_{Photo: Customs/Port – BDFA Interoffice Football Champions 2024}

by William Ysaguirre

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Nov. 12, 2024

_{Photo: Atlantic Bank – BDFA Interoffice Football Sub-Champions 2024}

The joint Customs Department/Port Authority team won the Belize District Football Association (BDFA) Interoffice championship, 1-0, in a sudden death penalty shoot-out against the Atlantic Bank team in the finals at the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City last Thursday night, November 7.

Oscar Torres (10’) and Keshawn Gordon gave the Atlantic Bank a 2-0 lead until Delroy “Thinman” Andrews narrowed the deficit after the break, and Kyle Valerio (65’) equalized shortly before the end of regulation, sending the match into overtime.

_{Photo: Oscar Torres – Best Midfielder}

No goals were scored in the overtime, sending the game into penalties, during which MVP goalkeeper Eric Coria stopped the bankers’ first try. The bank’s 3rd kicker also missed the goal completely, but Joseph Pandy, Kenrick Gordon and Keshawn Gordon successfully converted their tries. Roy Smith, Kyle Valerio and Marshall Nuñez converted for Customs/Port, but their 2nd kicker sent the ball over the crossbar, and the Atlantic goalkeeper stopped Customs’ 5th try, tying the score at 3-3 after 5 kicks each. In sudden death, MVP Eric Coria stopped the bank’s 6th try, while Keemar Wagner converted for Customs to secure the championship win.

_{Photo: Eric Coria – MVP}

The National Sports Council/BTB won the consolation match for 3rd place, 1-0, over Alpha/C& Sons, when Francis Andrews scored the winning goal.

_{Photo: Francis Andrews – Best Forward}

BDFA officials Stanley “Jordan” Reneau and Tyrone “T-Bone” Muschamp presented team trophies and individual medals to the champions, and 2nd and 3rd place winners in the awards ceremony after the final.

_{Photo: Leon Jones – Best Defence}

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: Best Defense – Leon Jones (National Sports Council); Best Midfield – Oscar Torres (Atlantic Bank); Best Forward – Francis Andrews (National Sports Council); Best Goalkeeper – Ashton Edwards (National Sports Council); Most Valuable Player – Eric Coria (Customs/Port).