Football Federation of Belize launches High Performance Center Program in 8 of 10 regions

Posted: Wednesday, March 20, 2024. 6:03 pm CST.

Photo Credit: FFB

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) on Wednesday officially launched the High Performance Program, with the assistance of FIFA, with the goal of improving football in the country.

The program, which was launched at the Football Federation Believes headquarters in Capital Belmopan on Wednesday, should benefit 800 boys and girls throughout eight regions of the ten regions in the country.

““This program is important for us because we believe we can change the game of football here in Belize if we are dedicated to the program. So, we’re calling the entire football family,” FFB Technical Director Philip Marin said

“We have implemented a lot of programs here at the Federation but we have noticed that one of our weaknesses is our Elite Development where our talented players in the regions are not playing.”

FIFA Consultant Jorge Jiménez, who was on hand for the High Performance Program launch, Jiménez said that through the program using a new methodology, the coaches in the program will teach the boys and girls the fundamentals of football. This, he said, should translate into an improvement of the football level of the country.

Marin said the creation of High Performance Programs in the eight regions will help improve the level of football at the youth level. The programs are expected to identify 25 elite boys and 25 elite girls in each of the two categories in each region, to create capacity building for the coaches, and to improve the development of the elite players.

Marin said the FFB has selected 16 coaches to coach boys and girls at the Under 14 and Under 16 age levels to work in eight regions throughout the country, namely the seven footballing districts, Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize, Belmopan, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo, and the Mid-South region. The other two footballing regions, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and Benque Viejo del Carmen, aren’t included in the program.

Proposed Under 14 and Under 16 players for the High Performance Program training at FFB Stadium in Belmopan – Photo Credit: FFB

“The project targets talented boys and girls in just eight regions for now,” Marin told Breaking Belize News.

“In the long run, we will include San Pedro and Benque. The FFB will continue to assist Benque and San Pedro with football equipment”.

The 800 elite players will train twice a week in the program that will comprise two phases of 16 weeks each. The first phase will run from April 8 to July 31 and the second phase from August 2 to December 20.

“This a yearly program for the next four years,” Marin said indicating that Benque and San Pedro could be included at some point.

Marin added that the players will engage in inter competition against the different regions.

“The boys will train Monday and Wednesday and the girls will train on Tuesdays and Thursday,” Marin said.

Marin said the FFB will provide training gear and equipment.

“The players will receive training gear and the coaches will receive a coaching board each along with 20 footballs, two sets of bibs and cones,” Marin said.

“Each coach will receive a monthly stipend of $400.”

Before Wednesday’s launch, the FFB has been busy in the different regions identifying the Under 14 and Under 16 players for the High Performance Program.

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