7 News Belize

Are Belize's Boys Ready for the Big Time in H-Town?
posted (June 12, 2008)

Belize’s 21 member national football selection is in Houston, Texas tonight. On Sunday they will play against Mexico’s national football selection at the Reliant Stadium. As we’ve been reporting, this is the first time that Belize has advanced beyond round 1 in the World Cup qualifying matches – and more importantly – we will be playing against the region’s number one team – Mexico. So our small team will be playing a huge game against tremendous odds in a mega stadium. We visited with the team yesterday and Keith Swift has part two of our story on their road to Houston.

Ian Gaynair, Member – National Football Selection
“I am prepared for that. I love the camera, I love the crowd.”

And Ian Gaynair and these other players will get the crowd and cameras on Sunday here - at the Reliant Stadium in Houston Texas. It is a modern sports arena, 1.9 million square feet and it can seat 70,000 people. It is the home of the Houston Texans football team but on Sunday it’ll be home for these players – Belize’s national football selection. Coach Ian Mork worries that the sheer size of the stadium will affect the players.

Ian Mork, Coach
“The mental aspect is probably the most difficult part to teach because experience is what really teaches the players in those situations where there is 60,000 fans there and there is pressure. They just need more experience. The mental part has to be that they can all count on each other, that they understand that it is a team and they all need to play for each other and once that happens- then usually you can get a justified result.”

Coach Mork says that only half the problem.

Keith Swift,
Do you expect Mexico to bring out its big boys, its best?

Ian Mork,
“Without a doubt, they are all going to be there. The pressure is on them.”

But there seems to be little pressure on our dream team. Yesterday in Belmopan we met them relaxed, some watching TV and others playing cards. Veterans Harrison Roches and Shane Orio were subdued but confident.

Shane Orio, Team Captain
“When it comes to my contribution, I think the first 15 minutes of the game is important and hopefully I will be able to use my experience to cool down the guys. The reality is that most of the guys are not used to playing in front of 50,000 to 60,000 fans compared to the fan base in Belize. So that is our only concern at this moment and we can say that we know the Mexican national team and we are working tactically to get the job done.”

Keith Swift,
You think some of these players will be intimidated?

Shane Orio,
“When I went to Costa Rica I was intimidated to play in front of 22,000 fans my first game but that is three to four years ago. So I think for a person not used to playing in front of thousands of fans, shouting at you, I think it can be and for us if it affects us, it can be in a negative manner.”

Harrison Roches, Member – National Football Selection
“I play big games same way and Mexico is just another game to take us somewhere. We need to step up and do something for our country because I think it is time.”

And that’s just what Daniel Jimenez plans to do. He is only 20, fresh out of high school and eager for the challenge. For him, history is at their doorstep.

Daniel Jimenez, Member – National Football Selection
“This game is one of the biggest games that Belize ever had in history and I don’t think that the Mexicans will come and say that this game is for us. If we don’t go and say it is for us, we will never get it.”

Ian Gaynair,
“I am going in there confident as always. I feel we are going to go upset the world like I told you the last time.”

Our 7NEWS crew that has been following the team since its road to the World Cup began in January, will join the team in Houston tomorrow. Sunday’s game begins 2:30 pm local time.

The team is led by Shane Orio. He is joined by Deon McCauley, Victor Morales, Tyrone Pandy, Harrison Tasher, Dennis Serrano, Ryan Simpson, Deris Benavidez, Albert Thurton, Elroy Smith, Bernard Linarez, Trevor Lennon, Carlos Slusher, Harrison Roches, David Trapp, Everal Trapp, Jerome James, Cristobal Gilharry, Ian Gaynair, Daniel Jimenez, and Jerome Serrano.

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