The Belize Premier Football League (BPFL) began its new season, the BPFL Cup 2011, yesterday with the four participating teams seeing action in Week 1 of the tourney.
At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, defending champion Belize Defence Force (BDF) stopped Hankook Verdes, 2-1, with a goal each from Daniel “Danny” Jimenez and his brother Richard “Cheety” Jimenez. Marlon Meza got the only goal for Verdes. From what we heard on the Krem radio broadcast, BDF featured Derrol Roches in goal. Derrol has played back-up to BDF regular starter Woodrow West in goal. It will be interesting to see if the army thinks they can go all the way without their All Belize starter in goal this season.
Meanwhile, at the MCC Grounds in Belize City it was F.C. Belize, featuring a number of semi-pro rookies, getting off to a good start with a 2-0 win over visiting San Felipe Barcelona from Orange Walk. San Felipe fielded pretty much their same team from last season, but F.C. Belize has undergone a major makeover, with almost half their roster now consisting of young players just up from the amateur ranks. (Most of the F.C. Belize veterans have gone on to join the Super League champion Raymond Gentle-City Boys United.) After an evenly matched and scoreless first half, rookie midfielder Misael Canul put F.C. Belize on the scorecard at the 65th minute through a long, high free kick from near the right western sideline that San Felipe goalie Brian Hernandez misjudged and slipped when he tried to recover, the ball going over his head and bouncing into the open, southern goal. The second goal at the 70th minute was through another free kick from the same area, this time by F. C. Belize’s other rookie midfielder Daniel Ramos, who placed it perfectly for striker Byron “Barrow” Usher to make good with the header. San Felipe, with veteran midfielder Deris “Colombia” Benavides orchestrating the attack and making his trademark penetrating passes, made a few good attempts, one a header from close range by striker Oscar Acevedo, but another F.C. Belize addition Glenford Chimilio was spectacular in goal, keeping San Felipe off the scoreboard. Referee Wellington “Spooners” Hall was firm and decisive in keeping things under control, issuing 3 red cards in the process, 2 to San Felipe (Clifton West and Erick Rodriguez) and 1 to F.C. Belize (Tyrone Linares). With captain Cristobal Gilharry and Ryan Gill among the veterans remaining in the line-up, F.C. Belize presents a good mix of young talent and seasoned, though still young veterans.
Week 2 schedule:
Saturday, March 26
8:00 p.m. – Hankook Verdes vs F.C. Belize – Marshalleck Stadium
Sunday, March 27
4:00 p.m. – San Felipe Barcelona vs Belize Defence Force – San Felipe Football Field