Posted: Friday, March 28, 2025. 10:00 am CST.
Belize Men’s National Team Head Coach Charlie Slusher – Photo Credit: FFB
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Following Belize’s 13-1 aggregate defeat to Costa Rica in the Concacaf Gold Cup Qualifiers, National Team Head Coach Charlie Slusher took to social media, expressing his disappointment while urging Belizeans to focus on solutions and the future of football in the country.
Slusher began by acknowledging the mixed reactions to the team’s performance.
“Belize, thanks for all your comments and concerns, whether it was good, bad, or ugly. I heard you and respect your concerns because I am also disappointed and hurt far more than you by the result, especially when I know we are better than that,” he wrote.
Despite the loss, Slusher highlighted the team’s achievements under his leadership over the past seven months. He pointed out that Belize had been promoted from League C to League B in the Concacaf Nations League, achieved a six-game unbeaten streak, and became the only team from League C to eliminate a League A team (a 4-3 aggregate win over French Guiana in November 2024) to qualify for the 2025 Nations League Gold Cup Prelims. Unfortunately, Belize went on to lose catastrophically to Costa Rica in their final bid to qualify to the Gold Cup — a feat Belize hasn’t accomplished again since our only participation in 2013.
Slusher emphasized the need for a cultural shift in sports and football to achieve meaningful progress.
“Belize, don’t let us fool ourselves. We are not there yet to think we can eliminate a World Cup team or a team that might be in the next World Cup. We are far from there, and until the entire sports and football culture in this country is changed, only then will we start seeing some meaningful progress,” he stated.
Belize Men’s National Team Head Coach Charlie Slusher – Photo Credit: FFB
Slusher also expressed gratitude to the players who contributed to Belize’s qualification for the Gold Cup Prelims and those who persevered through the challenges.
“To all the National Team players who helped Team Belize to qualify to the first-ever Gold Cup Prelims in 12 years and to the guys who weathered the storm to the end, I must say thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Looking ahead, Slusher called for collective action and support from the entire country, including government officials, to improve Belize’s football infrastructure and culture. He expressed optimism about the commitments made by the new Minister of Sports, Anthony Maher and Minister of State Devin Daly to advance sports in Belize.
“Let’s move forward, Belize. We have two big games coming up, so let’s all look into the mirror and see how we can contribute positively to the future success of the National Senior Men’s Team,” he concluded in reference to the upcoming matches against Panama and Montserrat in June in the World Cup Qualifiers.
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Posted: Friday, March 28, 2025. 10:00 am CST. Belize Men’s National Team Head Coach Charlie Slusher – Photo Credit: FFB By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Following Belize’s
The post Belize Head Coach Charlie Slusher reflects on Gold Cup Qualifiers loss, calls for unity appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
