BELMOPAN Tues. Jan. 21, 2020– The Belmopan Football Association (BFA) Amateur 1st Division Tournament kicked off on Saturday, January 18. Nine of the best amateur clubs are being featured in the 2019-2020 Closing Season, namely: defending champion Club Atletico, sub-champion Galacticos CF, FD Bandits, Roaring Creek United, Napoles FC, Juventus FC BMP, Valley United FC, Camalote Warriors FC, and Franks Eddy-Cotton Tree Utd.
Opening night saw Valley United winning over Franks Eddy-Cotton Tree by a score of 3-0. Scoring for Valley United FC were Yoni Gonzalez in the 55th and 88th minutes and Henry Nino in the 90th minute. In game two on Saturday night, Juventus FC BMP clobbered an inexperienced Camalote Warriors FC, 4-0. Scoring for Juventus were Christopher Gillett in the 18th and 57th minutes, Edil Contreras in the 44th, and Jerome Belisle in the 56th minute.
The action resumed on Sunday with two monster match-ups which, coincidentally, featured the four semifinalists from the Opening Season. In game one, FC Bandits edged out Roaring Creek United by a score of 2-1, thanks to goals from Wilfredo Galvez, Jr. in the 66th minute and an auto goal by Edwin Serrano in the 71st minute, after Roaring Creek’s young goalkeeper Jose Hernandez mishandled a ball centered into his area by Michael Salazar of FD Bandits. Hernandez failed to collect the ball in the air, causing it to fall on the backside of his defender, Edwin Serrano, which resulted in the unfortunate own-goal. The consolation goal for Roaring Creek United came from Kenroy “Kenny” Williams in the 47th minute.
In the second game of the evening, fans were treated to a re-match between the opening season finalists, Galacticos CF and four-time consecutive champion Club Atletico.
Club Atletico made major acquisitions in the off season in preparation for this year’s inter-district championship, which comes up in May, by acquiring the NALC top goal scorer, Steven Baizar and midfielder general Francisco Briceno to boost their offense. Another key acquisition for Atletico this season is left back Kandale Nunez, who will try his best to fill the void left by the departed Richard Gillett, who previously anchored the Atletico defense while collecting multiple Defender of the Season awards. Gillett, we understand, transferred to Caribbean Rum Boyz FC, who now feature in the Orange Walk Football Association’s amateur tournament.
Galacticos, on the other hand, also made some major moves, acquiring Brandon Anderson in goal, and boosting their offense with the acquisition of the talented Jarrel Young and Hugo Medrano in midfield, and the dangerous Jaylen Myers in the forward line.
As expected, the game did not disappoint, with both teams putting on an exciting show with much offense and stellar defending. In the end, Galacticos CF got revenge from last season’s finals, and masterfully outgunned defending champions Club Atletico by a score of 3-1. Jaylen Myers scored for Galacticos in the 66th and 71st minutes, along with Raul Leonardo who struck at the 94th minute in injury time, fresh off the bench. For Club Atletico, the lone tally came from Steven Baizar in the 61st minute.
Week two comes up on Friday and Sunday, January 24th and 26th, respectively.
Friday night will feature Juventus FC BMP vs Napoles FC at 7:00 p.m.; and at 9:00 p.m., Galacticos CF will take on FD Bandits.
On Sunday, Camalote Warriors will be going up against Valley United FC at 4:00 p.m.; and at 6:00 p.m., Club Atletico will be looking for its first win of the season against Franks Eddy-Cotton Tree United.
BFA… where dreams begin and professionals are made!!!