Tonight was supposed to be a regular night of practice for the Sagitun Gurlz Football team in Mango Creek, but after the loss of one of their most valuable players, the team and its coach are grieving. We spoke to the assistant coach today and found out more about the athletic career of Sidney Montenegro prior to her tragic passing. Jomarie Lanza has this story.
The loss of the two siblings has truly shaken the football community. Sidney had been a part of the Sagitun Girls team in Mango Creek village since 2023. And when we spoke with her coach today, Liz Zabaneh, she said that they were all in shock.
Liz Zabaneh, Assistant Coach, Sagitun Girlz
"It was I don't know I was speechless I started to shake I didn't know what to do I got a call from a mutual friend and teammate of her's and I just didn't know what to do but just kind of had to get into action and call people and it just really, we were not sure if it was true we just had to wait for confirmation and when we got the news it was just tragic and devastating it doesn't make sense it doesn't seem real, I guess all the typical emotions you know and several of us from the team went to the clinic we were waiting and thought maybe they would come there but we ended up going out to the site of the accident but they had already moved her and David to go straight to Dangriga so then we just gathered at her mom's house with her family and had some moments with them so it's just really hard, hard to believe and I guess when anything like this hits very close to home people deal with it in different ways but its just really really sad and tragic."
Zabaneh described Sidney as a rare player, one with an amazing left foot which placed her at an advantage as a left wing. She says from a young age Sidney always aspired to be one of the best
Liz Zabaneh, Assistant Coach, Sagitun Girlz
"I've watched her grow I guess I started, when she came into my life she was about 14 or 15 and she wasn't even old enough to play at the amateur women's level yet you had to be 16 so she would train and you know put on the uniform and all that but legally wasn't even allowed to play until she was 16 so when she turned 16 then she was able to begin competing at that level so that's where she has been since she was a teenager playing at the highest level for women's football in Belize."
And the impact of her is one that her team members won't get over easily, she says they had a close dynamic both on and off the field.
Liz Zabaneh, Assistant Coach, Sagitun Girlz
"She has a very close not just as teammates with the girls but from both teams she comes from Bella Vista but comes in to play in Mango Creek so she has so many close friends both in her community of Bella Vista and there is a lot of girls there that she plays for fun with and has always played with and then there is her team her in Mango creek the Sagitun Girlz is based here in Mango Creek so she has some very very close friendships with teammates as well they are not just teammates but Best friends so she is very she is known to just you know give the best hugs, just loves everybody you know no problems with anyone it's just a lot of Love, Sidney was very kind and just loving young girl."
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