On Sunday June 15th Belize will face Mexico in round two of the World Cup qualifying matches. It will be a home game but it will be played at the Reliant Stadium in Houston. It’s a big venue and the stakes are even bigger. Belize has never made it this far and we’ve also never faced a more formidable opponent. We say never because Mexico is ranked 16th worldwide and Belize is at 167.
The Belize Jaguars are doing strict drills like these daily at training camp as they prepare to face Mexico. And while they playfully juggled the ball on the field and on their heads – these players are excited – but also very nervous about what will be the biggest game in their lives – and for 20 year old Deon McCauley and 21 year old Ian Gaynarie a dream come true.
Ian Gaynarie, National Football Selection“A dream yes, I always wanted to be on the national team of Belize and play against a big country like Mexico."
David Trapp, National Football Selection
“I always wanted to play against a country like Mexico so I think we are here and we will work very hard to do our best for our country and we are sure we will do fairly well.”
Deon McCauley, National Football Selection“It’s the first time that Belize will ever play Mexico and Mexico is one of the powerhouse and I feel very good playing against those guys because I know that they are well experienced and the kind of work that they put in is going to be tremendous.”
Keith Swift,
Deon I’ll just say this up front, people are saying you guys don’t stand a chance against Mexico.
Deon McCauley,
“Well we will just have to wait and see about that because I think that we have a very good unit of players here. Like I said it is a dream come true. I will make sure that I will be ready for that. I will put in the had work that I need to put in, that I know that you need when you play against an international team and I feel like I am going to be very fit and ready for that game.”
But McCauley and the team’s dream could turn into a nightmare. It is first week of practice and key players are missing from the workouts. Even worse is that team is practicing without a coach.
Deon McCauley,
“Its very good after the two weeks rest that we had and I just hope that all the players come in soon and let’s start to get ready for Mexico.”
Ian Gaynarie,
“Everybody hasn’t come in yet and we don’t have a coach yet. We have to wait until we get a coach before we start anything. This week is just to relax and get your mind back.”
Keith Swift,
For you, what is going through your mind as you prepare to face a team like Mexico?
Ian Gaynarie,
“Well a lot of things are going through my mind because last night we watched the game and we can see that we are below that team. We have a lot of work to put in and its just a short period.”
Keith Swift,
Will Mr. Palmiro be back?
Dr. Bertie Chimilio, Football Federation of Belize President“Yeah I spoke to him last week. We had a meeting and the problem still is the visa so he is working on his Belize status and then we will see if he gets a visa. If he doesn’t get a visa by next week then we will have to find a coach by month’s end to train the team.”
Keith Swift,
The coach is gone, Palmiro is gone. Will that affect the team?
Deon McCauley,
“Well I don’t think so because if anything should affect us, it would have affected us a long time ago from the second leg that he didn’t go to St. Kitts. I think it would have already been put into effect.”
And while Palmiro is gone- a lot of hope is being placed in 23-year-old American John Mills. He played for Juventus in semi-pro and is now working out with the team. If he makes the cut, he will play for Belize at the mega Reliant Stadium in Houston. It’s a massive venue which can seat 70,000 fans. FFB President Dr. Bertie Chimilio says Houston wasn’t their first pick.
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“We wanted it in Los Angeles but you know, when you are negotiating, when you are discussing, the bottom line is that these people who will be the ones to stand the expenses we had to choose Reliant because the Los Angeles authorities were not giving us what we expected they would have given us.”
Keith Swift,
How much will it cost Belize to play at the Reliant Stadium?
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“Well again it is a whole lot of details. I can’t really give you a figure but we have to rent the stadium, we have to rent hotels, the hotels in Houston are cheaper for officials, so its not just say ‘x’ amount – there are several fees that we have to pay and that’s what the marketing company will be doing for us.”
Keith Swift,
Are you able to say who is that financier?
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“No it’s not a financier, everybody knows Traffick Sports which has been around for the last 15 to 20 years with the Football Federation of Belize. They have assisted us with some funds every year for our national team.”
Keith Swift,
A lot of people will be going to the game. Who gets the money from ticket sales?
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“Well that is the thinking and I want to refute that. Remember FFB is not investing in the game, we are taking our team over there. We are investing in making sure our team plays. So those who invest are the ones who make the money.”
Keith Swift,
We won’t get any money from ticket sales?
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“No there is going to be a profit sharing definitely after all expenses have been taken out and everybody will know what that is all about.”
Keith Swift,
You said profit sharing, will it be 50-50?
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“No its close to that but even though they are doing the game, we still haven’t signed the contract but it is going to be substantial for us.”
But more than money from the gate, Chimilio says the world will be watching these players.
Dr. Bertie Chimilio,
“The entire world will be looking at us and that day is not going to be the Belize National Team, it is going to be the country of Belize. Already we have television crews wanting to come here to film our little country, see what we have to offer the world. So football is going to make it big for the country.”
And that’s whether we win or lose, but these players aren’t planning to lose – at least not Deon McCauley and Ian Gaynaire.
Deon McCauley,
“I don’t think that we will lose the game or anything like that. I’m not guaranteeing anyone a win but I guarantee a very good game.”
Keith Swift,
A lot of people think that you guys can’t win this game, that you guys have no chance?
Ian Gaynarie,
“Well a lot of people think that and that is the same thing Mexico is thinking so we stand a better chance because we have nothing to lose. They have a lot of pride and they have a lot to lose so I think we might just upset the world.”
And it’s with that heart of a lion, or a jaguar that the Belizean team will take on Mexico.
Players presently out of the country but who will definitely play for Belize are Harrison Roches, Elroy Smith, and team captain Shane Orio. Ryan Simpson and veteran Charlie Slusher will also be on the team. American John Mills will join the team if he can be naturalized before the team leaves for Houston.
Again, the game is Sunday June 15th. Tickets go on sale on May 2nd and you can buy them from Ticket Master in the United States or Ticketmaster.com. The FFB will not have tickets locally. The FFB expects that an ample crowd of Belizean supporters will head to Houston for the game and arrangements are being made with the airlines to accommodate them. The game will be televised on Telemundo. We’ll continue to track the team’s progress.