BELIZE CITY–Postponed from September 14 due to weather conditions, the 2nd annual Mugger Day was again hosted by legendary goalkeeper Nelson “the Roo” Robinson at #3 Oleander Street and the St. Martin’s Football Field on Saturday, September 20.
The weather was fine, and while the elders relaxed in the shade and shared their memories, they were also entertained by four football games played on the St. Martin’s field.
Three of the games featured home based Third World teams against Police Street teams from the “Complex” area. First was a U-10 match in which was tied at 1-1 after regulation and overtime, but home standing Third World won, 3-2, over Police Street in the penalty shootout. Next was a U-15 match-up, and this time it was Police Street with the 2-nil victory over Third World. In the third game of the day, Police Street was again victorious, defeating Third World, 4-2, in a senior match-up.
But the highlight of the evening was the old-timers game, featuring reigning Over-40 champs and last year’s veterans game winner, Kulture Yabra, against a Rest of the Veterans selection that saw the Roo himself starting in goal. Other notable veterans on the Rest selection included Lloyd “Panades” Flowers, Anthony “Mango” Card, 70-year-old Bert Cattouse, and 66-year-old Vincent “Winty J” Johnson. The Roo quickly retired from the sticks after Kulture’s first goal, but Lloydie, Mango, Bert and Winty J put in a good twenty minutes of work before retiring to the sidelines. Thankfully, there were no injuries. The Rest made a game of it, but Kulture still had too many “touches” for them, and prevailed by a 4-1 score.
It was a fun day for all, including visiting legend Gilbert “Pine” Hernandez, a contemporary of the Mugger, as well as Hon. Michael Finnegan, who joined in reminiscing with other past football players and fans.
The day was to pay tribute to the memory of Louis Antonio Garbutt, better known as “Bembe” “the Mugger,” who left us on June 28, 2013 (he was born on September 19, 1940).
(Ed. Note: In discussions among friends, it was noted that the recently departed Wallace “Wally Dee” Mitchell, who was buried in New York on August 30, was before his untimely death in the midst of preparation for the holding of the first Mugger Day in New York this year. Wally Dee had read the eulogy last year at the Mugger’s funeral in Brooklyn, New York. R.I.P. Wally Dee.)