Fans from Cayo came out in fair number for the World Cup preparation match at Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio between our national team and El Salvador on Tuesday, January 22. Our boys played hard to defend our turf on a muddy track. And the fans showed them the love from whistle to whistle. We lost, 1-0.
The coach of El Salvador, Carlos de los Cobos, said that they hadn’t come with their full strength. He said they had come to Belize just for the practice match with us, and that they were flying back to El Salvador that afternoon. He thought Belize had good players…speed players…and needed more time to prepare.
El Salvador got the lone goal of the game mid-way through the first half when a poorly defended Alfredo Pacheco chipped a header off a corner from the northwest flag past an unprotected Woodrow West.
Belize’s one special break in the first half came a few minutes later when a soft lob from the middle found Victor Morales between two collapsing defenders and a hard charging goalkeeper. Victor touched twice. The second wasn’t the charm and the right defensive flank cleared safely for El Salvador.
The second half found Belize on the attack early when Victor Morales, who showed special striker’s instincts during his stint on the field, tried to lift a shot over the El Salvador portero in a one on one break on the right side of the box. It was a fair opportunity, and a well executed play, but the keeper read it well and pushed the pelota out of harm’s way. After that Belize retreated into a defensive stance, never threatening again.
Belize’s twin strikers, Jarro James and Deon McCaulay, played strong, but never received the ball in space. Woodrow West was fine in goal. Harrison Tasher, the right defensive flank, is a rock.
The entire Belize team played well…individually. We tackled sufficiently hard (it was a practice match), and we held up very well physically. But our team didn’t produce anything of beauty. Maybe the fault lay in the track, which was slick and heavy. Or maybe it was the mood.
The coach, Palmiro Salas, spoke to his team at the half-time break, and encouraged the team on the field…in Spanish. The opposing team understood our coach better than most of our players did, and they were energized by his accent more than all our players were.
In this lowest time in the history of Belize football, there was no joy in our players today. Like good soldiers, they came out and did their best. The fans appreciated their performance. They cheered solid play, and encouraged them when they lagged.
Yes, the FFB representatives were there at Broaster Stadium today. What they, FFB, have to say about the state of preparation of our beloved national team, is secondary at this time. So we didn’t bother to ask. What the fans had to say about the FFB is not fit for publication. Fill in the blanks.
After the game BPFL owners huddled with their president to discuss their response to the poorly thought out FFB decision on our “home game.” The BPFL are expected to make public the result of their deliberations on Wednesday.
As for the FFB, we await the announcement that the mad decision has been overturned…and all roads lead anywhere but Guatemala City. There are few days left to save us from ignominy. Humble thyselves, oh big men…for love of the nation.
Starting 11: Woodrow West (goal), Deon McCaulay, Victor Morales, Tyronne Pandy, Harrison Tasher, Dennis Serano, Ryan Simpson, Jeromy James, Albert Thurton, Ian Gaynair, and David Trapp.
Changes: John Trapp for David Trapp, and Deris Benavidez for Victor Morales (70 min), and Deon Frazer for Jeromy James (75 min).
Other players: Bernard Linarez (not at game), Carlos Slusher, Christobal Gilharry, Jacinto Bermudez, Gilbert Suazo, Onest Martinez, Kareem Haylock, Paul Nunez.