Head Coach: Players’ Last-Minute Absence Cost Belize a Better Performance

Belize’s Senior Men’s National Football Team faced a heavy defeat against Costa Rica in a Gold Cup preliminary match on Friday night. The team lost the game with a 7-0 score. In a postgame press conference, head coach Charles Slusher explained that the result was expected due to the team’s lack of organisation.

Slusher pointed out that organised football requires preparation, and when key players decided not to participate at the last moment, it severely impacted the team’s performance. “I did everything that I could to have my core players who know our playing style, who know the system, and who can keep the ball,” Slusher said.

He added that, although the team had previously played well because of the quality of their core players, the last-minute changes disrupted their ability to play effectively. “When these guys last minute decided not to be there, they really hurt the country; they don’t hurt me, for whatever reason. It would have been better if a month ago you’d said that you don’t want to play, and I would have respected everybody, because at least that gives me a month to work with new players and get them to understand so we can be prepared,” he stated.

Despite the loss, Slusher expressed pride in the players who did show up, stating, “I can hold up my head because I am not a miracle worker, and that’s why I could say categorically, I am proud of all those guys out there.”