Coach Dale Pelayo calls 24 Under-20 Belize Men’s National Team players for friendlies against Guatemala

U20 BMNT at Estadio Olímpico in San Pedro Sula on November 28 – Photo Credit: FFB

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Football Federation of Belize summoned 24 players for the Under-20 Belize Men’s National Team (U20 BMNT) two friendly matches against Guatemala as the team prepares for the CONCACAF U20 Men’s Championship Qualifiers to be held in Nicaragua in February/March 2024.

The U20 BMNT will be playing against the U20 Guatemala Men’s National Team on December 12 and 14. The first game will be held on artificial turf at Santa Carina Pinula and the second on natural grass at the Guatemalan Football Federation’s High Performance Center (Centro de Alto Rendimiento – CAR) in Guatemala City.

Last week, the U20 BMNT played two matches against Honduras in San Pedro Sula on Tuesday, November 28, and in Siguatepeque on Thursday, November 30, losing 1-0 and 3-0 respectively.

The FFB said Head Coach Dale Pelayo has called 24 players, including three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards. The 24 are to report to camp at the FFB facilities in Belmopan by 5:00pm on Friday, December 8. The U20 BMNT will travel to Guatemala City on Sunday, December 10 and return on Friday, December 15.

The four friendly matches are part of the preparation for the Concacaf U20 Qualifiers.  Belize is one of twenty-seven countries competing in six groups to qualify for the Concacaf U20 Championship.

The U20 BMNT was drawn into Group A, which will play the qualifying round robin in Managua, Nicaragua from February 23 to March 3, 2024. Belize’s opponents are Cuba, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and homestanding Nicaragua.

The U20 BMNT’s Technical Staff that complements Pelayo, who holds a Concacaf Coaches’ B License, comprises Assistant Coach Norman Koko (B License Coach), Fitness Coach Dennis Serano (B License Coach), Goalkeeper Coach Stanley Reneau (C License Coach), Physiotherapist Aba Ben, Kit Manager Peter Jones, and Team Chaperone Tyrone Young (Muschamp).