Thousands of fans from all over, but especially from San Ignacio and Belize City, converged on the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio yesterday afternoon to witness the final game of the BPFL 2007-2008 semipro football competition between home standing Hankook Verdes and the Belize Defence Force, playing out of Belize City; and when Referee Romel Carballo blew the long whistle to end hostilities around 5:50 p.m., it was celebration time for Verdes fans who came away with the 1-nil victory and the 2007-2008 BPFL/RFG Insurance Cup trophy.
It was the first time in the competition, which began at the end of September last year, that Verdes has beaten the Belize Defence Force, but it was at the most critical time, for the championship. Before yesterday, the two teams had drawn four times, and BDF had won the other 2-nil at the same Broaster Stadium to start the playoffs. (In regular season it was 0-0 and 1-1; in the playoffs BDF 2-nil in the first game, second game 1-1; and in championship finals, 1-1, and now Verdes 1-nil.)
The only goal of the game came at the 9th minute of the first half when Verdes forward Orlando “Leech” Jimenez received a pass from brother Daniel “Danny” Jimenez and beat BDF goalie Charlie Slusher with a shot from close range to put his team up 1-nil.
BDF rallied gamely, but were unable to get on the scorecard, and at the end of regulation and the additional 4 minutes of injury time, the score remained 1-nil in favor of the new champs, Hankook Verdes.
The last time the Verdes franchise won the national football title was way back in 1986 when Leslie’s Verdes repeated as champions in the then amateur national tournament of the Belize National Football Association.
After the game, championship trophies and individual awards for the regular season were distributed.
The newly crowned champions, Hankook Verdes, are therefore qualified to represent Belize in the newly inaugurated CONCACAF Champions League 2008-9 competition, which commences with preliminary elimination games starting August 26 of this year.