by Kristen Ku

BELIZE CITY, Mon. May 6, 2024

San Ignacio and Santa Elena mournfully bid farewell to one of their most cherished football legends, Cristino Jorge “Maya” Ortega.

Known affectionately as “Maya,” Ortega was a star forward for the Mighty Avengers Football Team, a squad that dominated Belizean football from the late 1960s through the 1970s.

Born in the Cayo District, Ortega’s football journey was marked by humble beginnings and a passion for the game that was nurtured by local influences and further developed abroad.

Despite early challenges, including a period in Honduras cut short by political unrest, Ortega returned to Belize, where he would ascend to local football stardom with the Mighty Avengers.

Under the management of Polo Waight, the Avengers became known as the “Champion of Champions,” praised for their discipline, fitness, and competitive spirit. The team was recognized both in Belize and internationally, notably in Honduras, where several Avengers were recognized as potential professional players.

They were even the first football team to receive Hall of Fame recognition in Belize.

Ortega’s death is a great loss to the twin towns and to all who knew him as a player, a leader, and a unifying figure.

As tributes pour in, he leaves behind a legacy of athletic admiration and extraordinary contributions to football in the communities of San Ignacio and Santa Elena.