It was like a bazaar atmosphere when we stepped into the MCC Grounds tonight around 10:30 p.m. where it was just half-time of the Super League of Belize’s Interoffice (Closed) football championship final between CSB/Belize Diesel and Police United FC. Game 1 in their best-of-3 games series on January 5 was a 3-1 victory for Police; but on January 12, CSB/Belize Diesel returned the favor when they dropped Police, 2-1, to knot up the series. Game 3 tonight was therefore for “all the marbles.”
Reports were that Police was leading 1-nil on a goal from one Lennox Castillo, otherwise known as “Criminal”, of National U-19 fame, who had been absent from the football scene for a few years after a serious knee injury that many feared would have ended his football career. Thankfully, we’re very happy to report, Criminal is back!!
The stadium lights were at their brightest, a large Crystal tent beside the official building had drinks available, the female fans were at their finest, and the music box completed the atmosphere of fun and celebration. Football fans, including many plain clothes officers and their relatives and friends, filled the large northwestern bleachers, and their drums were beating. When Criminal struck again in the southern goal a couple minutes into second half to make it 2-nil, he ran straight to the sidelines in front of the team bench, where his personal fan #1 knelt on one knee and allowed Criminal to set his goal scoring shoe on his other knee long enough for him to administer a quick shoe-shine job – real showtime! The ritual was repeated during the post-game awards ceremony.
Special permits must have been secured by someone, because at the final whistle to seal the 2-nil Police victory, as fans were storming the field to congratulate the champions, behind the wire fence on the eastern sideline a full fledged professional fireworks display suddenly burst into effect, like anything seen on Independence day.
During the game, one senior police officer in uniform remarked that this is the spirit of football coming back, inspired by the hope that at long last we are about to get rid of the tyrant who has been stifling and killing our sport. (He was referring to the upcoming FFB elections, of course.)
The awards ceremony, conducted by Super League of Belize owner Michael Blease, followed the game. Queen of the Bay, Amanda Taylor was on hand to deliver the champion’s trophy as well as individual trophies and awards for the regular season, which were as follows:
Best Goalkeeper – “Marvellous” Marvin Ottley (Creative Tiles);
Best Defense – Oswald “Snake” Ramos (Police);
Best Midfield – Orlando “Landini” Vega (Creative Tiles);
Best Forward – Lennox “Criminal” Castillo (Police);
Most Goals (13) – Lennox “Criminal” Castillo (Police);
MVP – Lennox “Criminal” Castillo (Police);
Best Coach – Andres “Kimba” Makin, Sr. (Police);
Best Manager – Thomas Castro (Eco Tours);
Female Awardees (for scoring a goal in the tournament) – Shenelle Gentle (Eco Tours), Candice Neal (CSB/Belize Diesel), Adrianne Meighan (Lucky Stars), and Cynthia Salazar (BWSL).
(Ed. Note: Police, according to reports, will be one of the teams in the new FFB Premier League, and they will be further strengthened by the Jimenez brothers, Danny and Leechi, among others. And Press Cadogan even suggested that they may recruit the veteran Tilliman Nunez in midfield. Tilliman in midfield feeding Criminal should be something to look forward to.)