Premier League selection holds National “A” Team to 1 goal
The 14 Premier League players who showed up on short notice on Saturday night, June 22, to play a training “Friendly” match at the FFB Stadium against the National “A” Team are to be commended for their valued participation in the process to try and get our national team in the best possible shape for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in a couple weeks’ time. For various reasons, the FFB has been unable to secure credible international opposition for our national team to play needed tune-up matches, so they have turned to the local scene as a last resort.
The PLB selection that faced the national team on Saturday night was no pushover, like the San Ignacio selection that the national team drilled 7-0 a couple weeks ago. True, the national team is yet to concede a goal, and defense has been the focus of the coaching staff, knowing that it will take a lot more time to develop the attacking potential of our squad. But it is also true that a false sense of security could result if there are too many easy games. Two of the best coaches of the Premier League, former Milpros teammates “Marvellous” Marvin Ottley and Edmund “Buzzard” Pandy, utilized a number of their respective team members from FC Belize and Belmopan Bandits, and gave the national team a real test on Saturday night, conceding a second half penalty to result in a 1-0 victory for the national team.
Granted, as some disappointed fans in attendance were loudly declaring, the national team is expected to comfortably dispose of all local opposition; and the PLB selection consisted of players who have been out of training for over three weeks since their Finals were completed. When the national team failed to quickly shake the net of the opposition, some of the less than a hundred fans in attendance were openly cheering for the underdog selection.
On the other hand, it is a “wake up call” for the national team members because, just like the USA has little to gain, but a whole lot to lose from an upset by Belize, so our national team could be guilty of overlooking local opposition, perhaps not taking note of the fact that, while they are expected to win, a loss to any local selection would be devastating to their moral and image with the public. Whenever the national team takes the field, they must be aware that they carry the nation’s honor on their shoulders. And it is not like the PLB selection was any “mud squad” either; actually, quite a few of them are considered future national team players. Included in the PLB selection on Saturday night were their recent “Best Midfielder” (Denmark Casey, Jr.), “Best Defender” (Leon “Chow” Cadle), and “Best Goalkeeper” (Glenford Chimilio), along with a number of other outstanding young talent; and the team was guided by the two recent recipients of the “Best Coach” award, Edmund Pandy and Marvin Ottley.
National team coach Ian Mork did not necessarily field his Gold Cup starting eleven to begin the training match on Saturday night. It was a workout planned to have all 26 players see action, with substitutions taking place 3 or 4 at a time during the course of the match. The PLB selection appeared more cohesive than the national team, who were obviously focused on trying to execute a defensive posture tailored to contain the offensive style of their first Gold Cup opponent, USA, on July 9. It was observed by coach Ottley that the national team players did not make enough adjustments to compensate for his selection’s game strategy changes, and this is one area that coach Mork will be focusing on. It is one thing to be prepared for what is expected of the USA attack; but we also have to be ready, at the drop of hat, to see where they are changing their strategy during the course of the game, and make adjustments ourselves to compensate.
Also not to be overlooked is the fact that it is always easier for a local selection to be “up” for a game against the national team, than it is for the national team when facing a considered lesser opponent. But that is where the discipline and commitment of being on the national team is expected to engender a pride in performance that will demand no less than the best to ensure that no local challenger gets “upstart.” Coach Ian Mork had a few words for his national team members after the game on Saturday night, and he spoke to the area of their mental preparation and personal sacrifice to ensure they are ready to perform.
On the bright side on Saturday night: Captain Elroy Smith executed a perfect penalty, after Ian “Yellow” Gaynair was taken down while in the act of shooting inside the eighteen; his low shot to the left corner caught selection goalie Glenford Chimilio going the other way. And Deon McCaulay, though he didn’t score from about 4 attempts, started the game and played a full 70 minutes before being substituted; his injury is apparently on the mend.
With the field soft and slippery, we asked coach Mork if the national team was equipped with alternate footwear with longer pegs to suit the field, as they were repeatedly losing their footing. He said, “From 2004 we have been asking for those. Can you get some for us?” He was referring to his former stint with the national team back in 2004. The most important piece of equipment for a footballer are his boots; and with different types of pitches – wet, dry, artificial turf, high or low grass – different types of “pegs” are recommended. And those cost money; which is what the fund raising for the national team is about.
Our national team apparently needed a “wake up call,” and we have to say Thanks to coaches Marvin Ottley and Edmund Pandy and the 14 talented Premier League players who volunteered their services on Saturday night to give the national team a worthwhile contest. It was a “Friendly,” and coach Ian Mork expressed his gratitude to coaches Ottley and Pandy and the PLB selection.
The PLB selection on Saturday night consisted of mostly players from FC Belize and Belmopan Bandits, with one each from Verdes and San Ignacio United. They were: from FC Belize – Glenford Chimilio, Leon “Chow” Cadle, Ryan Gill, Avian Crawford, Stephen Baizer, John King and Kristian Perez; from Belmopan Bandits – Shane Armstrong, Edmund Pandy, Jr., Denmark Casey, Jr., Jerome “Jarro” James and David Madrid; from Verdes FC – Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton; and from San Ignacio United – Rosny Martinez.
The game was officiated by Belmopan based officials: referee Pedro Recinos, an d assistant referees Vicente Bolon and Roger Cuevas.
25 of the 26 National “A” Team players saw action, starting with Shane Moody Orio (goalkeeper), Elroy Smith, Dalton Eiley, Ian “Yellow” Gaynair, Tyrone Pandy, Ashley Torres, Daniel “Danny” Jimenez, Trevor “Burger” Lennen, Evral Trapp, Harrison “Cafu” Roches and Deon McCaulay; and the others substituted in stages – David Trapp, Khalil Velasquez, Michael Salazar, Woodrow West (goalkeeper), Floyd Jones, Devon Makin, Evan Mariano, Luis “Baaka” Torres, Bernard “Hijo” Linares, Elroy “Bibs” Kuylen, Cristobal Gilharry, Lennox “Criminal” Castillo, Andres Makin, Jr., and Harrison Tasher. Only goalkeeper Frank Lopez did not see action for the National Team.
There are reportedly plans to have one final tune-up “Friendly” this coming Saturday night where a real Premier League selection, comprising players from all 8 Premier League teams will give the National “A” Team another training match. Hopefully, the details can be finalized in time so that the game is properly promoted, for fans to give our boys a proper send-off with a good attendance at the game.