fast break that led to a soft touch into the net directly in front the goal.

 

The game was tied at one apiece going into the second half. No goals were scored in the second half of the game, so the match went into extra time. In the second half of extra time, Tutbay once again finds the back of the net, this time with a great deal of skills and finesse on display. Determined to stay in the game, Ceasar Ridge came from behind with a bombshell drop kick from behind the penalty box that flew over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net. That goal took the game into penalty. Ceasar Ridge first penalty shot was good. Tut Bay also scored their first shot.

 

Both teams kept exchanging goals and they were tied at three goals each, when Tutbay’s goalkeeper stopped a penalty shot from Ceasar Ridge. With the championship on the line, Tutbay had the last penalty shot of the match. The ball went past the goalkeeper and into the net. Tutbay FC is your 2024 Williams Dawson Peace Cup Champions. A short ceremony was held after the match to recognize all the teams that participated in the tournament’s inaugural season.

 

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“Today is a testament to show that as young people we can play in unity and harmony, and everybody cannot win. I want to congratulate Tutbay for being the champion and Ceasar Ridge for coming in second and all those who participate in the competition. As I was walking around the field most people come to me and say, look at the condition of the MCC field and I can assure you that by next year this time, MCC will be back to its glory days, we are going to make sure. I was able to convince Cabinet to set aside two million dollars to fix up facilities in the country. And, Belize City will be first and foremost.”

 

Douglas Hyde, Coordinator, William Dawson Peace Cup

“We had limited incidents and accidents but we lost one and so we must take that time to recognize, CJ, Charles James who was one of us. Big up CJ. This tournament was based on its purpose which is create peace, we did it. We create peace among players who now socialize better among each other. Every week, every month, we saw this tournament developing and growing better. Receiving an official letter from the FFB stating that twe are now recognize and sanctioned through the Belize District Football Association. This letter also commended the organizing committee for its hard work and dedication to this tournament and very importantly as stated, we will also allow the two representatives, your champions and sub-champions to be part of our National Amateur League Championship in 2024.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.