Verdes players & fans celebrate victory

In doing so, Verdes also broke a curse which has plagued other clubs. All other clubs which gave up their home field advantage in the hopes of celebrating a championship at home lost the finals.

Regular season MVP Danny Jimenez created the play for the winning goal, when he centered the ball to his big brother, Orlando “Lichy” Jimenez, who responded right away with a left foot shot to the right corner of the goal, beating BDF goalie Charlie Slusher in the 8th minute of play.

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The Macaulay brothers Dion and David, Dion “Pussy” Flowers and Asizzi Swazo led the BDF’s attempts to equalize, but they could make no impression on Wilhelm “Locho” Coye who anchored the Verdes’ defense along with David Barahona and Jose Rodriguez. Even when Macaulay got direct shots at the goal, he sent it straight to Jamie Brooks’ waiting gloves. Dion “Pussy” Flowers also got off a shot at point blank range, but again Brooks was on top of things.

The BDF starting eleven was missing their midfield general, Brazilian Marcos Souto, and when Souto entered the ball game in the second half, even he could not put a spark into the BDF’s game.

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The BDF won two free kicks from right in front of the Verdes goal, but Souto’s first try to put the ball into the vee of the goal post ended up hitting the right upright, missing by only inches. Souto’s 2nd try went left, but again Brooks was there with the save.

Brooks had a hell of game, as his multiple saves frustrated every BDF attack to the final whistle, and he deservedly won the Playoffs MVP award as a result.

BPFL Commissioner Maito Perdomo joined RFG Insurance representatives in presenting the championship trophies to the 1st and 2nd place winners. They also presented the individual awards for regular season MVP to Daniel Jimenez of Hankook Verdes and the Playoffs MVP award to Jamie Brooks.

Verdes' victory lap 

FC Belize’s Jerome James won the Best Forward and Most Goals awards. The Best Midfielder Award went to Shamir Pacheco of Hankook Verdes; while the Best Defender Award went to Albert Thurton of FC Belize. The Best Goalkeeper award went to BDF’s Charlie Slusher. BDF’s coach Marvin Ottley won Best Coach and Verdes’ Sergio Chuc was awarded Best Manager.