7 News Belize

Viewers may remember vividly how the country's National A Football Team, the Jaguars, qualified for the Gold Cup in 2013. It was a first for Belize, and a triumph for the Ruperto Victente Administration of the Football Federation of Belize which was determined to show that they were managing football properly.
Since then, poor performances have killed the hype, and the hope in the Vicente administration has also ebbed. It hit rock bottom when the team came in last in the 2014 UNCAF Copa Centroamericana - or Nations Cup.
Well, the FFB is determined to get it right for the first round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Belize plays against the Cayman Islands on March 25, and this new National Team Selection has been practicing as a team since November of last year.

The full National Team has since been selected, and according to the FFB, it is a younger, more cohesive selection which will allow football at this level to develop. The Federation invited the media today for a meet and greet session with the new team, and 7News was there. We saw quite a number of new faces, but also some familiar ones. Here's what they had to tell us today.

Woodrow West - Member, National Team
"We return from November last year and yes, it's just two time for the week, but we still work a lot, because it's what we were asking from years ago to try get prepared months before our tournaments. Its helping and the tournaments is going on as well, so the players are active both on the national team and the league as well. It's a good start for us and we are training hard and try pushing our best to get where we need to be in the World Cup elimination."

Daniel Ortiz
"Talk to us about the level of drills, the high intensity drills that you all do. What exactly is the focus of the team right now, in order to play at that high level?"

Woodrow West - Member, National Team
"We have our physical trainer who is well prepared. He's been studying in Cuba and he went and lately come from Germany, so he is up to date with all those physical training and he is trying to help us getting there. And playing in the league, we are still in condition. What we are trying to do is work a little bit of physical and get the system acquainted with all the player, so that we could do a good show home and score some goals, because as you know that's our problem here - scoring goals. That is one of the weakness we are working now to get offensive minded and try to get some goals home."

Najib Guerra - Member, National Team
"When I was called, I was happy. I can't say no. It's a great privilege to represent my country and better yet, it's a home game and so we have to represent. About the senior players and us the rookies, well, they are motivating us - always telling us to big up our game, do not get discourage if we don't get pick, but once you make it, just play and represent your country."

Tevin Gamboa - Member, National Team
"I feel so good, because this is my first time coming with the A selection team of Belize and working with Woodrow West and other people. It's like a dream come true, because I always dreamt of playing with the national team. But I have to wait my turn because Woodrow West is the number one goal keeper here and I just have to do my thing along with him."

The full 30 members of the team will be posted on our website, since it is quite a lot to list off at this time.

Corozal District

1. Rai West
2. Woodrow West

Belize District

3. Jerome James
4. Jarrett Davis
5. Ian Gaynair

Belmopan

6. Denmark Casey
7. Norman Anderson
8. Randy Padilla

Cayo District

9. Trevor Lennen
10. Marlon Meza
11. Jermain Jones
12. Najib Guerra
13. David Trapp
14. Andres Makin
15. Devon Makin
16. Amin August
17. Daniel Jimenez

Stann Creek District

18. Khalil Velasquez
19. Byron Chavez
20. Elroy Kuylen
21. Tyrone Pandy
22. Harrison Roches
23. Highking Roberts
24. Tevin Gamboa

Independence

25. Dalton Eiley
26. Marvin Centeno
27. Jordi Polanco
28. Delone Torres
29. Kyle Flowers

International Players:

30. Elroy Smith
31. Shane Orio