BELIZE CITY
Thurs. July 28, 2022
The Belize Tourist Board (BTB) sponsored 2022 U13 Mundialito Championship culminated on Saturday afternoon, July 23, at the MCC Grounds where Belize United emerged victorious in penalties over Reality Youths after playing to a regulation and overtime draw.
In the preceding game, Tutbay Yabra clipped Ladyville Rising Stars, 1-0, on a goal by Christon Linarez to secure Third Place in the tournament.
The championship final between Reality Youths and Belize United was a tough battle from start to finish, where it remained scoreless, 0- 0, in regulation and overtime. And in the ensuing penalty shootout, it was Belize United coming away with a dramatic 3-2 victory and BTB U13 Mundialito Championship 2022.
After a number of stops and wide kicks on both sides, it came down to the final penalty kick by Belize United with the score tied at 2-2. Herwin Godoy and Jacob Joseph had successfully converted two of their four kicks for Belize United; while there were three misses from Reality Youths, with Tyler Gentle scoring on their first attempt and Dennis Usher netting their last kick to stay alive after 3 straight misses from his teammates. With the score tied at 2-2, Belize United’s Barack Morey stepped up to take their fifth and final penalty kick, and the smiling youth was unfazed by the moment and intense gaze of excited onlookers.
Against the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper, “big youth” Shane Vernon, who had just stopped the previous penalty, Barack placed it firmly in the upper right corner, exactly in the “V” just where the iron is bent; impossible to stop. Jubilation! as the ecstatic Belize United fans and teammates stormed the field, and there were some visible tears from heartbroken Reality Youths players.
Former Smart manager and current government minister with responsibility for tourism, Hon. Anthony Mahler was on hand along with his junior minister, Hon. Gilroy Usher to distribute the trophies and awards following the championship game.
2022 BTB U13 Mundialito Champion is Belize United; 2nd Place went to Reality Youths; and in 3rd Place was Tutbay Yabra.
Individual awards were: Most Goals – Christon Linarez (Tutbay Yabra FC);
Best Forward – Kadeem Oliva (Reality Youths); Best Midfield – Jacob Joseph (Belize United); Best Defense – Jahryn Clarke (Ladyville Rising Stars); Best Goalkeeper – Shane Vernon (Reality Youths); Most Valuable Player – Shane Vernon (Reality Youths); MVP of Playoffs – Barack Morey (Belize United); Fair Play Award – Amina Burgess (Ladyville Rising Stars); and Best Coach – Richard Nunez (Reality Youths).