2016–17 Premier League of Belize

Premier League of Belize
Season2016–17
Dates20 August 2016 – 13 May 2017
ChampionsOpening and Closing:
Belmopan Bandits
CONCACAF LeagueBelmopan Bandits
Matches played140
Goals scored478 (3.41 per match)
Top goalscorerOpening:
Jairo Rochez (14)
Closing:
Daniel Jimenez
Jairo Rochez (10)
Biggest home winBelmopan Bandits 11-0 Wagiya
(1 March 2017)
Biggest away winOrange Walk 0–9 Police United
(26 November 2016)
Highest scoringBelmopan Bandits 9-2 Orange Walk
(19 November 2016)
Belmopan Bandits 11-0 Wagiya
(1 March 2017)
Longest winning runBelmopan Bandits (6)
Longest unbeaten runBelmopan Bandits (19)
Longest winless runWagiya (14)
Longest losing runOrange Walk (10)

The 2016–17 Premier League of Belize was the sixth season of the highest competitive football league in Belize, after it was founded in 2011. There were two seasons which were spread over two years. The opening was played towards the end of 2016 and the closing was played at the beginning of 2017.

Team information

Team City Stadium
Belize Defence Force Belize City MCC Grounds
Belmopan Bandits Belmopan Isidoro Beaton Stadium
FC Belize Belize City MCC Grounds
Freedom Fighters Punta Gorda Victor Sanchez Union Field
Orange Walk Orange Walk People's Stadium
Placencia Assassins Independence Michael Ashcroft Stadium
Police United San Ignacio Norman Broaster Stadium
Verdes San Ignacio Norman Broaster Stadium
Wagiya Dangriga Carl Ramos Stadium

Opening season

From the 2015–16 Premier League of Belize season, all 6 teams continued to play in the opening season of 2016–17. FC Belize and Freedom Fighters returned to the league, as well as a newly formed team, Orange Walk, making 9 teams in total.

There would be one league consisting of the 9 teams, who will play each other twice, with the top 4 teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The opening season commenced on 20 August 2016.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belmopan Bandits (C) 16 12 4 0 45 11 +34 40 Qualification to the Playoffs
2 Belize Defence Force 16 8 7 1 29 13 +16 31
3 Police United 16 8 4 4 39 21 +18 28
4 FC Belize 16 8 4 4 30 22 +8 28
5 Placencia Assassins 16 7 4 5 34 21 +13 25
6 Verdes 16 7 3 6 27 24 +3 24
7 Wagiya 16 3 2 11 26 42 −16 11
8 Freedom Fighters 16 3 2 11 24 44 −20 11
9 Orange Walk 16 1 0 15 20 76 −56 3
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Results

Home \ Away BDF BEL FCB FRE ORA PLA POL VER WAG
Belize Defence Force 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 1–0
Belmopan Bandits 0–0 0–0 4–1 9–2 4–0 2–1 2–0 4–1
FC Belize 0–2 0–3 2–0 4–2 1–2 2–1 1–1 4–2
Freedom Fighters 1–2 3–3 1–6 5–2 0–2 3–6 0–2 3–0
Orange Walk 1–5 0–2 3–4 1–3 0–7 0–9 0–6 4–3
Placencia Assassins 0–3 0–1 0–1 3–0 4–1 3–3 1–1 4–0
Police United 0–0 1–2 1–0 3–1 3–0 1–1 3–2 3–1
Verdes 2–1 1–4 1–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–1
Wagiya 2–2 0–4 2–2 3–0 6–2 2–5 1–2 2–0
Updated to match(es) played on 4 December 2016. Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

Semi-Finals Finals
          
1 Belmopan Bandits 1 1 2
4 FC Belize 1 0 1
1 Belmopan Bandits 0 4 4
2 Belize Defence Force 1 0 1
2 Belize Defence Force (a) 1 2 3
3 Police United 3 0 3

Semi-finals

Game One[2]

11 December 2016 FC Belize 1 – 1 Belmopan Bandits MCC Grounds, Belize City
16:00 Hector Martinez 34' Jeromy James 75'
11 December 2016 Police United 3 – 1 Belize Defence Force Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
16:00 Carlton Thomas 22'
Daniel Jimenez 38'
Byron Usher 49'		 Shane Flores 90+1'

Game Two[3]

17 December 2016 Belmopan Bandits 1 – 0
(2 – 1 agg.)		 FC Belize Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
20:00 Jairo Rochez 22'
18 December 2016 Belize Defence Force 2 – 0
(3 (a) – 3 agg.)		 Police United MCC Grounds, Belize City
16:00 Vallan Symms 51' (pen.)
Kyle Budna 87'

Finals

Game One[4]

24 December 2016 Belize Defence Force 1 – 0 Belmopan Bandits MCC Grounds, Belize City
16:00 Trimayne Harris 64'

Game Two[5]

31 December 2016 Belmopan Bandits 4 – 0
(4 – 1 agg.)		 Belize Defence Force Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
19:30 Elroy Smith 3' (pen.)
Aloisio Teixeira 12', 34'
Jairo Rochez 27'		 Referee: Irfan Basdmir


 2016–17 Opening Season champions 
Belmopan Bandits
6th title

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Team Goals*
1 Honduras Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits 14
2 Belize Dellon Torres Placencia Assassins 12
3 Belize Jarret Davis Verdes 11
Brazil Aloisio Teixeira Belmopan Bandits
5 Belize Jaren Lambey Freedom Fighters 10
6 Mexico Hector Martinez FC Belize 9
Belize Carlton Thomas Police United
8 Belize Ashton Torres Placencia Assassins 8
9 Belize Russell Cassanova FC Belize 7
Brazil Joao Silva Orange Walk
Belize Vallan Symms Belize Defence Force
12 Belize Jeromy James Belmopan Bandits 6
Belize Harrison Roches Police United

* Includes playoff goals.

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Belize Dellon Torres4 Placencia Assassins Orange Walk 7–0 (A) 28 August 2016
Belize Russell Cassanova FC Belize Orange Walk 4–2 (H) 28 September 2016
Belize Carlton Thomas Police United Freedom Fighters 6–3 (A) 30 October 2016
Honduras Jairo Rochez4 Belmopan Bandits Orange Walk 9–2 (H) 19 November 2016
Mexico Hector Martinez FC Belize Freedom Fighters 6–1 (A) 4 December 2016

4 Player scored 4 goals

Awards

In the post-game ceremonies of the final game of the season, the individual awards were announced.[5]

Award Recipient Team
Golden Boot Honduras Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits
MVP (Regular Season) Belize Shane Orio Belmopan Bandits
MVP (Playoff) Belize Jordy Polanco Belmopan Bandits
Best Young Player Belize Jaren Lambey Freedom Fighters
Best Midfielder Belize Jordy Polanco Belmopan Bandits
Best Defender Belize Elroy Smith Belmopan Bandits
Golden Glove Belize Shane Orio Belmopan Bandits
Best Coach Belize Kent Gabourel Belmopan Bandits
Best Manager Belize Kenneth Budna Belmopan Bandits

Closing season

8 of the 9 teams that participated in the opening season will participate in the closing season, with Orange Walk not competing.

The format will be the same as the opening season with one league consisting of the 8 teams, who will play each other twice, with the top 4 teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The closing season commenced on 28 January 2017.[6]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belmopan Bandits (C) 14 11 3 0 39 8 +31 36 Qualification to the Playoffs
2 Police United 14 6 7 1 27 15 +12 25
3 Verdes 14 7 4 3 21 16 +5 25
4 Belize Defence Force 14 6 5 3 26 21 +5 23
5 FC Belize 14 4 4 6 18 21 −3 16
6 Placencia Assassins 14 4 1 9 17 22 −5 13
7 Freedom Fighters 14 3 2 9 17 32 −15 11
8 Wagiya 14 1 2 11 17 47 −30 5
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Results

Home \ Away BDF BEL FCB FRE PLA POL VER WAG
Belize Defence Force 0–4 2–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–3 6–0
Belmopan Bandits 2–1 1–0 4–1 3–1 0–0 2–0 11–0
FC Belize 2–2 1–1 1–2 3–2 1–0 3–0 2–1
Freedom Fighters 1–2 0–3 1–1 2–1 0–3 0–1 4–2
Placencia Assassins 1–2 1–2 2–0 2–1 2–2 0–1 2–0
Police United 1–1 1–1 3–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–1
Verdes 1–1 0–2 3–0 1–1 2–1 2–2 5–3
Wagiya 2–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 0–2 1–4 0–1
Updated to match(es) played on 16 April 2017. Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

Semi-Finals Finals
          
1 Belmopan Bandits 1 1 2
4 Belize Defence Force 0 1 1
1 Belmopan Bandits 0 1 1
3 Verdes 0 0 0
2 Police United 0 2 2 (7)
3 Verdes (p) 2 0 2 (8)

Semi-finals

Game One[7]

23 April 2017 Belize Defence Force 0 – 1 Belmopan Bandits MCC Grounds, Belize City
16:00 Jairo Rochez 89'
23 April 2017 Verdes 2 – 0 Police United Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
16:00 Nahjib Guerra 38'
Jarret Davis 48'

Game Two[8]

29 April 2017 Belmopan Bandits 1 – 1
(2 – 1 agg.)		 Belize Defence Force Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
19:30 Jairo Rochez 10' Brian Martinez 71'
30 April 2017 Police United 2 – 0 (a.e.t.)
(2 – 2 agg.)
(7 – 8 p)		 Verdes Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
19:30 Carlton Thomas 79'
Darren Myers 87'
Penalties
Trevor Lennan soccer ball with check mark
Darren Myers soccer ball with check mark
Harrison Roches soccer ball with check mark
Lennox Castillo soccer ball with check mark
Daniel Jimenez soccer ball with check mark
Devon Makin soccer ball with check mark
Carlton Thomas soccer ball with check mark
Byron Usher soccer ball with red X		 soccer ball with check mark Gilroy Thurton
soccer ball with check mark Jahron Myvette
soccer ball with check mark Jarret Davis
soccer ball with check mark Cristobal Gilharry
soccer ball with check mark Everal Trapp
soccer ball with check mark Ryan Gill
soccer ball with check mark Orlando Jimenez
soccer ball with check mark Victor Mejia

Finals

Game One

7 May 2017 Verdes 0 – 0 Belmopan Bandits Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
16:00

Game Two[9]

13 May 2017 Belmopan Bandits 1 – 0
(1 – 0 agg.)		 Verdes Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
19:30 Ian Gaynair x1'


 2016–17 Closing Season champions 
Belmopan Bandits
7th title

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Team Goals*
1 Belize Daniel Jimenez Police United 10
Honduras Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits
3 Belize Brian Martinez Belize Defence Force 9
4 Belize Luis Torres Placencia Assassins 8
5 Brazil Aloisio Teixeira Belmopan Bandits 7
6 Belize Highking Roberts Belmopan Bandits 6
7 Belize Jarret Davis Verdes 5
Belize Shane Flores Belize Defence Force
Belize Jaren Lambey Freedom Fighters
Mexico Hector Martinez FC Belize
11 Belize Jeromy James Belmopan Bandits 4
Belize Alexander Peters Freedom Fighters
Belize Elroy Smith Belmopan Bandits
Belize Carlton Thomas Police United
Belize Gilroy Thurton Verdes

* Includes playoff goals.

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Belize Brian Martinez Belize Defence Force Wagiya 6–0 (H) 29 January 2017
Belize Highking Roberts4 Belmopan Bandits Wagiya 11–0 (H) 1 March 2017
Brazil Aloisio Teixeira Belmopan Bandits Freedom Fighters 4–1 (H) 8 April 2017

4 Player scored 4 goals

Awards

In the post-game ceremonies of the final game of the season, the individual awards were announced.[9]

Award Recipient Team
Golden Boot (Regular Season) Belize Daniel Jimenez Police United
Golden Boot (Overall) Belize Daniel Jimenez Police United
Honduras Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits
MVP (Regular Season) Belize Daniel Jimenez Police United
MVP (Playoff) Belize Ian Gaynair Belmopan Bandits
Best Young Player Belize Rene Leslie Placencia Assassins
Best Midfielder Belize Denmark Casey Jr. Belmopan Bandits
Best Defender Belize Elroy Smith Belmopan Bandits
Golden Glove Belize Shane Orio Belmopan Bandits
Best Coach Belize Marvin Ottley Verdes
Best Manager Belize Lorin Frazer Verdes

References

  1. ^ "Semipro football is back; PLB Opening Season 2016-2017 under way". Amandala. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Unfinished business; nobody safe in game 2 of PLB semifinals". Amandala. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Home teams prevail, Bandits over FC Belize, and BDF over Police in PLB Semifinals". Amandala. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  4. ^ "No longer undefeated; Bandits fall, 1-nil, to BDF in PLB Finals Game 1 at MCC". Amandala. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Belmopan Bandits repeat as PLB Champions". Amandala. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Belize Jaguars return home, with heads held high; back to PLB Closing Season action". Amandala. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Bandits and Verdes victorious in PLB semifinals game 1; decisive game 2 this weekend". Amandala. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Verdes FC and the Belmopan Bandits in the finals of the Premier League of Belize Closing Season". The Guardian. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Bandits 3-peat, again! 1-nil over Verdes for PLB 2016-2017 Closing Season championship". Amandala. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.