Football 4 Life – an International Friendly between Belize and Guatemala

A first-of-its-kind Football for Life peace match took place today at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize City. The under-eighteen national teams from Belize and Guatemala converged on the pitch for the international friendly organized by the In the Gap Institute in collaboration with Belize Telemedia Limited. While the mission is to promote sports diplomacy from a young age, Maria Zabaneh says that the end goal is to also establish a football academy for peace in Belize.

Maria Zabaneh

Maria Zabaneh, Founder, In the Gap

“The human heart naturally desires to live in peace and harmony with each other, especially between neighbours. Sometimes circumstances force us to struggle in various ways to achieve this noble ideal. But at the end of the journey when both sides can claim a win, we leave footprints of peace and friendship and the world a better place for having tried. Sports inspire young generations throughout the world. Our two nations are no different. This initiative today will lead to the birth of a football academy for peace in Belize. The goal of this academy is to encourage our youths to become moral and spiritual leaders, true peace ambassadors, using sports as a unifying force, but also involving themselves in other areas that are most in need of light and hope.”

Rochus Shreiber

Rochus Shreiber, C.E.O., Belize Telemedia Limited

“Digi is very happy to assist in any kind of youth development. Our focus is on the future which is basically the young people of today; they will define our future. So for us this is a very joyous moment to see a friendly match between two nations; here we see lot of people with camera phones posting on Instagram, on Facebook, WhatsApping and sharing this moment. And I expect that the amount of sharing and posting will only go up as the game progresses and the goals will be scored.”

Belize baby jaguars won the international friendly with a score of two-nil to Atleticos Arriga of Guatemala City. The goals were scored by Jahlin Pelayo and Elton Reneau.