On August 7th on 7NEWS Palmiro Salas, the former national football team coach, flashed a check for $5,000 and demanded that Bertie Chimilio and the FFB show him the rest of the money. And that same money may have been what two thieves were after when they attacked and brutally beat the former coach two weeks later.

It occurred in the middle of the morning on Thursday August 21st in an alley off Victoria Street. Salas told police he was walking when two men accosted him. They viciously beat him with their bare hands until he was unconscious. They then ran with his trademark belt pack with $1,500s, his cell phone, and his passport. But what they stole was the least of Salas’ problems. A doctor who treated him in San Pedro says Salas had multiple injuries to his face and head. His face was deformed and he had a concussion. Salas left Belize earlier this week to seek urgent medical treatment.

And as outrageous and vicious, and almost personal as a crime it may seem, police believe the motive was simply robbery. Because Salas recognized his attackers, shortly after the incident he ran to police who picked up Javier Yearwood. They found Yearwood with Salas’ phone and $284. He was charged for robbery and granted bail of $4,000. He was unable meet it and so he was remanded to prison. Yearwood was today joined by his alleged accomplice 19 year old Edwin Moody. He too has been charged for robbery.

The Guatemalan born Salas led Belize to its first and only victory ever in a World Cup qualifier when the national team defeated St. Kitts in Guatemala on February 5th. He left Belize in April after FFB President Bertie Chimilio fired him when questions arose about his immigration status. He returned three weeks ago to collect $26,000 he says he was promised for coaching the team. Dr. Chimilio wrote him a check for only $5,000. He said he was going to take the FFB to court to get the rest. Now he is back in Guatemala receiving treatment.