Amandala sports desk was happy to receive a visit this morning from one of Belize’s football greats of the 1950’s and ‘60’s, outstanding football goalkeeper Charlie Gardiner, who racked up a number of Belize City championships with his team Landivar (pronounced “Landeeva” by fans). Charlie is presently retired and lives at his farm on the Western Highway.
We recalled the spectacular outside shot that legendary BEC inside left Gilbert “Chico” Ellis scored on Charlie in the northern goal at the MCC in the mid 60’s, but Charlie reminded us that Landivar still won that game; and also that many fans talked more about his spectacular but unsuccessful dive for the shot, than about the shot itself. According to Charlie, it was only the curve of the ball in the last few feet of its flight, that allowed it to elude his fingertips.
He recalled also a championship game that Landivar won over Dunlop. I think he said it was a knockout championship, and it had remained nil-nil until Dunlop scored with about a minute to go in the game. But at the following kickoff, Landivar touched the ball only twice, before a shot that tied the game. In the penalty kick afterwards to decide the game (they only took one penalty kick at a time in those days until one missed), the penalty spot was in a puddle of water, and when Charlie, who was his team’s regular penalty kicker, tried to move the ball back a couple feet farther from goal and out of the puddle, Dunlop captain “Bembe” (or Louis “the Mugger” Garbutt) insisted that he kick exactly from the penalty spot, which was in the middle of the puddle. Charlie placed the toe of his boot under the ball and scooped it up and luckily it landed high up in the corner for a goal. Bembe tried to kick through the puddle, but the ball, restricted by the water, dribbled slowly off. Landivar thus won the game.
In the early days, the mid 50’s, when he had just joined the team, Charlie remembers that the Landivar coach was the famous artist Lewis “Beelisle” Belisle. Then a Honduran player, Blanco, eventually became coach when Beelisle left. The team made a number of trips to Peten, and in 1958 the Guatemalan Embassy became the sponsor of Landivar. After that, Mr. Hoy (Albert Hoy) took over as manager/coach, while Angus Vernon was captain. Charlie served as captain after that, and Angus became coach, working along with Mr. Hoy, who remained in charge of the team. He said that Mr. Hoy never played football, but he read a lot about the game after the Brazil World Cup championship in ’58, and became knowledgeable about playing systems and strategies.
Charlie said he also played cricket, on the Unity cricket team, and should have won the Belize City scoring title one year, when he averaged 36 runs per inning; but the award was given to another batsman, who only averaged 28 runs per inning, because Charlie’s batting stance was considered too unorthodox. A ridiculous ruling, in hindsight; and one that probably the present National Cricket Association should seek to rectify for posterity sake.
It was a real pleasure talking with a truly great sportsman, and we look forward to a longer conversation next time, to talk in more detail about some of the other Landivar stars, and their perspective on today’s game.