The odds were against them, they were battling a higher ranked team on hostile territory. And it also seemed that even the country was against our national football selection when they faced St. Kitts at the Mateo Flores Stadium in Guatemala on February 6th. But they did what everyone said they couldn’t do, they beat the St. Kitts Football Selection in a convincing 3 to 1 victory. And while the victory may have been eclipsed by the general election – Belize’s national football selection is no longer they underdog and they now have to prove that their win on February 6th wasn’t a fluke.
We visited training camp at the Football Federation of Belize’s Headquarters in Belmopan last week and Keith Swift found out how they plan to do it.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Prayer has become a major part of the national football selection’s preparation – and that’s with good reason. It was a nearly miraculous upset that the team trounced top ranking St. Kitts 3 to 1 playing its “home” game at the Mateo Flores Stadium in Guatemala on February 6th. The first of Belize’s three goals was scored in the 7th minute.
20 year old Deon McCauley scored that first goal and went on to score the third - securing victory for his country which at times he felt was against the team.
Deon McCauley, National Football Selection
“We went out with a strong mentality and we ended up with a three to one win which is very good for us going into St. Kitts. I think that my two goals just helped the team to win the game and it feels very good. I wasn’t really concentrating on the aspect of the game being played in Guatemala. I was just observant on playing and trying to do something which very good for country which in we overcame and we did it.”
And the “we” is a team of seventeen other players.
David Trapp, National Football Selection
“I was wondering what’s wrong with my Belize people, they didn’t
give us the credit that we deserved and after that we just went and got that out of our heads and we went and played the game. We went out and did our best and we came out victorious. We hadn’t went and underestimate St. Kitts because we had no idea what kind of ball they were playing. Now we know what kind of ball they are playing preparing very well and more to win them again.”
Victor Moralez, National Football Selection
“It was a good game because we put all our heart and we played with all our heart and we did good.”
Keith Swift,
You played out your heart, did you feel that you had the country’s support?
Victor Moralez,
“I think yes. Some people were negative about us going to Guatemala
to play this game but I think now with this victory, all the people are supporting us.”
Keith Swift,
You think you can beat St. Kitts again?
Victor Moralez,
“Oh yes man, we are working hard. We are camping whole week right here and we are working hard to go and beat St. Kitts.”
Keith Swift,
Was the St. Kitts team what you expected?
Deon McCauley,
“Well not really. I thought that they were very slack and they got tired in the game and we were really fit for the game. The preparation that we put in with our training and everything – I think that we did a very good preparation for the game and I think that’s why we came out with that big victory that we had.”
And that big victory was vindication for FFB President Bertie Chimilio and coach Palmino Salas.
Bertie Chimilio, President – FFB
“It shows the combination of ten years of work that we’ve done. Certain sections of the media says that nothing has been done and how football has gone down. So for the FFB it is a very very good victory. It is good for our morale, it is good for all of us to indicate all the work we’ve done over the last ten years.”
Keith Swift,
What does the victory say about Belize?
Bertie Chimilio,
“Well if you have gone on FIFA.com recently, you will see that we have gone from that little country that just plays football to now a country
that wants to compete on the world stage. So it is definitely for the country itself, not just for the FFB, for the country itself – it puts the country on the map.”
Palmino Salas, Coach
“Me noh like speak too much, it is my actions. Maybe my English isn’t very good but the people understand me. I have fifteen years in Belize and everyday the practice is very good. We practice three times a day and focus and plan.”
Keith Swift,
What is your feeling going into St. Kitts?
Deon McCauley,
“Well I feel very confident being that we are up three one but the focus is just to go in with a strong mentality and I think that we can overcome and face Mexico.”
But to get to Mexico – or even to St. Kitts – the national selection needs money and President Chimilio says they don’t have enough.
Bertie Chimilio,
“We received word yesterday that the government has donated I think it is $35,000 to the cause. It is the most any government has given us. It is an assistance, we need more. Really the total budget for us to go to St. Kitts is something like $196,000 of which $50,000 is passage. We will be going to a small island where things are expensive; the hotel for a three night stay is going to come up to something like US$$30,000. God is always on our side, we have three more weeks, we don’t know where we’re going to get the money from but its going to come.”
And besides the money – these players say they want something else from Belize which money can’t buy, and that is support.
David Trapp,
“I just the support from our country very much and stop those negativity against our national team and we can do better if they support us.”
One bit of good news is that for St. Kitts to beat Belize in the series – they would have to win the March 26th game 2–0. Our team leaves for St. Kitts on March 22nd. As FFB President Bertie Chimilio mentioned, the team needs $190,000 to cover travel expenses as well as hotel and stipends to the players. To cut corners, the team will have to travel by bus to Cancun and then fly from Cancun to Miami and then on to Basseterre, St. Kitts. 18 players will be traveling.
