Verdes FC goalkeeper Woodrow West was voted PLB 2025-26 Opening Championship Playoff MVP and Best Goalkeeper. Photo Credit: Verdes FC / Wilton Ixtecoc
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Verdes FC veteran goalkeeper Woodrow West has been honoured as the Premier League of Belize’s top defensive performer, earning both the Best Goalkeeper award and the prestigious Playoff MVP (Golden Ball) for the 2025–2026 Opening Season, a campaign in which Verdes were crowned champions.
West’s leadership, shot‑stopping, and composure under pressure were central to Verdes’ march to the Opening Championship Final. His performances in the playoffs were particularly decisive, earning him the league’s top postseason honour — a rare achievement for a goalkeeper.
The PLB Awards Committee highlighted West’s consistency, command of his penalty area, and ability to elevate his game in crucial moments. His recognition as Playoff MVP is representative of his influence in matches where margins were tight and experience mattered most.
The awards also arrive at a moment when West has made it clear that, despite being one of Belize’s most decorated and longest‑serving footballers, he has no intention of stepping away anytime soon. In a public statement on Monday, December 15 — just two days after winning the 2025–2026 Opening Championship — the 40‑year‑old goalkeeper pushed back against retirement talk, saying he still feels strong, motivated, and fully capable of performing at the highest level, adding firmly that “no one decides when I retire, except me.”
West’s accolades add to a strong awards haul for Verdes FC, which also claimed Best Midfielder (Jordy Polanco), Best Coach (Manuel “Manu” Can), Best Manager (Lorin Frazer), and Most Entertaining Team.
As the Closing Championship continues, West remains a cornerstone of Verdes’ title ambitions, anchoring a defensive unit that has long been one of the league’s most disciplined and reliable — and, as he has made clear, one he intends to lead for as long as he decides.
Verdes FC goalkeeper Woodrow West — Photo Credit: Verdes FC / Wilton Ixtecoc
A Career Across Borders
West’s semi‑pro journey began in the early 2000s with New Site Erie, followed by spells with Revolutionary Conquerors, Wagiya, and Eagles FC of Orange Walk — a club he represented during the era when Belize’s semi‑pro league was divided in 2003. With Eagles FC, he even competed in CONCACAF, including the memorable period when southern club Boca faced Olimpia in regional play.
His first international move came with Atlético Chiriquí in Panama. He later returned home to join the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Belmopan Bandits, winning multiple titles before heading abroad again.
In Honduras, West suited up for Honduras Progreso, where he won the 2015 Apertura Honduran National League Championship, and later for Olancho FC, continuing to build his reputation as one of Central America’s most reliable and experienced goalkeepers.
Since joining Verdes FC, West has added eight finals appearances and six championships to his résumé, becoming a cornerstone of the club’s modern era and one of the most decorated players in Belizean football history.
A Record Few Can Match
In his recent statement, West listed the achievements that define his legacy:
- Only goalkeeper to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in his debut semi‑pro season
- Most shutouts in Belizean semi‑pro football
- Most championships by a goalkeeper
- Most goals scored by a goalkeeper in semi‑pro history
- 22 finals from 2005–2025, winning 18 and finishing runner‑up four times
At 40, Woodrow West remains one of Belize’s most accomplished and enduring footballers — and, as he has made clear, his story is still being written.
The post Woodrow West earns Best Goalkeeper and Playoff MVP after championship season with Verdes FC appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Verdes FC goalkeeper Woodrow West was voted PLB 2025-26 Opening Championship Playoff MVP and Best Goalkeeper. Photo Credit: Verdes FC / Wilton Ixtecoc By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Verdes FC veteran goalkeeper Woodrow West has been honoured as the Premier League of Belize’s top defensive performer, earning both the Best Goalkeeper award and the prestigious Playoff
The post Woodrow West earns Best Goalkeeper and Playoff MVP after championship season with Verdes FC appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
