BELIZE CITY, Thurs. June 2, 2022
As we go to press this evening, our Belize National Male “A” Team, the Jaguars is facing the Dominican Republic in the first round of the 2022-2023 Concacaf Nations League (CNL) tournament. Kickoff time was 4:00 p.m. at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan.
Belize has long been knocked out of World Cup qualifying, and the sprinkling of Belize fans at today’s game, being shown live on Channel 5, is indicative of low fan interest since many fans are not aware of the meaning of the game today, except that it is an international match.
A concacaf.com release today, “President Victor Montagliani praises all 41 Member Associations ahead of the second edition of Concacaf Nations League,” explains the competition process and what is at stake for teams participating in this second edition of the CNL. Following are some excerpts from that release:
“The group stage of the second edition of the CNL will be played in June 2022 and March 2023 with home and away play across the region, prior to a centralized CNL Finals in June 2023 which will include the League A group winners competing to be crowned 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League champions.”…
“The CNL was established to create a more consistent set of matches for all men’s national teams across the region. Teams were split into Leagues A, B and C and the competition provided an exciting qualification route to the 2021 Gold Cup. The CNL also includes promotion and relegation between editions, creating opportunities for all teams to move within the system as they improve, and to dream of reaching new heights.”…
“The 2022/23 CNL will qualify teams to the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup in a format which will ensure intense competition on the field throughout the group stage. CNL League A group winners and runners-up, and League B group winners will qualify directly to the 2023 Gold Cup group stage. CNL League A group third place finishers, League B group runners-up and League C group winners will qualify to the 2023 Gold Cup Preliminary Round.”
“The CNL campaign will commence with six matches on Thursday, June 2, 2022. Anguilla vs Dominica (4pm ET) kicks things off in League C, prior to four League B matches including French Guiana vs Guatemala (5pm ET), Belize vs Dominican Republic (6pm ET), Barbados vs Antigua and Barbuda (7:30pm ET) and Guadeloupe vs Cuba (8pm ET). A Central American rivalry will kick things off in League A with tomorrow night’s Panama vs Costa Rica (730pm ET) match sure to capture the imagination of fans in both countries.”
So, Belize is in League B along with French Guiana, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, and Cuba. And in this 8-member group, the goal is to try and at least claim second place in order to earn a spot in the Preliminary Round of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Here are some of the scheduled games for Belize in this month of June, according to the published CNL League B schedule, with the home team listed first: Thursday, June 2 – Belize vs Dominican Republic; Sunday, June 5 – Guatemala vs Belize; Thursday, June 9 – Belize vs French Guiana; Tuesday, June 14 – French Guiana vs Belize. Other Belize matches in June at dates yet to be determined are: Belize vs Guatemala; Dominican Republic vs Belize.
The remainder of our League B matches will be in March 2023.
Today’s Belize Jaguars’ starting roster, as provided by FFB: goalkeeper – #1 Charles Tillett; defenders – #3 Norman Anderson, #5 Eugene Martinez, #17 Deshawon Nembhard #18 Evral Trapp (captain); midfielders – #6 Jovaunn Ramos, #7 Antonio Rocha, #19 Horace Avila; forwards – #9 Deon McCaulay, #16 Angelo Appello, #20 Krisean Lopez. (Substitute List – #12 GK Isaac Castillo, #22 GK Earl Dyck, #2 DF Aaron Lopez, #4 DF Jose Urbina, #8 MF Warren Moss, #10 MF Eldon Reneau, #11 FW Jesse August, #13 MF Luis Torres, #14 MF Darrel Myvett, #15 FW Carlos Bernardez, #21 MF Nana Mensah, #23 DF Donell Arzu.) Head coach is David Perez, and his assistant is Manuel Can.
Le’s go, Belize!! (FLASH!! – Belize down by 2-nil to Dominican Republic in second half.)