It is no secret where the present Amandala sports desk stands in regards to the legitimacy and leadership strategy of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB), but, as the only media present at the hastily called press conference of the FFB at 11:45 this morning at the Civic Center Conference Room in Belize City, the more important matter at hand was that Belize’s FFB is hosting a Central American U16 male football tournament in the midst of our national celebrations, from September 19th to 23rd; and the most important thing for all of us, as football fans and Belizean patriots, is to “ride” with our boys with all our hearts, “come hell or high water.”
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama will be vying for the Central American U16 Football Championship 2007 in a single round robin of games with 35-minute halves, the tournament winner being determined by the points system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss).
In the event of a tie in points at the end of the tournament, reference will be made to goal difference first, followed by total goals scored, and finally a toss being taken if necessary to determine the champion.
According to FFB President, Dr. Bertie Chimilio, who is also the Vice President of the Central American Union of Football (UNCAF), the 35-minute halves were necessary because, if regular 45 minute halves were played, FIFA rules would mandate at least 48 hours rest between games for players, which would prolong the tournament. As host of the tournament, the FFB had the privilege of setting the schedule of matches, and took the opportunity to set the Belize vs Guatemala game on the occasion of our Independence Day, as, according to President Chimilio, this should bring out more fans to the game.
Commenting on a question regarding the name “Belice” on the warm-up shirts of the team, the FFB President opined that our country is located in Central America and is registered under two names, “Belize” and “Belice,” at both the United Nations and in UNCAF, and Belizeans should get used to it. He reassured, however, that the team uniform proper uses the name “Belize”.
Honduras and Nicaragua, the remaining two members of UNCAF, both excused themselves from the tournament this year due to the effects of Hurricane Felix. The Central American U16, in only its second year, is seen as a preparatory tournament for the U17 next year, which is a qualification tournament to go on to CONCACAF (which includes North and Central America and the Caribbean) and then the FIFA world U17 championships.
And what do we know about the young men who will be representing the Jewel in this time of Belize’s national celebrations? So far, it has almost been a secret, so lethargic have been the efforts of the FFB in keeping the media informed. President Chimilio promised to be more forthcoming with information on plans for our national teams in the future, starting with the national team preparation, commencing in a few weeks’ time, for World Cup eliminations next year.
But National Coach, Marvin Ottley, is nevertheless confident that Belize’s U16 team is well prepared, and he is satisfied with the support he has received from the FFB in facilitating his selection and training of the team.
President Chimilio, for his part, expressed gratitude to the National Sports Council and corporate sponsors Coca-Cola, Crystal, and Milan Milan of Salvador, which has a one-year contract with the FFB for Belize’s national team outfits.
Though on secondment from the National Sports Council (NSC) to the FFB, and thus may be regarded in that aspect as a choice of convenience, the FFB’s appointment of Marvin Ottley as national coach is by no means without justification. A former coach of national champions, Kulture Yabra, and goalkeeper for the 1989 Coke Milpros team that delivered Belize’s first international success in CONCACAF second round qualification, Marvin is also credited with laying the foundation, as former coach, for the present national champs FC Belize, before leaving to concentrate on full time deployment with the NSC as sports coordinator.
According to Coach Marvin, he began the process in April of this year with a comprehensive tour of all football playing areas of the country and the cayes, to identify the crop of players that would make up the base from which the U16 selection would be made.
Then, starting with eighty-nine players chosen from all over the country, he took four weeks during May and June to select the twenty-two players for the U16 national team. This was followed by a month of intensive specialized training, and then fine-tuning through a series of training matches against formidable opponents, including U20 selections at home and abroad in Chetumal, Mexico.
Since the selection, the team has played a total of sixteen training matches, eight of those being official “friendlies,” coming away with a 4 win, 2 draw, and 2 loss record, all against older players. Assistant Coach for the U16 is Daniel Smith, and the team physician is Dr. Ken Vasquez.
Interested fans who want to see our U16 team before the tournament gets underway can visit the MCC on Sunday, September 16, where an exhibition match at 6 p.m. will feature the national U16 against a team made up of some players from the Belize U20 selection, which is presently on recess.
According to FFB President Chimilio, the favorite of the tournament has to be El Salvador, whose U16 team has recently delivered lopsided scores to a number of opponents in international competition. Reportedly, El Salvador’s U16 defeated Trinidad 8-1, Barbados 5-nil, and St. Lucia 9-nil.
Following pre-game opening ceremonies, the first game of the tournament, which starts on Wednesday, September 19, matches El Salvador against Guatemala at 6 p.m., followed by Belize vs Panama at 8 p.m.
On Thursday, September 20, it will be Panama vs El Salvador at 6 p.m., followed by Costa Rica vs Guatemala at 8 p.m.
Independence Day, Friday, September 21, features El Salvador vs Costa Rica at 6 p.m., with Belize taking on Guatemala in the nightcap at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, September 22, Guatemala meets Panama at 6 p.m., and Belize takes on Costa Rica at 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 23, sees Panama facing Costa Rica at 3:30 p.m.; and, in the final game of the tournament, Belize squares off against El Salvador at 5:30 p.m.
Entrance fees for all the games of the international tournament will be $10.00, with children 12 years and under entering free; as well, any student over 12 years (no age limit) who presents his/her student I.D. at the gate will be admitted for $5.00.
Below is the list of players making up the Belize U16 National Team.