DANGRIGA, Wed. Jan. 20, 2016–Secondary schools football Dangriga Zone secondary schools football continued on Monday at Ecumenical football field with game 3 in the female 5-game-series between Ecumenical and Delille Academy. Going into Monday’s game, the series was tied at 1 game apiece. Delille won game 1 by a 2-nil score, and Ecumenical won game 2 by a 3-1 margin. Monday’s game ended in a 2-2 tie. Leslyann Lucas got both goals for Delille Academy, while Genesse Ramirez scored both for Ecumenical. Game 4 comes up today, Wednesday. This will be a big match-up. Also on Monday, in the male match-up, Ecumenical won over ANRI, 6 goals to 3. Myrick Davis Marshall got 2, and Iron Gill, Jonard Castillo, Donnel Arzu and Mark Samuels got 1 apiece for Ecumenical; while ANRI got 2 goals from Jahrone Lopez and the other from Seydeek Zuniga. Delille Academy and Ecumenical males ended up tied with points at 4 apiece; but Delille Academy was leading with goals, since they defeated ANRI by 5 to 1 last week.
Today, Wednesday, there were two big games played between both the males and females of Delille Academy and Ecumenical, a real high school football rivalry, with the female opener taking place at 2:30 p.m., followed by the males. And it was Ecumenical males and females coming out victorious over Delille Academy. In the female match-up, Ecumenical won over Delille Academy, 2 goals to 1. Genese Ramirez and Kaylin Mejia got 1 apiece for Ecumenical; while Delille Academy’s only goal came from Kayla Robateau. In the males, it was Ecumenical on top again, 2 goals to 1, over Delille. Myrick “Davis” Marshall and Warren Moss got 1 apiece for Ecumenical; while Nelby Pixabaj scored the only goal for Delille. The tournament continues this Friday at 2:30 p.m. with game 5 in the female series between Ecumenical and Delille Academy. It’s so tight in the Dangriga Zone between these two schools – Delille Academy and Ecumenical. Ecumenical females lead in the series with 2 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw; while Delille has 1 win, 2 losses, and 1 draw. It will be a big Friday in the Dangriga Zone as the females series will be decided. At 3:30 p.m. on Friday, following the female game, it will be the male match-up, ANRI vs Delille Academy. The male series is still undecided. This will be decided on Monday or Wednesday of next week.
Dangriga Boys & Girls
The Dangriga Boys & Girls U-13 Football Marathon, sponsored by the Dangriga Cancer Centre, got under way on Sunday, January 17, at the Ecumenical football field. Nine (9) U-13 teams took part – Benguche, Wagierale, Montes, Umadagu, Hopkins, Hope Creek, Silk Grass, Pomona, and New Site. First place for the Marathon went to Silk Grass; second was Pomona; and third place went to Benguche. The U-15 Marathon will be this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Ecumenical football field. Both the U-13 and U-15 regular seasons will get started on January 31.
Rodwell Ferguson Tournament
The Rodwell Ferguson Football Tournament’s do-or-die Top 8 playoffs got under way over the weekend. One game was played on Saturday, where Pomona Warriors bombed Bowman Valley Rangers, 6 goals to nil. Dwayne Sampson got a hat trick (3), Brandy Reyes got 2, and Mark Samuels got the other. In Sunday’s triple-header, game 1 saw Valley Pride Rookies with a 3-1 win over Pomona Sliders. Lennox Mejia, Bent Burgess and Noel Hyde got one apiece for the Rookies, while the Sliders’ only goal came from Albert Peters. In game 2, Silk Grass Southern Strikers won over Hope Creek Pumas, 3 goals to 1. Erickson Clark got 2, and Christopher Young got the other for Silk Grass; while Hope Creek’s only goal was by Izon Gill. And in game 3, it was Alta Vista High over Santa Cruz LD South Rock, 4 goals to 2. Kyle Valerio got 2, and Joseph Brooks and Jeffery Zetina got 1 apiece for Alta Vista; while Alex Cruz and Hugo Franco got 1 each for Santa Cruz. With the above results, Pomona Warriors, Valley Pride Rookies, Silk Grass Southern Strikers and Alta Vista High would advance to the Top 4, do-or-die semifinals this weekend at the Pomona New Site football field.
Playoff controversy
There was a big controversy from the final game on Sunday in the Rodwell Ferguson Top 8 playoffs. A protest letter was sent to the executive body of the tournament from Santa Cruz L.D. South Rock, concerning their 4 to 2 loss against Alta Vista High. Alta Vista was playing with an active semi-pro player, which was Kyle Valerio, who also scored 2 goals last Sunday for Alta Vista High. A decision was made by the executive last night, since that was one of their by-laws of the season, not to use any active semi-pro player. So, the 4-2 victory by Alta Vista High was overturned and given instead to Santa Cruz L.D. South Rock, who thus replaces Alta Vista High in the semifinal. (Kyle Valerio is an active semi-pro player with the Wagiya Football Club.) Therefore, this Sunday, the Top 4 do-or-die semifinals looks like this:Sunday, January 241:30 p.m. – Pomona Warriors vs Santa Cruz L.D. South Rock 3:30 p.m. – Valley Pride Rookies vs Silk Grass Southern Strikers The winners advance to the finals. The losers play for third place. All games are at the Pomona New Site football field.
NEBL Week 2
In Week 2 of the NEBL this weekend, the Dangriga Warriors take on the Orange Walk Running Rebels at the Ecumenical Auditorium this Saturday night. The gate will open at 7:00 p.m. Tip-off time is set for 8:00 p.m. Adults – $7.00; high school students with their I.D. – $5.00. There will be a half-time raffle, along with a $100.00 prize for anyone who scores a half-court shot.
Interoffice volleyball
This week is the final week in the regular season of the John “Tequila” Chimilio Interoffice Volleyball Tournament. The playoff gets started next week Tuesday at the Ecumenical Auditorium.
PLB football
Wagiya Football Club, representing Dangriga in the Premier League of Belize (PLB), is ready once again to compete in the PLB 2015-2016 Closing Tournament. Wagiya FC will be much younger this Closing Tournament, as there are a few players who have moved over to various teams.
Since the Carl Ramos Stadium is still under construction, Wagiya’s home base will still be at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence. This Saturday night will be Wagiya’s home game, as they take on the Placencia Assassins. This will be the Battle of the South, at 7:30 p.m. – Wagiya vs Placencia.