7 News Belize

Footballers Greeted Liked Heroes In Grand Homecoming
posted (January 28, 2013)
TODAY it was a grand homecoming for the national football team, known internationally as the Belize Jaguars. They finished fourth in the Copa Centroamericana 2013.

It wasn't the outcome we might have hoped for as they lost the semi-final match against Costa Rica - and the third place game against El Salvador - both times by a score of one to nil.

But they came home to a heroes' welcome, nonetheless. And deservingly so, because this team did what no other Belizean National Football team had done before: they won a game in the regional cup - and didn't come home in last place! More than that, they had a number of respectable losses behind inspired play by goalkeeper Woodrow West. And so while they didn't shock the world, they did put them on notice that Belize's football programme is up and coming to contender status.

We were at the airport when they arrived today - and here's how the motorcade went:..

Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"This is a good feeling. It is an excellent show of support for our National Team - Belizeans coming out here to support us and certainly I am happy and this gives me great motivation to be able to continue the work and continue to build our Belizean football."

Harrison "Cafu" Roches - Forward - Belize National Team
"We really appreciate it. I feel happy to see people supporting us like this. This make us feel great."

Woodrow West - Goalkeeper - Belize National Team
"It's amazing and we really needed this from a long time ago. We made history and we could see the fans are very contented with us."

Deon McCauley - Forward - Belize National Team
"I am happy that everybody is happy for us and for the team."

Ian Gaynair - Defense - Belize National Team
"This is my 4th time at nation's cup. All my nation's cup I've been to I came in last, so this is a real honor for me to come in 4th and could represent Belize goal cup. That was always my dream - before world cup - this was my dream. I needed to accomplish this before I go to World Cup. This is my first step and I think I just made it. I feel so good right now and my emotions are high, I can't explain it."

Reporter
"What was different about this nation's cup for you all to come through this time?"

Ian Gaynair - Defense - Belize National Team
"I think it's the whole strategy that we used. From the first time I went to Belmopan to train, the coach tells us that we were going to Gold Cup but I didn't believe him because I have never been to Gold Cup yet and all the previous coaches told us that we were going to Gold Cup. The strategic plan that this man came with really got us through. Everything that this man told us really put us where we are right now and have we believed that we can make Gold Cup - that put us through."

The next challenge for the National Team is the Gold Cup in July which will be played in 13 host cities across the United states against 11 other nations.

But going forward, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over where the coach direction will take because according to reports in the international media, the newly installed coach, Leroy Sherrier has resigned.

It comes as a stunning development because under his direction, the Belize U-15 football team won a gold medal, and now, with his direction, the National Team has qualified for the Gold Cup.

And the news of his abrupt departure has already sent out waves, so 7News tried to get some answers today. We asked the FFB President, and he confirmed it to us today.

Here's what he had to say, along with the reactions from some of the National Team members:

Daniel Ortiz
"We have received information that the coach Mr. Sherrier has left the team. Any reasonable Belizean would want to know why in such a rush; he has coach our U-15 team to a gold medal, has now coached our National A team to get into the Gold Cup. Why has he left so abruptly?"

Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB
"I can clearly say that the coach indicated to us yesterday that he is leaving us but the details of his leaving will be address at our press conference on Wednesday. Right now it is a time of celebration; I will deal with the issue on Wednesday."

Elroy Smith, Defense - Belize National Team
"I am 100% with him. He made all this possible. You can't just turn you back on him."

Reporter
"Every coach in Belize - it doesn't matter what they say or do they will get criticized about what they could have done different. You as an experience player who have been there through thick and thin professionally and with the National Team - your feeling about the coach right now - what we suppose do?"

Elroy Smith, Defense - Belize National Team
"For me the coach is supposed to come back. He started a process and he has to come back to maintain that because if another coach comes he will mess it up. You can't start a process with one person and then try to finish with another. It will not work. To be honest we had a discussion after the game yesterday but my thing is not to get in his thing. To me that is personal thing - he and the President and committee should discuss that. We told them last night that it was appropriate to discuss that, they should have gone into an office and discuss that on their own. There are a lot of gripes that is going on between the coach and some of the committee members. But we as player, we give him 100%. We want him to come back."

Harrison "Cafu" Roches - Forward - Belize National Team
"I don't know what took place with the coach with the problems that he had to make him decide to make that decision not to continue with the team. It's hard for us because he already form us; he grew us - togetherness was building among us. It's his decision and we have to respect that."

Deon McCauley - Forward - Belize National Team
"Those guys have to figure that out. I don't know anything about that and I am very proud of my coach and whatever decision he makes I am very supportive of him."

Daniel Ortiz
"He coached the U-15 team to a gold medal and he has now coached you all to a qualifiers, the first time for Belize. How do you feel if he should actually leave the team while going towards the gold cup?"

Deon McCauley - Forward - Belize National Team
"I just think it's a matter of miscommunication and I don't think that the coach will leave. He just needs like an incentive from the Football Federation of Belize and I think he will be on-board for the Gold Cup. I don't think that he is going to leave us at this moment in time."

Reporter
"How do you feel going into the Gold Cup with the next 5 months ahead of preparation if you have to have another coach change again?"

Ian Gaynair - Defense - Belize National Team
"I think that will affect the whole team. We've been through this last night - we talk about it and we don't think we want any other coach but our coach because if another coach comes in everything will change up - the whole plan, players, everything will change."

Assistant Coach Charles Slusher is quoted in a Facebook post as saying, "With the best coach in the world, the man helped made history for Belize. [It is] sad to know [that] the manager and some committee members have force him not to return to Belize. [It is] sad." End quote.

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