Belize’s Evan Mariano unhappy with Houston Hurricanes
Things seemed bright for Belize national team player Evan Mariano a few weeks ago when we received word that he had travelled to Texas to take up a contract “with the Houston Hurricanes Football Club of the Texas Premier Soccer League (TPSL).” In our mid-week issue of Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in an article titled “Mariano ‘Man of the Match’ in debut with Houston Hurricanes,” we had observed that “The TPSL is a local professional league inside the state of Texas, as opposed to the NASL (North American Soccer League), in which Belize’s Deon McCaulay is presently playing with the Atlanta Silverbacks FC, and the MLS (Major League Soccer), which both feature teams from different states in the U.S.”
Well, it seems it has turned out that, indeed, the TPSL is a “local league,” and our boy, Evan Mariano is not happy with the Houston Hurricanes at all.
Yesterday, former national team manager and one time national team player Dean Flowers forwarded to us portions of a Facebook conversation he had with Mariano on Saturday, and they indicate that Mariano is totally disappointed with the Hurricanes and their owner. Among his comments: “… the team is not a professional team at all, training only on Thursdays…;” and it “will not push me no where at all; it’s just for the local people that live in Houston, Texas…” However, Mariano also noted that, “… by the way, I did not sign a contract.”
His next move? Mariano said he “got an offer to play in the PDL (a development league, we suspect), so I’ll take that; from there I can reach NSL PRO.” He had a meeting scheduled with the assistant coach of the Dutch Lions “that play in the PDL and USL PRO. They have two teams, and then tomorrow I get invited to one of the games, so I can meet the head coach.”
Mariano also indicated that he is open, but he has not yet been contacted by the Belize national team, which should be gearing up for Gold Cup qualifiers in September.
Our best wishes from the sports desk to Belizean ‘baller Evan Mariano for a successful break-through in his football adventure in the U.S.