Belize Men’s National Team Coach Charlie Slusher: Belize must be ready for Panama next year

Posted: Wednesday, September 4, 2024. 6:13 pm CST.

BMNT before travelling to Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at the FFB Stadium – Photo Credit: FFB

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Belize Men’s National Team (BMNT), under new Head Coach Charlie Slusher, will be playing against Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday, September 7, and Anguilla on Tuesday, September 10, at Turks and Caicos Islands in the Concacaf Nations League 2024 September matches.

The BMNT traveled on Tuesday to play these initial two matches in League C’s Group after being relegated from League B last year. Although these countries appear to be easier than the competition Belize faced in the higher group, Coach Slusher emphasized that Belize will have to play at a high level to overcome them.

However, the BMNT aren’t only focusing on these games in the Concacaf Nations League 2024 in September and October. Next year, they’ll continue the World Cup Qualifiers against Montserrat away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, and Panama on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the FFB Stadium.

Despite Belize having no further aspirations to advance after the 4-0 loss to Nicaragua and the 3-1 stumble against Guyana in June of this year, Coach Slusher stated that Belize must prepare well to finish these qualifiers better than they started.

Goalkeeper Charles Tillett training with the BMNT on Monday,  September 2, 2024, at the FFB Stadium – Photo Credit: FFB

Apart from the current Concacaf League matches, Slusher is looking ahead. Tasked with renovating the BMNT, he has called up several young players like Andir Chi, Gabriel Ramos, Jardehl Muschamp, Michael Palacio, Orlando Velasquez, Rene Leslie, and Jaheim Mena, among others. While they are in their late teens or early twenties, they lack experience at the international level. Therefore, Coach Slusher said he has to start working on their development now.

“We’re starting that process,” Slusher said. “We cannot wait until next year to try and give our young players a chance to develop. So, this year will involve a lot of work, strategy, and opportunities for our young players to try to fit in. In other words, to build a good base and a strong team so that next year the entire country can see that we are surely moving forward in the right direction.”

To aspire to do well in the World Cup qualifiers next year and, eventually, qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup, as they did in 2013, the BMNT must climb back up the ladder. However, to do that, they must first beat Turks and Caicos Islands and Anguilla in the September and October windows.

BMNT training on Monday, September 2, 2024, at the FFB Stadium – Photo Credit: FFB

Twenty-three players, from the initial list of 28 called in mid-August, have made the cut for these two initial Concacaf League games. They were presented on Tuesday at the FFB Headquarters in Belmopan along with the coaching staff. (See full list below.) However, this doesn’t mean that those who weren’t included in the current list and other players who are BMNT material but weren’t called this time around won’t be called later.

For now, the BMNT concentrates on the upcoming games, but Slusher’s focus is on the long term. Hopefully, he’s allowed to work without interference to show that a Belizean coach can do as well or better than a foreign coach. At the same time, here’s hoping he is up to the task.

Final List of 23 Players – Belize National Senior Men’s Team

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The post Belize Men’s National Team Coach Charlie Slusher: Belize must be ready for Panama next year appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Wednesday, September 4, 2024. 6:13 pm CST. BMNT before travelling to Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at the FFB Stadium –
The post Belize Men’s National Team Coach Charlie Slusher: Belize must be ready for Panama next year appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.