Last night, 7News told you about the last minute decision by the Football Federation of Belize to stop Assistant Head Coach Charlie Slusher from accompanying the team to the US to participate in the Gold Cup.
Well even before that decision hit the news last night; the FFB received strong criticism. Members of the public felt that this would create a distraction to the players because of Slusher's instrumental role in the Federation during the post-Chimilio era. As we showed you, Slusher said that this decision has made him decide that he will part ways with the FFB.
So, with all that stewing, feel good rally held in the team's honor at the airport before their departure – except, not everyone was feeling good. 7news was there:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
We arrived at 8:30 this morning, expecting to meet the team in good spirits. But, the players were nowhere to be found, and the representatives from BTL, the hosts of the Pep Rally, expected them at the airport by 8:00 - so that they could get started promptly at 9 a.m.
So only the media and those early supporters were at the location, and they waited on the team, unsure of what time they would get there. Just before 10:00, Senior Vice President Sergio Chuc, and forward, Danny Jimenez, were the first to arrive, signs that this rally would actually take place, and Jimenez gave us the first indications as to what the issue was.
He told us that the latest problem was the oldest problem, money and a contract which made the team feel conservatively compensated.
Danny Jimenez - Forward, Belize National Team
"Yeah we've been back and forth asking them for a contract and it looks like this morning they brought a contract and the guys were not happy with it and I think they called management and something was worked out. It looks like they finally agreed to the contract."
And that contract issue this morning was better explained by FFB President Ruperto Vicente, who said that someone within his executive shoved a clause into it which was unauthorized and unreasonable.
Ruperto Vicente - President, FFB
"We had some difficulties this morning because somebody added a clause to their contract which I had not agreed to. The addition on the contracts was that if they don't make two points, then they will not be given the extra money - so that's the difficulty we had this morning. That was never the agreement I had with the players so whoever created that had to deal with it because I never agreed to that. So the players were kinda concerned about that and that's the reason that they were given some difficulties this morning. That has been scratched out of the contract so we're good to go."
Daniel Ortiz
"Why was it that the contract signing was put off until such late hour? Some people have criticized that it should have been done earlier."
Ruperto Vicente
"It should have been done earlier but I am reluctant signing contracts, coming to any agreement not knowing what monies I have. I have to know what I have before I promise - I cannot promise what I do not have and that's the reason we are just signing the contract. I had to secure monies for these players because without money they will not play."
So finally, 2 hours late, and an hour away from their 11 o'clock flight, the team arrived from Belmopan, uncharacteristically quiet – a demeanor that seemed out of place in what everyone expected to be a big moment.
So, they got an abridged version of the pep rally which had been planned, and looking at the players, you couldn't be sure that they were excited. Whatever was weighing on their mind, signs of it were on their faces.
Sergio Chuc - Senior Vice President, FFB
"We had a little bumpy moment in the last couple of days but that is over. The guys are ready to go and make Belize proud."
Dr. Dionne Miranda - G.M. Customer Services, BTL
"You all are the hopes and dreams of little children that small. A lot of kids donated up to $0.50 or a $1.00 - whatever they had so that you all could go to this thing. So I want you all to know it's not about the big companies like BTL, who is one of your platinum sponsors, but it's the little people - the people in Belize who are living inside of you, little boys who want to be just like you when they grow up."
Voice of: Christelle Wilson - Representative, BTL
" If you're proud to be Belizean right now - make some noise and if you're proud of the national team - make some noise. Boys get on your feet so we can clap for you guys - stand up, stand up, stand up! Yes we are very proud of the Jaguar's - we would like to take this opportunity to give you guys something on behalf of BTL."
With the end of that quick ceremony, the teams then rushed off to check in at the airport to get ready to leave the country.
We got a short opportunity to speak with as many of the players as possible:
Trevor "Burger" Lennon - Midfield, Belize National Team
"We had some little problems but we'll try to get over that and we'll see what happens out of this outcome because we will try to represnt our country and try to do good for our country."
David Trapp - Member, Belize National Team
"It's very high right now and this is what we expected to motivate us so that we can go and play our hearts."
Michael Salazar - Member, Belize National Team
"You know we're just getting ready to board the flight - there's nothing really going on in my mind, I'm just ready to leave."
Lennox "Criminal" Castillo - Member, Belize National Team
"I feel really motivated because first of all, I'm glad for the crowd that was out here because they are showing us that they are supporting us and that gives me a good feeling and I feel like we're going to do a good job out there and I want them to continue supporting us."
Daniel Ortiz
"You guys feel like you're prepared mentally and physically?"
Harrison "Cafu" Roches - Forward, Belize National Team
"Definitely, from three months ago we've been in camp - I guess that the team is prepared and we couldn't wait for these games to come up."
Deon McCauley - Forward, Belize National Team
"I'm always ready to do my job - anytime I step on the field, my job is to provide the goals but at the end of the day any one can score a goal and any of us can help the team to win. That's the main goal, to work together as a team and whatever the outcome is, we have to make sure that we have put in our all and gave a 100%."
And while had the opportunity, we asked the team about that delay this morning, and the contract issue. We were told that they didn't sign anything as yet, something which Assistant Head Coach Charlie Slusher was trying to avoid, knowing that it could affect their focus.
Daniel Ortiz
"Are you able to tell us if there was any actual decision or an actual signing?"
Frank Lopez - Goal Keeper, Belize National Team
"No, we didn't finalize anything as yet - I think we will finalize it when we get over there."
Daniel Ortiz
"We've had information that this sort of thing is what makes the trip difficult for Belize and the weighing down on their minds causes them not to be focused."
Frank Lopez
"We're alright - we're well focused and we're going into this game and we're going to give our all and hope for the best."
Elroy Smith - Defense, Belize National Team
"It's not really that we couldn't come to a final agreement, we came to that agreement yesterday but when they arrived with the contract - they changed it up so I think the players weren't really contented but going to Portland we're going to have to try and forget about that and just do what we need to do."
David Trapp
"We haven't gotten a straight understanding as yet but we'll get over it and focus on the games them."
Deon McCauley
"I feel that it's an issue because at the end of the day the players need to be priority always and I feel that we are not priority right now. The priorities are in other areas that I don't eve know about. At the end of the day those people will do what they want, but we as players we just have to keep our faith, keep our head strong and try to come out with the best outcome that we can. Because at the end of the day we are never priority and I feel that they need to treat us better in a lot of ways, so I just feel that they need to do a better job when it comes to players because they won't allow players to even want to come back to the national team if they don't try to treat us the best that they can. Because without us, we wouldn't even be going out there right now."
And while both parties may not agree on what the contract should say at this point, the FFB President agrees with Deon McCauley in principle.
Ruperto Vicente
"If we had the money, we would not come to the public and asking them for support - we would freely give it to the players because they deserve it. I've been saying it that they deserve more than what they are getting now and certainly if I had it - I would give it to them."
It was also a bittersweet moment for the team because while they get to make history, they won't have Assistant Coach Slusher with them.
Danny Jimenez
"It's very surprising you know that when a team will travel - then just like couple days before their first game, for them to fire the assistant coach - it's something very surprising. Like I say again, we don't know what will happen with that situation because we have our own situation with management."
Michael Salazar
"To be honest I really don't know what's happening - I just came into camp and heard everything that he's gone. We've got to move on you know."
Daniel Ortiz
"Yes, I'm pretty sure the guys are going to be able to move on - they're going to be sad for a moment but when the game is done everybody is going to be focused"
Elroy Smith
"It's something that will affect all the players because Slusher was there from it started, from Costa Rica but it was the president's decision to separate him. So the players can't really do anything, all we can do is say that we will miss him because we're already used to him."
Shane Orio - Goal Keeper, Belize National Team
"It's sad because Charles Slusher has been a part of the team from this process began but at the end of the day we realized that it was a situation that had nothing to do with the players and at the end of the day - the federation made their decision, a decision that the players have to respect and again it's time to move on. Sadly Mr. Slusher won't be with us and that's part of life, we just need to move on and realize now we're going out there and we need to represent the country well."
Harrison "Cafu" Roches
"I don't touch that issue, I guess that's left to the executive but from our part, we are motivated and we're ready to get this plane to go out and represent our country as well as we can."
Dalton Eiley - Captain, Belize National Team
"It's sad you know because he's been with us from day 1, he's like a father figure for us when it comes to us playing this game. It came as a shock to me, I woke up and I put on the news and it was on the news in the morning and that is how I learned about it. That's not our decision to make but we'll miss him and we hope everything works out."
Ian Gaynair - Defence, Belize National Team
"I just hope everyone on the team is strong because we are seeing that everything is coming against us and sometimes hard work just doesn't pay off. I feel emotional for my sister who passed away two years ago - she would have been right here to see me go and then everything is just coming down on us now."
Daniel Ortiz
"We understand that you guys weren't able to sign a final contract and you aren't completely confident that you will be able to get a decent deal that you are happy with."
Ian Gaynair
"Like I told the players, that we have to stand strong for each other because at the end of the day - it is us that is out there and we are the ones working hard and giving our all. They are just on the side enjoying everything so we have to stand strong and do our best."
Deon McCauley
"It's a big loss because he talked to us and tried to bring positivity to the team and tried to help us out when we were slacking in certain areas - he always gave us some good motivational speeches and tried to help us out as best as he could. It's a big loss that this had to happen at this time but you know that's something bigger than us, bigger than the team - we didn't know about it until the following day and it was too late and we couldn't do anything about it."
Slusher has said that he no longer wants to work with Vicente's administration. He seemed adamant about that, but Vicente believes that he can convince him to return after the hurt feelings go away.
Ruperto Vicente
"In anger - all of that will come out and I spoke to Charlie yesterday and he has a bright coaching carreer. What he's going through right now - I know it's painful but he's a young man that I'm ready to embrace and I'm going to bring him back to the federation for him to work with us. What Charlie is saying, yes I agree with what he's saying at this point because he's annoyed - it's a painful thing to go through. Myself would have made such comments - 'I will never work with the FFB' but I assured him yesterday that he has a bright coaching future. He's going out for a coaching course and when he returns, I'm going to embrace him and bring him back."
Daniel Ortiz
"It sounds as if though you don't agree with the decision but you have to abide by it because it was an executive decision."
Ruperto Vicente
"It's an executive decision and I have to go along with that decision - it's democracy and we have to deal with and we have to work with what democracy brings our way. I am the president and I have to be the one to take all the blame for it and I have to be the one to answer the questions on all of that. But Charlie is safe with me, he will come back and I will have him back at the federation. Some decisions are made that are painful for people and sometimes - the public will not understand the reason those decisions have to be made but we are called to make decisions. Sometimes we make them at the wrong, according to the public, sometimes we make them at the right time and sometimes they're popular and sometimes they're not and this case the decision we made is not popular and we have to live with that. But the program for the Football Federation of Belize continues and we're going to continue developing football."
Today, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize sent out a release today demanded that the Government of Belize completely finance, quote,
"the travels of the National Team to the Gold Cup tournament."
The NTUCB release adds, quote,
"Belizeans' expectations of this team are extremely high and the team carries ambassadorial weight on its shoulders in a manner like none has been carried before."
The NTUCB has pledged $500 to the National Team. We should note that the team's accommodations, and well as the flights to, from and within the United States are covered by CONCACAF. The team was fundraising for the other costs of keeping the players paid and in camp for three months.
