When it comes to international sporting competitions, Belize hasn't been doing all that well lately. Our Under 21 male football team lost against Guatemala in March and we are still recovering from the pounding our male basketball team took from Mexico both at home and away. But there may be some relief for our punctured pride this weekend when Belize hosts the Central American 2x2 Beach Volleyball Championship. Our male and female teams of 2 will face Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras on the beach at Old Belize on the Western Highway. Quite honestly the odds are against Belize considering that we didn't even place last year and that Costa Rica, which won both male and female competitions last year, is here to defend its title. But don't tell that to Team Belize. Our captain is John Majarez and he says there is one thing in our favor, we have the home court advantage.
John Majarez, Belize Delegation
"We can expect a lot from Belize. There are four teams we are fielding that have played together for a period about two or three months. They have had one month to get their act together in terms of fine-tuning their skills, with practice and stuff like that, and I am pretty sure Belize is going to do well. Belize has a good team and as long as we can the Belizeans out there to support our team, that is what we need. We need as many Belizeans as possible backing the team, clapping, urging the team on, and I am sure that Costa Rica and all the other teams will be surprised at the caliber of players that we have representing Belize this year."
Keith Swift,
What is the format of the tournament?
Jose Luis Lao, Secrtary - C.A. Volleyball Assoc.
"In this tournament we have seven teams. The rules say we have to make two groups. It should be one group of four teams and one group of three teams. Each group will play a round robin between them and after that we have a cross between the first and second of each group, a semi-final place. The winners will play for first and second place and the losers will play for third and fourth place. The third place of each group will play for fifth or sixth place and the last one will be seventh place in the tournament."
John Majarez,
"There is pressure because we of course always want to win. However the thing is I full confidence in the athletes that are playing for Belize. The 8 athletes that are playing are of the highest caliber and they are re surely going to do their best and Belize is going to be very proud."
The competition begins tomorrow with an opening ceremony at 8:30 am and the games begin at 9 everyday. The final match of the day begins at 4 pm. The competition ends on Monday.
