| But still, despite today's loss, where everyone was hoping for at least a draw, all hope is not lost. But Belize does play a pivotal match against Nicaragua on Friday which will likely determine whether the team return home in fifth or sixth. Kuylen made a special appeal to fans and observers who like to make rash comments on social media, that the disparaging, sometimes even racist remarks they make, do get to the team:..
Marlon Kuylen, President - FFB
"They are very focused on what they have to do. However, comments like the negative comments and some that are not warranted, especially the racial ones, do have an effect on them and I've been appealing to our public that 'you know what guys, give our boys a chance.'"
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"What are the specific type of unnecessary mean and unproductive things people are saying?"
Marlon Kuylen, President - FFB
"Well, mostly 'like we choose mostly blacks' that the system of choosing players to be on the selection is bias, which is totally untrue. Another one is that we take only old players, same old players recycling over and over again. I would wish that they would go and do their research, because if you look on the makeup of the team, we have several Latin in there. We don't choose on age and race and religion, we choose on performance. So some of the players that could have made this team right now are injured. For instance, Dalton Eiley. We have a young defensive player from Corozal, Azra Sutherland, Osmar from Orange Walk, another Latin, but unfortunately they are injured."
"Fortunately, the northern districts; Orange Walk and Corozal, they have no semi-professional team. So their players aren't being exposed. So we don't know much about the northern districts. But what we did, when the coach came in, the first week he came in, we took him to Orange Walk to watch some of the 1st division games that they had and he pin-pointed a few of the players that have potential. It doesn't mean that they were able to be a member of the team going to Panama. But when we go to the Gold Cup, then we can start bringing in these players and having them trained and having giving them an opportunity to make the team. Our players, like I said when they go out there, they are just playing just heart and soul, just to know that they are representing Belize and that they are going up against some of the best in this region and the world is a big boost for them. So I ask the public really slow down with these rhetoric and these negative comments and do something to boost your players. This is your country. This is our country and we are doing the very best we can to represent it well."
So, to go over the standings tonight: Belize and Nicaragua are tied with one point each - but Nicaragua has the lead in the standings because they have a better goal differential. The two teams play against each other on Friday.
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