The government announced they were boycotting FIFA and the UDP and members of the community vocally opposed Belize playing the home game of its World Cup qualifying match in Guatemala. But Football Federation of Belize President Dr. Bertie Chimilio has remained steadfast – and the 20 member national football selection will leave Belize for Guatemala City sometime this weekend.
And it's in Guatemala City on Wednesday afternoon, February 6th that they will play against St. Kitts at the Mateo Flores Stadium. The roster of players include Carlos Slusher, Shane Orio, Deon McCauley, Deon Frazer, Harrison Roches, and Ryan Simpson. The coach is Palmino Salas. The team spent the end of this week playing test matches in the Peten area of Guatemala. They reportedly won one game and it was a draw in the second.
Again the home game cannot be played in Belize because none of our stadiums meet FIFA's standards for security and infrastructure. Football Federation of Belize President Dr. Bertie Chimilio has maintained that it would have taken less than two hundred thousand dollars to repair the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga. The FFB says government dragged its feet and that's why the stadium isn't ready.
Belize will play the return match against St. Kitts – in St. Kitts later this month. In the FIFA world rankings for January 2008, St. Kitts is ranked 151st while Belize is tied for dead last at 201st.
