And finally tonight, another sporting triumph, this time by a young basketball team that's up and coming but already traveling internationally for their sport.
They're the Ahmadiyya basketball team, who yesterday returned, medals in hand from Mexico.
They held an impromptu press conference and 7 News was there.
It was a triumphant return to Belize for the Ahmadiyya Basketball team. They'd just gotten back from Chetumal's big baller tournament where the coach says the young men really proved themselves.
Jamal Wagner, Head Coach, Basketball Ahmadiyya team
"We started off slow with guys being a little nervous and tight in our first game even though we ended up winning that game by close to 50 points but we did not play our best game. So my thing was that you guys have to play your best no matter who you're playing and we try to get that out of them regardless of who they're playing and when they're playing. From that we went and played a team that was a bit tougher but we played our best. So, the result in the difference in score was the same because we played our best even though the team was tougher. We then moved on to one of the Yucatan teams from Merida they played fast, they played with enough speed to keep the game competitive as well. By that time we were already in full swing so we ended up with the same result as well."
But what was it like for the young players, their Captain says that the victory was a hard one especially with contact sports outlawed during the majority of the pandemic.
Jameer Young, Team Captain
"The experience was refreshing, you know, to be back out there playing competitively was fun and I'm grateful to whoever sponsored the trip, grateful to whoever sponsored us and all those who helped us and chipped in financially and even our parents, everybody, you know it was a good trip."
"We have a group of guys who were determined to play basketball and played at their best, so it wasn't that challenging for us despite all of the restrictions."
Another player told us that for him it was all about the camaraderie and the travel.
Lebraun Reneau, Player
"Just the opportunity to go across there and compete again was very good and being with our team mates, our brothers having fun and everything and playing our games off the court and on the court having fun with one another, it was all good and we enjoyed ourselves."
And before the conclusion of the official ceremony, the players were joined by Minister of Youth, Sports, and E-governance Kevin Bernard. He was overflowing with congratulations for the young men and applauded both their abilities and the support they've received from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Youth, Sports, and E-Governance
"On the basketball court as you know you have to have that chemistry and you need to also be able to share the ball and know when to pass the basketball, so and that only happens when you have team effort, and so it is something that I would love to encourage that these guys stay together and continue to build on your expertise you never know the day when any one of these young men can become a draft NBA player, so I think that's the goal that these young men are also aiming for and as the Ministry of sports that's where we would really want to see sports in Belize."
You can see the team tomorrow morning on Sunup on 7.
