Police United Prepare for Crucial Match Vs Pachuca in Champions League

National football champions of Belize, Police United Football Club, have been off to a rough start in their maiden CONCACAF Champions League appearance. They lost four goals to nil to Honduran giants Olimpia in their first game and three to nil to Mexican club side Pachuca on the road after holding them to a scoreless draw in the first half. Goalkeeper Keith Allen was named player of the week by CONCACAF for week three of the tournament following his performance against Pachuca. Now the boys are at home for their return dates, starting with Pachuca Tuesday night in Belmopan. At a training session this morning we caught up with two of the key players and head coach Charlie Slusher.

Harrison Roches, Forward, Police United F.C.

“Da mih wah good experience fih di Police team and I believe everybody fully ready fi tomorrow; can’t wait fi give our best out yah so the audience could be happy with us.”

Keith Allen

Keith Allen, Goalkeeper, Police United F.C.

“Tomorrow, expect the best ah mi team and ah di come out with mi full force and give one hundred percent throughout this game, noh.”

Reporter

“What was your feeling when you were told that you were the best goalkeeper in the last game you played?”

Keith Allen

“Well, you know I just mi di thank Jah during that game, because dat da mi nevah wah easy game; that da mi wah really rough and hard game, caz you know dehn bally da professional players; I just mi come out with mi full force and mi team come out likewise and help mi defend and ah come out successful.”

Charlie Slusher

Charlie Slusher, Head Coach, Police United F.C.

“I am expecting my team to go out there and work toward getting a victory at home.

Reporter: How has your debut been as a manager and a team in the Champions League?

Charlie Slusher: It has been a learning experience for especially the young players, it is a different level, and this is the level that we need Belizean football to be, but it cannot happen overnight; but we are surely, from a club standpoint, we are working towards not just trying to get at the Champions League level but trying to maintain that level in our local league.”

Both players and Slusher were confident that two home wins would put Police United in view of the knockout stage, but they must overcome a negative-seven goal differential. Pachuca leads the group with six points from two wins while Olimpia has three points from one win. Last year Hankook Verdes won and drew their home games but like Police United heavily lost their away games and did not qualify to the knockout stage of the tournament.