BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Oct. 13, 2016–We’re still trying to get some details on the recent passing of one of Belize’s top footballers in the latter 1960s and early 1970s. Landivar dominated Belize City 1st Division football during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when their reign was ended by Berger 404 in 1974/75. Angus “Mr. Ball” Vernon and Keith Gardiner were key components in the Landivar attack in the early to mid-1960s, but at some point in the latter 1960s or early 1970s, the center forward position on Landivar was held, and with consistent success, by a slim, soft-spoken and perfect gentleman, Charles “Bawbu” Humes, who delivered the game winning goal in many a 1-nil Landivar victory. Fixtures in the solid Landivar defence around that time were sweeper Clarence “Willie” Williams and stopper Wallace “Rungu” Glynn, along with flank defenders Randolph “Coco” Young and Ernest Jones. Bawbu was not ranked among the best strikers ever in Belize; but he was good, good enough to deliver at the striking position for a championship team.
After retiring from football, Bawbu re-surfaced as a coach for many years in ladies softball at Rogers Stadium.
When you stop seeing someone in Belize City, it is seldom noticed, until someone brings up the person’s name; and it is often the case that the individual is somewhere in the U.S. or has passed away quietly with some terminal illness.
We have not seen any public announcement, but repeated reports, and from different credible sources, have confirmed Bawbu’s passing and his burial about a week ago.
Our sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of our brother in sports, Charles “Bawbu” Humes, R.I.P.