Today, the Belize Jaguars were scheduled to be at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio for their final international friendly against a Melchor selection.
The game was scheduled for 1 p.m – but that's when we found out that it had been postponed, the threat of cancellation looming. We were then informed that the game was re-scheduled for 2 p.m. to be played that the FFB Stadium in Belmopan. We arrived there only to discover that the game had once again been postponed. Seemed to be bad form so close to the Gold Cup, and we were reliably informed, that the delays were the result of a stand that the players took today because they were in negotiations with the National Team Committee and the FFB, and they felt that they were being disrespected.
So as a result, the selection from Guatemalan, who had given Belize the courtesy of agreeing to this final test match, was left to wait, unsure if the game would play at all.
And so everybody waited around until 4 p.m., 3 hours after the scheduled start time, for the National Team to come out of meetings with FFB executive members and head for the football pitch.
We've not been able to confirm what the specific grievance is, but we've been very reliably informed that the players decided today that if there was no resolution, they would not participate in the friendly against the Guatemalan Selection, and they were even prepared to protest by not travelling to the US to participate in the Gold Cup!
We don't know how serious that final threat was, but by 4 p.m. some sort of resolution had been reached. They weren't prepared to comment and indicated that they agreed not to say anything as part of the compromise.
The also played the friendly match against the team from Melchor in what Assistant Head Coach Charlie Slusher told us was an un-inspiring first half:
Charles Slusher, Asst. Coach, Bz. Nat'l Team
"This is our last practice match before we go to the tournament in the US for the gold cup and I think, as the coaches we are very disappointed with the energy of the team but I think the level of the opponent sometimes kind of dictates the way you play so we are hoping that, that is why our team was not really playing with all their energy, simply because maybe they are playing a team that is not as high or as better or as good as the bigger teams. "
Daniel Ortiz
"I don't want to put you on the spot because I understand that you may not be in a position to comment but could it not be that the players are also not playing at their peak because they have had an impass with the administration so far?"
Charles Slusher
"Well I think only the players will be able to answer that but I know they had a meeting with the senior vice president of the federation concerning some kind of agreement going into the gold cup. Bbut really if that is the reason why they are not playing that way, I am not the person to say that, I am not a player anymore. Those guys are feeling it so they will be more prepared to answer that question"
Daniel Ortiz
"Apart from today's performance, do you believe that the team is prepared for the challenges in the US?"
Charles Slusher
"Well I definitely believe when you talk about the technical aspect, the physical aspect and all that has to do with their preparation on the feild; the guys are definitely ready for the competition, that much we know. The off the field problems are just certain things that we need to just get rid of and try to solve before we go there becasue we want that when we are in the States to remain focus only and playing these games and giving the team a fair opportunity to win but again on the field, the team is more than ready."
Daniel Ortiz
"Okay, so it's only the emotional aspect and the issues behind"
Charles Slusher
"Yes, and I think those things are minor issues, the real thing is that whether you are prepared for your game as a team and that part I believe that we have accomplished. I think the team is more than ready for the tournament."
And though the team wasn't moving with energy, they crushed their opponents, with a final score of 13 goals to nil over the Melchor Selection.
And, so, coming off that easy victory, the BELIZE team leaves on Friday for Portland where they will face the US Selection at the Jeld Wen Stadium on Tuesday. It is the US team's home opener in the Gold Cup and the Stadium has a seating capacity of twenty thousand.
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