by Rudolph “Bolo” McKoy
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Oct. 23, 2023
The play-in tournament to decide the second-place team in the Social Security Health & Wellness Over-40 football tournament finals was determined on Sunday, October 22, at Berger Field in a well-played and very exciting match, where Belize Defence Force veterans defeated Medina’s Pickstock Lake, 4 goals to 2.
It was a very competitive match from the start, with BDF taking an early 2 goals to 0 lead with goals from Harrison Tasher and Miguel Guerra. Just before the first half ended, Kenroy Martin scored a much needed goal for Medina’s Lake to end the half at 2 goals to 1 in favor of BDF.
The second half was again very exciting, and for the first 25 minutes neither team was able to score. At the 27th minute, Medina’s coach requested a change for one of their players, Carl Wellington, who was possibly not very happy about being substituted, and was given a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct. With one man short, Medina’s Lake was unable to sustain their attack. BDF scored two more goals in the final 20 minutes, one by Miguel Guerra and the other by Kent Noralez. Nevertheless, Medina’s Lake refused to quit, and in the 40th minute Kenroy Martin scored his second goal of the day, but it was too little too late. Final score, BDF 4, Medina’s Lake 2.
This Sunday, October 29, at 3:00 p.m. at Berger Field, the championship game between Kulture Yabra and Belize Defence Force will climax the Social Security Health & Wellness 2023 Over-40 football competition.
There will be a preliminary tournament, starting at 1:00 p.m. featuring 3 Under-10 teams – Reality Youths; Kelly Street Kids coached by Kenny Morgan; and Kulture Yabra Youth Club, featuring young sensations Kyron Alvarez, Aiden Cho, Kyrone “Popper” Martinez, Camron Brown, and Tyrone “Bobist” Guy.
It will be the future of Belize football from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; then at 3:00 p.m. sharp, the Over-40 championship game – Kulture Yabra, featuring the leading goal scorer with 16 goals, Kevin Rowland, along with David “Manu” McCaulay, Juan Carlos and company, going up against BDF super strikers Harrison Tasher and Miguel Guerra.
The winner walks away with $3,000.00, sponsored by Belize Social Security Board; and the runner-up gets $1,000.00. Individual trophies are sponsored by Yabra Football Club, and the first-place team trophy is sponsored by Belize National Sports Council.