Verdes FC – PLB 2024-2025 Closing Season Champions
by William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 28, 2025
Verdes FC won the 2025 Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2024-2025 Closing Season football championship, by a 4-0 aggregate score after they shut out the San Pedro Pirates FC, 2-0, in the 2nd leg of the finals before a full capacity crowd at the Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo Del Carmen on Saturday night, April 26.
After a 2-0 loss to Verdes in the first leg on their home turf at Ambergris Stadium, the Pirates came to “La Cancha” with the intention to reset the Green Machine’s clock, as Jaheim Mena and Keydenshay Bowen led their assault, supported by Moises Hernandez, Jose Chimal, Devon Makin and Gabriel Ramos, Jr. Makin and Chimal came a cropper in hard tackles, and Ada Cordova introduced Colombian import Bryan Vargas and Tyrese Augustine to relieve them. Verdes’ Mexican import Christian Sanchez Ramirez, Everald Trapp, and the Myvett brothers – Darrel and Jahron helped their goalkeeper Woodrow West keep a clean slate up to the half.
San Pedro Pirates FC – PLB 2024-2025 Closing Season Sub-Champions
Down at the other end, Mexican import Bryan Lozano and Desmond Wade led the Green Machine’s offensive supported by Allence Ayala and Eldon “Tuncy” Reneau on the wings. The Pirates’ defenders, Louis Valdez, Marlon Gutierrez, Leroy Arzu and Henry Bejerano were hard put to contain the onslaught and help goalkeeper Selvin Sagastume keep it a scoreless ball game up to intermission. They were sorely missing the services of their usual sweeper, Brian Chavez, who was sitting out a red card suspension; as Krisean Lopez (75’) and Jordy Polanco (80’) sealed Verdes’ victory.
Coach Cordova refreshed her offensive lineup with Englebert Samuels and Karon Jimenez after the break, but Henry Bejerano did not help his cause when he earned an early red ticket to the showers. Mexican import Luis Gerardo Sanchez came off the Pirates’ bench too late to alter the final score.
Packed stadium – standing room only at the Marshalleck Stadium
It was all over but for the final shouting, as Verdes’ coach Villedo Ludcowiz began emptying his bench, with Nahjib Guerra, Jaylen Lennan, Jayden Lennan, Owen Sosa and Felix Martinez replacing Reneau, Jahron Myvett, Wade, Lozano and Polanco, to seal the win.
Minister of State for Sports, Hon. Devin Daly joined Football Federation of Belize president, Sergio Chuc in congratulating the victors, as they presented team trophies and individual medals to the champions and sub-champions in the closing ceremonies. Pirates’ manager Karol Maldonado received the $5,000 cheque for 2nd prize, and Verdes received the $20,000 1st prize. Chuc congratulated the Pirates for having reached the finals for a 2nd time, and also announced that Verdes would be representing Belize in the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League this year. Individual awards will be presented at a later date.