At around 4:00 this evening Belizean immigration officers were processing what looked like dozens and dozens of Guatemalans en route to Belmopan for the Belize Guatemala game in the CONCACAF nation's league tournament.
And, just a short while ago, the queue outside the FFB stadium in Belmopan was enormous - as tickets were sold out hours before kick off time which is 8:00 pm.
It is being called the biggest game played in Belize in a decade and fans from both sides are ready and eager to show their support.
We got the low down on the game yesterday when two of the star players stopped by the Sunup set to tell our hosts what to expect when both teams hit the turf tonight.
Ian Jones
"We are currently competing in the 2022/2023 CONCACAF nation's league tournament. So, we have two games remaining, on Friday night we play Guatemala at 8:00 pm in Belmopan and then on Saturday we travel to the Dominican Republic to play them at NDR at Monday at 6:00 pm and this will be the conclusion of this tournament then we prepare right back for the start of a new tournament in September which will lead us into our new cycle and also lead us into the World Cup qualifiers."
"This will be probably the biggest game within the last 10-15 years that we are playing at home, Belize vs. Guatemala and our team is at one of the highest levels right now. We are I a transition stage, of course, bringing in new players but it's something that has been in the process, as our motto says belief in the process."
Player
"Ever since coming in camp everyone understands that this is another level and we need to focus and every detail is important so the spirit has been high, you know, and we already built that brotherhood with most if not everyone in the camp and if not we are acquainted, we have been getting acquainted since we got into camp so everyone is feeling good and now we are just trying to motivate each other every day."
Jovaunn Ramos, Senior Men's Team Player
"First of all I'd like to say that tomorrow's game is bigger than any other game it's home. We want to make sure the fans have a good time and we want to play with pride obviously secondly. We also want to play for the badge that we wear, you know it's an honour to be here and to represent my country, you know, I recently came back from the States, and the football federation has given me the opportunity to study abroad, so now we have to show that what we've been learning outside and as a team, I think tomorrow, unity and hard, work and determination will be you know key. So we just have to play hard."
The game starts at 8:00 pm.
