BELMOPAN, Sat. Feb. 24, 2024
Considering that:
The foundation of association football is the football club and not the football association;
The football club is the center of elite Footballer production;
Football clubs are the key actors in football production;
The FIFA Club World Cup is the ultimate goal of every football club;
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) is the conduit for every Belizean football club’s progression towards the ultimate goal;
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) efficacy in pursuing its vision is dependent on the quality of elite footballers produced by Belizean football clubs;
The football club development process is benchmarked by the efficiency of the club’s elite footballer production;
CONCACAF club development paradigm is grounded in the twin principle of relegation and promotion of football clubs within The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) competition system;
Therefore:
There currently exists NO pathway based on sporting merit for a football club in the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) football domain to progress from the grassroots level to the non-amateur level.
In view of the above:
A number of football clubs have closed ranks and created a footballing organization: THE ELITE FOOTBALL LEAGUE OF BELIZE INC. to address the club development discontinuity that has been extant within the Belize National Football Association (BNFA)/Football Federation of Belize (FFB) since club-centered football was introduced into the Belize National Football Association (BNFA) in 1980.
The goal of this organization is the sustainment of the requisite environment for its member clubs to produce elite footballers of such quality to be marketable on the domestic scene.
To further its ends, the organization has initiated dialogue to fast track the quest for affiliation with the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) family via the Premier League of Belize (PLB).
The existence of this body is expected to meet the need for a footballing entity capable of organizing a national Division-II non-amateur competition as a source of, and a sink for, promoted and relegated clubs for tournaments above and below it.
Interested football clubs are hereby notified that participation in the Elite Football League of Belize (EFLB) Tournaments shall be limited to Football Federation of Belize (FFB)-licensed or Football Federation of Belize (FFB)-licensable Division I and II male and female football clubs in accordance with the 2020 Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Club Licensing Regulations.
-press release-
(AMANDALA Ed. Note: There is hope for Belizean football! The above release carries the signatures of Samuel A. Ical, President; and Adrian Vanegas, Secretary. Addresses given are: 3 Jerusalem Street, Maya Mopan Area, Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize C.A.; Tel: : +501-670-6167/+501-673-1411/+501-632-9353/+501-613-5090/+501-626-4917;Email: [email protected])