7 News Belize

Belize Football Jaguars In Training To Keep Up With FIFA
posted (July 10, 2015)
Yesterday, FIFA upgraded the world ranking for Belize's National Football team - moving the team up 37 places from a lowly 155th in the world, to a respectable 118th. The team is also now ranked 15th in CONCACAF. The sharp surge has earned Belize the singular distinction of being the best mover on the FIFA rankings so far this year.

All this as a result of the superb showing in the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers - where Belize dominated the Dominican Republic. But, now that the team has gotten everyone's attention, it has got to hold form going into a tough third round of World Cup Qualifying. So how are they handling the newfound reknown? We met with the team today in Belmopan and they showed us just a glimpse of what it will take to keep riding this streak..

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Beyond the flimsy wire fence of the agriculture show grounds, the Jaguars were focused. Fiercely engaged in their training, stomping and flexing on the muddy field.

Pushing through grueling drills and stretches. According to the coach Charlie Slusher. The training sessions have intensified - all in the hope of maintaining and improving the team's world ranking.

Charlie Slusher, Assistant Coach
"I think we are very excited and yesterday we were training when the news came to us. I think you could have seen the expression on the players' faces. They are very happy and in other words they are talking about how the hard work paid off. So it's a great privilege to be a part of this team and that process of making history again for Belize and it's also a very positive thing for the team. A lot of the players now have that as a motivational factor to continue to work hard and make that ranking get even better. And I think that's what the guys are aiming for."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Now this accomplishment comes with great pressure. There will be higher expectations for the team as well going forward. So is it a concern? One, for the team? And two, are you guys confident that you will be able to live up to those high expectations and to move with that pressure behind you guys?"

Charlie Slusher, Assistant Coach
"I know, I totally agree with you, it's a lot of pressure right now and I think right now the biggest challenge for the coaches psychologically is to try to make the team focused and getting to the 4th round. We are happy about the ranking but that doesn't mean anything. We have big qualifying game ahead of us and that's our main focus. Right now, we are not slacking off, we are working extra hard. For example, this week we are in the gym, next week we are supposed to be in Placencia working in the beach, we have Mountain Pine Ridge. So, we are definitely working harder and especially in the fact that getting the 4th round is even tougher. Every time you move further its tougher opponents and right now, we don't know who we are going to meet but we are preparing to meet the best. So like I said, that will be the only challenge to keep the guys focused and qualifying to the 4th round."

Dalton Eiley, Defender
"It was a great challenge, we prepared for these games ahead and we did exceptionally well. We went with strategy and it worked out well for us. The first game we didn't do so well but that was a counter for not knowing the team. The second leg, we stepped forward and corrected our mistakes and we came in, played strong now our ranking is the best it has ever been. We are very proud of that and I hope the country is proud too. Everyone is looking at us, the bigger countries I think, are mad because we are so high up in the rankings. But it's simple, we've taken two weeks off and came back in camp very strong. It's a physical week for us, it's been two hard weeks. We've been in the gym, running and all. This month is all just physical, conditioning your leg back into shape and the next month will be just tactical. Getting back into the game field and playing friendly matches and now getting prepared for these games. These games are going to be hard, the higher you go, the harder the level gets."

Harrison Roaches, Forward
"I felt excited, I had an overwhelming feeling and I talked to some of the players as well. We rejoiced about it, it's something nice due to the fact that we put in a lot of effort, work and thanks to the father, and we got what we wanted. We stepped up in the ranking and hopefully we can maintain it."

That test of endurance and skill to maintain that ranking will be taken on fields similar to this one.

For today, the downpour was no distraction as the team remains focused on the third round world cup qualifier - the most important game any of these athletes have ever played.

The next round of World Cup Qualifiers will be held in September. Belize will only know its opponent after a draw in June.

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