by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Sept. 25, 2023
Port Layola FC will be battling it out at the Marion Jones Sports Complex against Verdes FC on Wednesday, September 27. This will be a backmatch, for a game that was scheduled three weeks ago that was postponed due to inclement weather.
As of Week 7 of the PLB’s (Premier League of Belize) 2023-2024 Opening Season, Port Layola currently sits at sixth place in the standings, tied with Verdes.
Port Layola, which features only homegrown players, is led by Charles Tillett, Gilroy “Breda” Thurton, veteran superstar Ian “Yellow” Gaynair, along with some young stars, Steven “Breds” Baizer and Sean Young.
Despite the game being long overdue, it is a statement game not only due to the standings, but also because some players who once wore the Verdes team name across their chests, like Charles Tillett and Jarret Davis, are now with Port Layola, while former Port Layola star striker, Michael Palacio is now in the Verdes lineup.
In addition, Port Loyola FC is the only team that defeated Verdes on their home field last season, a 2-1 Port Layola victory at the Norman Broaster which Verdes eventually nullified, after their protest on a registration technicality, which was rejected by the PLB Disciplinary Committee, was subsequently supported by the FFB Appeals Board. The star for Port Layola in that game was striker Michael Palacio who blasted Verdes all-Belize goalkeeper Woodrow West from outside the 18. Now Palacio will be facing his old Port Layola teammates.
The game will be played at 7:00 p.m.