The NBA has a rule it enforces strictly where “taunting” by players is concerned. When young men are in fierce combat in sports, the situation can become volatile sometimes, and provocative words can sometimes lead to unnecessary escalation of hostilities. So, in the NBA, there are hefty fines for players that say things or make gestures to their opponents that can be considered “taunting.” Of course, any physical retaliation also results in even more serious sanctions.
Yesterday at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, the ingredients were clearly in place for things to get “out of hand”, what with the visiting Orange Walk United fielding Charlie Slusher in goal (Charlie led City Boys to the championship last year in the finals in Orange Walk) and Super League 2010 Best Forward Jarrett Davis striking. Only a couple weeks ago, Jarrett had appeared in jersey on the bench for Raymond Gentle-City Boys United, but had not played, reportedly still considering his options. Now Jarrett had apparently signed with Orange Walk (then still undefeated with a win and a draw to their credit) and City Boys fans were vocal in their expected animosity to the “deserters”. But that’s all a part of the game.
Nevertheless, it was a challenge for any referee, and the man in the middle, Pedro Villanueva from Corozal, may have failed to adequately keep the emotions in check, especially when Orange Walk’s wily veteran striker Oliver Hendricks put a deliberate “hurt” on more than one City Boys players and got away with it each time by some good acting.
Unfazed, the defending champions kept to their game plan, and it was Leon “Lem” Jones breaking the ice at the 13th minute, beating Charlie at close range after receiving a long centering pass from the right side. Deon McCaulay made it 2-nil with his strike 10 minutes into the 2nd half, after Lem’s hard grounder from the right side bounced off Charlie’s chest, and Deon followed the play to head it into the left corner.
Frustration may have set in for the visitors about 25 minutes into 2nd half, when Jarrett got what looked like a good run-through break on the left side; but at the last second, Shawn “Chuckie” Thurton, City Boys slimly built sweeper, somehow managed to block the shot. Words were exchanged at close quarters, and the next moment, Chuckie was on the ground holding his head in pain, and the referee raised the red card to Jarrett, who had apparently assaulted Chuckie. Things escalated quickly after that, and the game never resumed, as Orange Walk United players collected their bags and left the field, while the City Boys team calmly waited on the field for the referee’s decision.
It was an unfortunate turn of events, for what was a well contested match, but one in which the defending champion had seemed to withstand the best their opponents had to offer, and were poised to finish the game in commanding fashion. Orange Walk United is a good team, but they have a young coach, Raul Rosado, and one of their veteran stars was observed grumbling about their management strategy before the match, which is not a good sign. Hopefully, they can work things out. The league will certainly be applying some sanctions. (See Super League press release elsewhere in this issue.)
In other Belize Bank Super League Tournament games yesterday, out west at the Camalote Football Field it was the visiting Griga Knights, 5-2, over home squad Cayo South United. Jason Apolonio (19 & 59 min), Stephen Martinez (25 & 34 min) and Kenroy Arthurs (41 min) shook the net for Griga; while Wayne Wiltshire (71 min) and Edmund “Buzzard” Pandy (90+ min) tallied for Cayo South. And down south at the Toledo Union Field, it was home standing Paradise/Freedom Fighters registering their first win of the tournament, a 1-nil victory over Third World FC from Belize City, on a 69th minute goal from Ralph Flores. Also in the south, at the Placencia Football Field, Placencia Assassin got a goal from Ashley Torres (52 min), while visiting Hattieville Monarch got theirs from Richard Usher (29 min), for the 1-1 final score. It was the third draw for Hattieville in as many games this season.
Upcoming Week 4 schedule:
Sunday, March 20
3:30 p.m. – Hattieville Monarch FC vs Orange Walk United – Hattieville Football Field
3:30 p.m. – Cayo South United vs Raymond Gentle-City Boys United – Camalote Football Field
3:30 p.m. – Paradise/Freedom Fighters vs Placencia Assassin – Toledo Union Field
4:00 p.m. – Third World FC vs Griga Knight’s – MCC Grounds