Photo: Port Layola FC celebrates PLB 2024-2025 Opening Season Championship
by William Ysaguirre
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Dec. 11, 2024
The Port Layola FC captured their 2nd consecutive Premier League of Belize (PLB) football championship, despite the San Pedro Pirates’ 2-1 win in Game 2 of the finals series at the Marion Jones Sports Complex on Sunday evening, December 8, as the defending champs won 4-2 on aggregate.
The Pirates came to the city hungry for a win, nursing a 0-3 deficit from the loss the week before. Young rookie Keydenshay Bowen exploded on the Port defense with a right-way shot (3’) to finish a cross from Tyrese Augustine. Moises Hernandez, Devon Makin, Jose Chimal and Gabriel Ramos, Jr. supported their play at midfield, and Bowen (55’) delivered a 2nd goal after the break.
Andres Orozco and Latrell Middleton led the Port offensive, with the help of Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton and Justin Trapp on the wings, and Miguel Garcia and Rene Leslie at midfield. The island defenders Brian Chavez, Louis Valdez, Marlon Gutierrez and Aldin Forman tried to lock off their backfield, as Bowen sought to complete a hat trick to equalize the aggregate score, but it was not to be. Rene Leslie’s (71’) strike put a tie out of reach, as Port’s coach Julius Allen refreshed his offensive line with Shawn Young.
Pirates’ technical director Jorge Nunes introduced Jaheim Mena, but the 3rd goal failed to materialize, and Port secured the 4-2 aggregate win.
FFB chairman Sergio Chuc was on hand to congratulate Port Layola FC as the PLB executive committee presented the championship trophy and team medals along with the $20,000 cheque for 1st prize to Port Layola. Chuc also congratulated the Pirates on qualifying to the finals by eliminating former champions Verdes, as they received the $5,000 second prize, team trophy and medals.
(AMANDALA Ed. Note: Individual award winners have not yet been announced for the Opening Season, but the PLB Secretariat has announced that the 2024-2025 Closing Season kicks off on January 18, 2025; and unconfirmed reports indicate that the defending champions Port Layola FC may soon be hosting their homes back at the MCC Garden.)