BELIZE CITY, Mon. Jan. 13, 2020– Last week, there were 8 clubs scheduled to kick off Week 1 in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2019-2020 Closing Season; but today, the league released its revised season schedule, as Week 1 consisted of only 3 official games this past weekend, with only 7 teams now remaining on the PLB schedule this season. There had been strong rumors of a Corozal group securing the FF Valley Pride franchise, and the Corozal squad even reportedly had a good showing against a rated 1st Division team from Chetumal in a friendly match a week ago. But by Sunday morning, things had changed; and reports were that the Corozal – FF Valley Pride team, scheduled to face BDF FC in their home opener at the MCC, would be visiting the old capital for a friendly only. A source from Corozal at the MCC yesterday told us that the prospected sponsor had backed out, and some of their top players thus pulled out of the squad, which fell, 4-0, to BDF.

So, there are 7 teams left in this PLB Closing Season, and one of them, Placencia Assassins FC had a rocky start on the road against a rejuvenated Bandits Sport at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium on Saturday night, where the Bandits drilled them, 11-0, with a hat trick from Georgie Welcome (43’, 55’ & 59’), braces from Facundo Garnier (36’ & 40’), Humberto Requena (53’ & 78’) and Carlos Gonzalez (81’ & 87’), and 1 apiece from Andres Makin (34’) and Trevor “Burger” Lennon (47’). Meanwhile, at the M.A. Stadium in Independence, visiting defending champions, Verdes FC were held to a 0-0 draw by Altitude FC. While Placencia Assassins have started as the weakest team in the tournament, their next door neighbors and former partners, Altitude FC have to now be considered a team to watch, as they held scoreless a team with the three best midfielders in last season – Edwin Bernal, Jordy Polanco and Denmark Casey.

The only game on Sunday was, by all accounts, a dandy at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga, where home standing Wagiya SC jumped to an early lead over San Pedro Pirates FC on a strike by Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton (5’); but the visitors replied a little over ten minutes later through their star midfielder, Jesse Smith (18’); and it remained 1-1 until the long whistle.

Upcoming Week 2 schedule:
Saturday, January 18
7:30 p.m. – San Pedro Pirates FC vs Altitude FC – Ambergris Stadium

Sunday, January 19
3:30 p.m. – Placencia Assassins FC vs BDF FC – Placencia Football Field
4:00 p.m. – Verdes FC vs Wagiya SC – Norman Broaster Stadium

(Bandits Sport resting)