BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jan. 19, 2022– This past weekend, the Football Federation of Belize (FFB), in coordination with the National Sports Council, held Week 1 games in 4 different categories of its 2022 National Elite Youth Championships: U17 Men’s (Groups A & B); U17 Women’s (One Group); U20 Men’s (Groups A & B); and U20 Women’s (Groups A & B). The participating teams are the respective youth selections of the different football zones/districts; and within each group they will be playing a single round-robin regular season, after which the semifinals will be home and away, and the finals a knockout round.

Below are the results from the first week of competition, all Week 1 games being held on Saturday, January 15:

U17 Women’s Elite Week 1
At the MCC Grounds in Belize City, starting at 10:00 a.m., Belize Elite hosted Corozal Elite, and it was the visitors breaking a 3-3 tie near the end of regulation to come away with a 4-3 victory. Goal scorers for Corozal were Joselyn Puck (6’ & 59’), Jemily Pena (51’) and Lineth Chan (89’); while Belize’s goals were by Alani Gonzalez (14’ & 72’) and Emaya Ku (45’).

Then at 1:00 p.m. at the Victor Sanchez Union Field in Punta Gorda, the visiting Belmopan Elite trounced the home team Toledo Elite, 10-0, with goals from Norma Rosa (6’), Marjorie Sanchez (9’, 13’, 50’, 58’, 81’ & 83’), Kimani Davis (23’) and Alicia Coc (19’ & 26’).

Upcoming U17 Women’s Week 2 schedule:
Saturday, January 22
10:00 a.m. – Stann Creek Elite vs Toledo Elite – Carl Ramos Stadium
10:00 a.m. – Belmopan Elite vs Belize Elite – FFB Stadium

U17 Men’s Elite Week 1

Group A
Beginning at noon at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, it was Belize Elite drilling Corozal Elite, 5-1, behind goals by Keffer Perteau (15’, 21’ & 82’), Shemar Thomas (82’) and Calvin Thurton (90’); while Clifford Sanker (66’) got the sole tally for Corozal Elite.

Meanwhile, at the Ambergris Stadium, it was a 3-3 draw between San Pedro Elite and Orange Walk Elite. Shaking the net for home team San Pedro were Edward Reyes (14’), Primitivo Martinez (59’) and Steven Almendarez (78’); while Orange Walk’s goals were by Diego Chan (6’ & 63’) and Nigel Tillett (51’).

Group B
With kickoff at 10:00 a.m. at the Carl Ramos Stadium, Stann Creek Elite prevailed, 4-2, over visiting Cayo Elite. Sharing the scoring for Stann Creek Elite were Harrison Roches, Jr. (45’), Aaron Estero (64’ & 86’) and Leon McDougal (90’); while Cayo Elite got a goal apiece from Patricio Guerra (55’) and Jamie Velasquez (78’).

And in the afternoon at 2:00 p.m. down south at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium, Mid-South Elite blanked Benque Viejo Elite, 5-0, with goals from Dantay Green (38’ & 47’), Santiago Makin (61’), Devin Garbutt (70’) and Trevaughn Garbutt (77’).

U17 Men’s Week 2 schedule:
Saturday, January 22
12:00 noon – (A) Orange Walk Elite vs Corozal Elite – People’s Stadium
12:00 noon – (A) Belmopan Elite vs San Pedro Elite – FFB Stadium
12:00 noon – (B) Cayo Elite vs Benque Viejo Elite – Norman Broaster Stadium
12:00 noon – (B) Stann Creek Elite vs Toledo Elite – Carl Ramos Stadium

U20 Women’s Elite Week 1

Group A
At 10:00 in the morning at Ambergris Stadium, it was San Pedro Elite getting the 3-1 win against Orange Walk Elite. San Pedro got a goal each from Tanya Teul (19’), Babee Lopez (32’) and Samira Sorto (88’); while Orange Walk’s only goal was by Kaite Jones (36’).

Then at 2:00 in the afternoon at the MCC Grounds, Belize Elite clipped Corozal Elite, 4-3, with an injury time goal from Shante Chacon, who had a hat trick for Belize (22’, 86’ & 90+’) along with Aaliyah Herbert (75’); while Corozal got a goal apiece from Ashari Zuniga (31’), Anahi Blanco (49’) and Alisha Terry 63’).

Group B
Starting at 12:00 noon at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga, it was Shendra Casimiro (66’) and Jaelin Cacho (90’) leading Stann Creek Elite to a 2-0 victory over Cayo Elite.
And at 3:00 p.m. at the Victor Sanchez Union Field in P.G., Roshanny Narvaez (5’, 31’, 44’ & 55’) scored all 4 goals, as she led Belmopan Elite to a 4-0 win over Toledo Elite.

U20 Women’s Week 2 schedule:
Saturday, January 22
2:00 p.m. – (A) Orange Walk Elite vs Belize Elite – People’s Stadium
2:00 p.m. – (A) Corozal Elite vs San Pedro Elite – Santiago Ricalde Stadium
2:00 p.m. – (B) Stann Creek Elite vs Toledo Elite – Carl Ramos Stadium
4:00 p.m. – (B) Belmopan Elite vs Cayo Elite – FFB Stadium

U20 Men’s Elite Week 1

Group A
Out at the Ambergris Stadium, beginning at 2:00 p.m., visiting Orange Walk Elite came away with the 3-1 victory over home team San Pedro Elite. Orange Walk got a goal each from Tyrese Augustine (5’), Jaheim Augustine (50’) and Belarmino Esquivel (66’); while the lone goal for San Pedro was by Jarret Rubio (56’).

And at 4:00 p.m. at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, Belize Elite shut out Corozal Elite, 5-0, with a goal apiece from Adrian Usher (33’), Shemar Gillett (44’), Eldon Reneau (70’), Lawnie Leslie (74’) and Brandon Smith (78’).

Group B
With 2:00 p.m. kickoff time at the Carl Ramos Stadium, Stann Creek Elite dropped Cayo Elite, 2-0, with goals from Stephen Noralez (19’) and Timothy Estero (23’).

Then at 4:00 p.m. at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium, it was Mid-South Elite blanking Benque Viejo Elite, 4-0, with a goal apiece from Edwin Gomez (32’), Kieron Cacho (55’), Marshawn Lozano (79’) and Shemar Roberts (90’).

U20 Men’s Week 2 schedule:
Saturday, January 22
2:00 p.m. – (A) Belmopan Elite vs San Pedro Elite – FFB Stadium
4:00 p.m. – (A) Orange Walk Elite vs Corozal Elite – People’s Stadium
4:00 p.m. – (B) Cayo Elite vs Benque Viejo Elite – Norman Broaster Stadium
4:00 p.m. – (B) Stann Creek Elite vs Toledo Elite – Carl Ramos Stadium