Football pioneer Raul Pelayo passes away; memorial service set for Thursday in Orange Walk

Published by [email protected] at February 14, 2023

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Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2023. 5:42 pm CST.

By Rubén Morales Iglesias:

Football pioneer Raul Orlando Pelayo passed away on Saturday in Belize City after suffering heart complications in his hometown of Orange Walk earlier in the day.

Sixty-six-year-old Pelayo was the owner of Juventus Football Club, the most storied football team in Belize’s young history.

Under his guidance, Juventus won several championships in the late 1990’s and represented Belize internationally. In 1997, Juventus beat Honduran club Real España in San Pedro Sula with Norman ‘Tilliman’ Nunez as the team’s star player. That was Belize’s first international club victory away from home. Juventus subsequently lost to Comunicaciones in Guatemala in that Concacaf championship but not without putting Belize’s name as a competitor and not simply as a participant.

Juventus was the first Belizean team that played professionally, bringing in foreign players, and having a professional training regimen.

Under Pelayo, Juventus gave much pride and joy to Belize.

Pelayo rose to the position of vice president of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) along with Ruperto Vicente as president. However, on a trip with the Belize Men’s National Team to participate in the Concacaf Gold Cup in the United States in 2013, he was arrested at the George W. Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas. According to Channel Five, Pelayo was transferred to the Southern District of New York where he faced charges of Conspiracy to Transport Narcotics but during the time he was imprisoned, US officials allegedly failed to indict Pelayo on the federal offences.

On his return in April 2015, Pelayo resigned as FFB vice president and played it low since then, dedicating his time to his family, to his business the Lamanai Riverside Retreat, and to music which was a passion to him.

According to Raul Pelayo Jr, his father started teaching music to children and had been active doing so in Yo Creek, at La Inmaculada Primary School in Orange Walk, and had started teaching music to the Scouts in Orange Walk.

His involvement as a pioneer in the development of football was such that the Football Federation of Belize recognized that in expressing condolences to the Pelayo family.

“Local legend, renowned for his exceptional contributions to football in Belize, has recently transitioned to the afterlife,” the Football Federation of Belize wrote in a statement on social media.

“He left behind a remarkable legacy, including the achievement of the most consecutive championships in the country’s history with Juventus from OW, as well as impressive international representation. In addition to his notable sports career, he positively impacted the lives of countless youths through his involvement in music. He is remembered as a genuine friend and his absence will be deeply felt. Reports indicate that he is currently performing concerts with the biggest rock stars in heaven.”

The Football Hall of Fame of Belize Facebook page, run by Orange Walkeño Omar Ayuso out of Dallas, also paid tribute to Pelayo.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a true pioneer of Belizean football, a living legend in his own right, a man who revolutionized the club concept in Belize, a man who brought us the mighty Juventus FC, one of the most historic and iconic teams of the semi-pro era,” Football Hall of Fame of Belize said.

“Raul ‘Mr. P’ Pelayo, a true Orange Walkeno, has transitioned.”

Before getting involved with football, Pelayo lived for a while in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he worked in automobile body works. When he returned in the mid-seventies, he opened a body works shop in Orange Walk.

His love of rock music was such that along with a group of friends he formed the first rock music band called VEER. V for Vidal Cuello (RIP), E for Elito Urbina Jr, E for Ernesto Magaña (RIP), and R for Raul Pelayo (RIP).

According to Pelayo Jr, his dad wanted to be cremated, so the family will have a memorial service honouring his life at the Lamanai Riverside Retreat at 2:00 pm on Thursday.

Incidentally, because of a misspelling of his name Raul was also known as Rawell, but his son Raul Jr said his father changed his name officially to Raul.

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