BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 1, 2022
The Belize National U17 Men’s team is currently in Managua, Nicaragua where they are participating in the CONCACAF Men’s U17 Qualifiers. The Belize Jaguars are in Group D along with host Nicaragua, Antigua & Barbuda, and Turks & Caicos Islands.
In our first match yesterday, Wednesday, at the Estadio National in Nicaragua, concacaf.com reported that Antigua & Barbuda and Belize played “to a compelling 1-1 draw.” The report continued, “Jaheim Mena gave Belize a 1-0 lead in the 15’, but the Benna Boys answered in kind, scoring in the 31’ through Tejhano Jarvis to complete the 1-1 final.”
Belize’s next match is at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, against host team Nicaragua, who blanked Turks & Caicos Islands, 5-0, in their opener yesterday. And on Sunday at 4:00 p.m., Belize plays against Turks & Caicos Islands.
In its release on Saturday, August 27, “The Football Federation of Belize wishes the National U17 Men’s team all the best as they go into this tournament.”
Players on the Belize National Men’s U17 Team and their respective region of the country include: goalkeepers – Orlando Jackson (Midsouth) and Amare Jones (Belmopan); defenders – Amid Flores (Corozal), Dixon Gamboa (Belize), Devin Garbutt (Midsouth), Didied Gill (Corozal), Sharlon Martinez (Toledo), Jaheim Mena (Midsouth), Alexis Mendez (Corozal), Tyrus Pineda (Stann Creek), and Brandon Rogers (Belize); midfielders – Zyvaughn Ara (Cayo), Flayden Carter (Belize), Alvin Diaz (Cayo), Corey Hynes (Stann Creek), Harrison Roches (Stann Creek), and Clifford Sanker (Corozal); and strikers – Amaad Augustine (Cayo), Marvin Card (Belize), and Tyrese Moody (Belmopan).
Technical Staff comprises: Head Coach – John George; Assistant Coach – Daniel Smith; Assistant Coach – Nicholas Ara; Fitness Coach – Dennis Serano; GK Coach – Stanley Reneau; Physiotherapist –
Norman Koko; Kit Manager – Kelsie Ciego; Manager – Tyrone Young; Technical Director – Philip Marin.
Le’s go, Belize!
About the competition
According to the Concacaf Under 17 Championship 2022-2023 Regulations, QUALIFIER ROUND 12.1, “The Concacaf Under-17 Qualifier will be played in four (4) groups (A, B, C, and D) among the eligible Participating Member Associations (PMAs) ranked between 17 and 41. After Round Robin play, the top team from each group will advance to the Concacaf Under-17 Final Championship …”
In the current Group D standings, Nicaragua leads with 3 pts, Antigua & Barbuda and Belize have 1 pt each, and Turks & Caicos Islands has 0 pt.
According to the latest Concacaf Men’s U17 rankings, Belize is ranked #31, and fellow Group D members are ranked as follows: Nicaragua is at #17; Antigua & Barbuda is at #23; and Turks & Caicos Islands is at #41. As explained above, only the Group D winner will advance to the Concacaf Under-17 Final Championship round.