2017–18 Premier League of Belize

The 2017–18 Premier League of Belize was the seventh season of the highest competitive football league in Belize, after it was founded in 2011. There were two seasons which were spread over two years. The opening was played towards the end of 2017 and the closing was played at the beginning of 2018.

Premier League of Belize
Season2017–18
Dates12 August 2017 – 21 May 2018
ChampionsOpening:
Verdes
Closing:
Belmopan Bandits
CONCACAF LeagueBelmopan Bandits
Matches played123
Goals scored445 (3.62 per match)
Top goalscorerOpening:
Georgie Welcome (18)
Closing:
Trimayne Harris (13)
Biggest home winBelmopan Bandits 7-0 Freedom Fighters
(4 November 2017)
Belize Defence Force 7-0 Freedom Fighters
(12 November 2017)
Biggest away winBelize Defence Force 1-7 Verdes
(18 November 2017)
San Pedro Pirates 0-6 Belmopan Bandits
(19 November 2017)
Highest scoringPolice United 6-3 Wagiya
(8 October 2017)
Longest winning runBelmopan Bandits (8)
Longest unbeaten runBelmopan Bandits (13)
Longest winless runWagiya (13)
Longest losing runFreedom Fighters (10)

Team information

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Team City Stadium
Belize Defence Force Belize City MCC Grounds
Belmopan Bandits Belmopan Isidoro Beaton Stadium
Freedom Fighters Punta Gorda Victor Sanchez Union Field
Placencia Assassins Independence Michael Ashcroft Stadium
Police United Belmopan Isidoro Beaton Stadium
San Pedro Pirates San Pedro Ambergris Stadium
Verdes San Ignacio Norman Broaster Stadium
Wagiya Dangriga Carl Ramos Stadium

Opening season

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From the 2016–17 Premier League of Belize closing season, 7 teams continued to play in the opening season of 2017–18. FC Belize were replaced by a newly formed team, San Pedro Pirates, making 8 teams in total.[1]

There would be one league consisting of the 8 teams, who will play each other twice, with the top 4 teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The opening season commenced on 12 August 2017.[2]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belmopan Bandits 14 11 2 1 38 12 +26 35 Qualification to the Playoffs
2 Verdes (C) 14 9 3 2 26 11 +15 30
3 Belize Defence Force 14 6 3 5 23 16 +7 21
4 San Pedro Pirates 14 6 2 6 26 21 +5 20
5 Police United 14 6 2 6 27 25 +2 20
6 Placencia Assassins 14 4 4 6 22 27 −5 16
7 Wagiya 14 3 2 9 26 46 −20 11
8 Freedom Fighters 14 2 0 12 16 46 −30 6
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Results

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Home \ Away BDF BEL FRE PLA POL SPE VER WAG
Belize Defence Force 1–0 7–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–0
Belmopan Bandits 2–1 7–0 3–1 3–2 2–0 1–0 7–2
Freedom Fighters 0–3 0–2 3–0 1–2 3–4 1–4 1–3
Placencia Assassins 3–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–5 6–1
Police United 2–1 1–5 1–3 4–2 1–2 1–0 6–3
San Pedro Pirates 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–1 3–2 1–2 5–0
Verdes 3–1 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0
Wagiya 1–1 1–2 6–2 2–2 0–4 4–3 3–4
Updated to match(es) played on 12 November 2017. Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

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Semi-Finals Finals
          
1 Belmopan Bandits 6 3 9
4 San Pedro Pirates 0 1 1
1 Belmopan Bandits 0 2 2
2 Verdes (a) 1 1 2
2 Verdes 7 2 9
3 Belize Defence Force 1 2 3

Semi-finals

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Game One[3]

18 November 2017 Belize Defence Force 1–7 Verdes MCC Grounds, Belize City
16:00 Vallan Symms   30' (pen.) Alcides Thomas   15', 46', 73'
Roberto Silva de Lima   51'
Gilroy Thurton   68'
Elroy Kuylen   69'
Richard Jimenez   89'
19 November 2017 San Pedro Pirates 0–6 Belmopan Bandits Ambergris Stadium, San Pedro
18:30 Darwin Bermudez   18'
Elroy Smith   20'
Jeromy James   33'
Georgie Welcome   42', 74'
Kervin Johnson   86'

Game Two[4]

25 November 2017 Belmopan Bandits 3–1
(9 – 1 agg.)
San Pedro Pirates Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
20:00 Georgie Welcome   3', 34'
Jeromy James   51'
Jesse Smith   47'
26 November 2017 Verdes 2–2
(9 – 3 agg.)
Belize Defence Force Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
16:00 Alcides Thomas   17'
Gilroy Thurton   36'
Shane Flores   67'
Trimayne Harris   81' (pen.)

Finals

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Game One[5]

3 December 2017 Verdes 1–0 Belmopan Bandits Norman Broaster Stadium, San Ignacio
16:00 Roberto Silva de Lima   84' Referee: Christopher Reid

Game Two[6]

9 December 2017 Belmopan Bandits 2–1
(2 – 2 (a) agg.)
Verdes Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
20:00 Darwin Bermudez   22'
Jeromy James   43'
Kervin Johnson   5' (o.g.)


 2017–18 Opening Season champions 
Verdes
2nd title

Season statistics

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Team Goals*
1   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits 18
2   Alcides Thomas Verdes 14
3   Daniel Jimenez Police United 10
  Krisean Lopez Wagiya
5   Jaren Lambey Belize Defence Force 9
  Hector Martinez San Pedro Pirates
7   Darwin Bermudez Belmopan Bandits 7
  Jeromy James Belmopan Bandits
  Elroy Kuylen Verdes
  Luis Torres Placencia Assassins
11   Shane Flores Belize Defence Force 6
  Elroy Smith Belmopan Bandits

* Includes playoff goals.

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date
  Alcides Thomas Verdes Belize Defence Force 3–1 (H) 3 September 2017
  Daniel Jimenez Police United Wagiya 6–3 (H) 8 October 2017
  Krisean Lopez Wagiya Freedom Fighters 6–2 (H) 15 October 2017
  Georgie Welcome5 Belmopan Bandits Freedom Fighters 7–0 (H) 4 November 2017
  Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits Wagiya 7–2 (H) 11 November 2017
  Jaren Lambey4 Belize Defence Force Freedom Fighters 7–0 (H) 12 November 2017
  Alcides Thomas Verdes Belize Defence Force 7–1 (A) 18 November 2017

4 Player scored 4 goals
5 Player scored 5 goals

Awards

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In the post-game ceremonies of the final game of the season, the individual awards were announced.[7]

Award Recipient Team
Golden Boot   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits
MVP (Regular Season)   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits
MVP (Playoff)   Roberto Silva de Lima Verdes
Best Young Player   Krisean Lopez Wagiya
Best Forward   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits
Best Midfielder   Denmark Casey Jr. Verdes
Best Defender   Elroy Smith Belmopan Bandits
Golden Glove   Selvin Zeron Sagastume Verdes
Best Coach   Marvin Ottley Verdes
Best Manager   Lorin Frazer Verdes

Closing season

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All 8 teams that participated in the opening season will participate in the closing season.

The format will be the same as the opening season with one league consisting of the 8 teams, who will play each other twice, with the top 4 teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The closing season commenced on 13 January 2018.[8]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belmopan Bandits (C) 14 9 4 1 33 19 +14 31 Qualification to the Playoffs
2 Verdes 14 9 2 3 32 14 +18 29
3 Belize Defence Force 14 6 2 6 26 18 +8 20
4 Police United 14 6 2 6 26 28 −2 20
5 Freedom Fighters 14 5 1 8 25 31 −6 16
6 San Pedro Pirates 13 5 0 8 21 28 −7 15
7 Wagiya 13 4 2 7 17 28 −11 14
8 Placencia Assassins 14 2 5 7 15 29 −14 11
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Results

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Home \ Away BDF BEL FRE PLA POL SPE VER WAG
Belize Defence Force 2–2 2–3 3–0 3–2 4–0 1–3 2–0
Belmopan Bandits 2–1 4–2 3–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 1–2
Freedom Fighters 0–3 2–4 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–3 6–0
Placencia Assassins 1–1 2–2 3–2 2–3 1–0 0–2 1–4
Police United 1–0 0–2 2–1 3–3 3–1 2–1 1–1
San Pedro Pirates 2–1 3–4 4–1 3–0 1–6 0–1 3–1
Verdes 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 7–1 1–2 3–2
Wagiya 0–2 0–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–4
Updated to match(es) played on 15 April 2018. Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

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Semi-Finals Finals
          
1 Belmopan Bandits (a) 2 1 3
4 Police United 2 1 3
1 Belmopan Bandits 3 5 8
3 Belize Defence Force 1 3 4
2 Verdes 0 0 0
3 Belize Defence Force 2 0 2

Semi-finals

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Game One[9]

21 April 2018 Police United 2–2 Belmopan Bandits Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
20:00 Marlon Meza   49'
Harrison Roches   79'
Jeromy James   26'
Tyrone Pandy   90+2'
22 April 2018 Belize Defence Force 2–0 Verdes MCC Grounds, Belize City
16:00 Trimayne Harris   43', 83'

Game Two[10]

28 April 2018 Belmopan Bandits 1–1
(3 – 3 (a) agg.)
Police United Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
20:00 Jeromy James   82' Devon Makin   27'

Finals

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Game One[11]

19 May 2018 Belize Defence Force 1–3 Belmopan Bandits MCC Grounds, Belize City
16:00 Trimayne Harris   90+2' Tyrone Pandy   10'
Rony Flores   42'
Jeromy James   74'
Referee: Juan Alas

Game Two[11]

21 May 2018 Belmopan Bandits 5–3
(8–4 agg.)
Belize Defence Force Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
20:00 Rony Flores   22'
Georgie Welcome   29', 37', 54' (pen.)
Darwin Bermudez   88'
Trimayne Harris   25', 73' (pen.)
Tarell Flores   62'


 2017–18 Closing Season champions 
Belmopan Bandits
8th title

Season statistics

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Team Goals*
1   Trimayne Harris Belize Defence Force 13
2   Jonard Castillo Wagiya 10
  Rony Flores Belmopan Bandits
4   Hector Martinez Belmopan Bandits 8
  Elroy Smith Belmopan Bandits
  Alcides Thomas Verdes
7   Jarret Davis Verdes 6
  Alexander Peters Freedom Fighters
  Luis Torres Placencia Assassins
  Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits
11   Inri Gonzaga San Pedro Pirates 5
  Daniel Jimenez Police United
  Krisean Lopez Verdes

* Includes playoff goals.

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date
  Byron Usher Police United San Pedro Pirates 6–1 (A) 14 January 2018
  Luis Torres Placencia Assassins Police United 3–3 (A) 21 January 2018
  Luis Mencia San Pedro Pirates Freedom Fighters 4–1 (H) 18 February 2018
  Hector Martinez Belmopan Bandits San Pedro Pirates 4–3 (A) 11 March 2018
  Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits Belize Defence Force 5–3 (H) 21 May 2018

Awards

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In the post-game ceremonies of the final game of the season, the individual awards were announced.[11]

Award Recipient Team
Golden Boot (Regular Season)   Jonard Castillo Wagiya
Golden Boot (Overall)   Trimayne Harris Belize Defence Force
MVP (Regular Season)   Trimayne Harris Belize Defence Force
MVP (Playoff)   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits
Best Young Player   Jonard Castillo Wagiya
Best Midfielder   Denmark Casey Jr. Verdes
Best Defender   Dalton Eiley Belmopan Bandits
Golden Glove   Selvin Zeron Sagastume Verdes
Best Coach   Kent Gabourel Belmopan Bandits
Best Manager   Captain Kenrick Martinez Belize Defence Force

Aggregate table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belmopan Bandits 28 20 6 2 71 31 +40 66 2018 CONCACAF League
2 Verdes 28 18 5 5 58 25 +33 59
3 Belize Defence Force 28 12 5 11 49 36 +13 41
4 Police United 28 12 4 12 43 53 −10 40
5 San Pedro Pirates 27 11 2 14 47 49 −2 35
6 Placencia Assassins 28 6 9 13 37 56 −19 27
7 Wagiya 27 7 4 16 43 74 −31 25
8 Freedom Fighters 28 7 1 20 31 77 −46 22
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

References

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  1. ^ "San Pedro Pirates to take part in 2017 Premier League of Belize". San Pedro Sun. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  2. ^ "PLB 2017-2018 Opening Season kicks off with a bang!!". Amandala. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Playoff favorites, Verdes and Bandits win by 6-goal margins in PLB semifinals game 1; on pace to finals showdown". Amandala. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Semifinals completed; the stage is set for PLB Finals game 1". Amandala. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Verdes, 1-nil, over Bandits in game 1 of PLB Finals; game 2 "for all the marbles" on Saturday at Isidoro Beaton". Amandala. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Verdes FC is the new PLB 2017-2018 Opening Season champion". Amandala. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Belize Premier League names individual awards winners". The Guardian. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Verdes FC to begin defence of national football title on Sunday". The Guardian. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  9. ^ "PLB semifinals drama; top seeds shaken up in 1st leg". Amandala. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Old capital vs new – BDF defenders vs the Bandits from Belmopan in PLB Closing Season Finals". Amandala. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Bandits rule!". Amandala. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.