17th Running of the Anthony Mahler Football Tournament

Good evening and welcome to Sports Monday! I’m Paul Lopez, bringing you the latest in sports action. Tonight, we kick off with the exciting launch of the Seventh Annual Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament. The opening ceremony took place on Saturday at Berger Field, where the energy was palpable. Minister of Sports, Anthony Mahler, shared his thoughts on the event, emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in sports. 

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Sports

“When I started this with Tyrone Young and Stanley Reneau over seventeen years ago, it was to create an environment where young people could learn how to play football, but meet each other, become friends, play in competition with each other, so they know each other. For many of the young men especially, that they would think twice to pick up a gun and hurt one of their friends right. I know it happens, but they will think twice at least and to create an environment where they can learn discipline, teamwork, where they can learn comradery, all of these disciplines and things that sports teaches us. Discipline is important. One of the greatest hurdles for Belize to achieve its true and full potential is an undisciplined society. We drive how we want, run around on cycles. Everyday I run round I see cycles on the ground because we drive how we want, throw garbage on the ground how they want, we plant trees on the highway and they thief them.”

 

Saturday was all about the game as young athletes hit the field for the Seventh Annual Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament.  The event officially kicked off with Minister Mahler’s ceremonial first kick, which was impressively blocked by one of the young players. The action continued with the first match of the day, featuring Berger F.C. against defending champions Belize United. By the end of the first period, the teams were neck and neck, tied at one goal each. In the second period, Berger’s Camron Brown was positioned in front of the goal when Belize United sought to clear the ball. Brown intercepted the pass and fired a shot towards the goalpost, putting his team up by one point.

 

Five minutes later, Berger’s Zoayen Jones launched a bullet toward the goalpost from midfield. That one was right on target. Berger extended their lead with three goals. In the third and final period of the match, the defending champs were desperately seeking an answer to the onslaught.  This shot from Shae Gordon almost made it into the net but ricocheted off the crossbar. Another excellent attempt by Belize United off a header saw the same result. At the other end of the field, Zoayen Jones was able to deliver another goal for his team that took Berger to four goals. They brought down the defending champion in the opening match of the season. This year’s Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament is even more exciting with the inclusion of under-ten players. These young athletes are given two ten-minute periods to showcase their skills, with a rule ensuring every player gets at least two minutes of playtime.

 

Let’s dive into the matchup between Belize United and Ladyville Rising Stars. The young talents from both teams brought their A-game, making for an engaging and spirited competition. Seven minutes into this one, John Habet got a good look at the goal and kicked the ball over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net. He scored the first goal of the match for Belize United. In a thrilling moment during the second period, Alpheas Cleland of the Rising Stars seized control of the ball right in front of the goal. With skill and precision, Cleland scored, bringing his team level with Belize United at one goal apiece. The excitement is palpable as these young athletes showcase their talent in the Anthony Mahler Youth Football Tournament. Three minutes later, Azaire Gaynair, from the sideline launched an absolute beauty of a shot that flew above the goalkeeper’s head and into the goalpost. Belize United came out on top in this one, two goals to one.

 

From football, we move into some softball action. The Rogers Stadium came alive this weekend for the Belize District Fast Pitch Softball Tournament 2025 season opener. On Friday night, the Belize Bank Bulldogs faced off against Beacons Softball Club. Bulldog’s Janeka Hilton scored her team’s only run in the first inning after the catcher threw the ball to second base. Hilton took a tumble at the home plate but she scored the run. Sharon Vernon for Beacon now up to bat. She sent the ball flying into the right field. The outfielder missed the ball, giving Vernon an opportunity to sprint all the way to third base. Vernon made it across the home plate on the following play, equaling the score at one run apiece. Bulldogs’ Raven Card scored a second run in the second inning after the Beacons fumbled a pop-up ball that dropped near second base.

 

And that was the extent of the runs that Bulldogs made on Friday night. Beacons held them to two. On the other hand, Beacons went on to score five additional runs, two in the third inning and three in the fourth. They won the match, six runs to two. More exciting matchups are scheduled for later this week. Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.