Belize City, April 21st 2008 - Former Belize National Team Coach Palmiro Salas, who no longer appears a favourite of Bertie Chimilio and the Football Federation of Belize, may have lost his chance with the Federation because of comments he has made to the media in Guatemala, citing that he is not happy with the FFB because it seems the “Federation cares more about economics and has forgotten the sport”.

Salas, who led the Belize national team to their brilliant 3-1 win against St. Kitts & Nevis in Game 1 played amidst huge controversy in Guatemala, has been locked out of Belize and the local media who are wondering why our national team is planning to play their biggest game against giants Mexico without a coach.

  Palmiro Salas

Salas has been absent since Game 2 against St. Kitts in March. Belize and St. Kitts tied in the second game, but Belize advanced because of the victory in game one. The Belize media immediately became suspicious, but the FFB explained then that Salas was not able to go because he was not able to get a visa to transit through the U.S.

However, according to Salas he did not travel with the team because the FFB didn’t try hard enough. Salas said he pressed with the FFB that he didn’t have to travel through the U.S. and alternate travel through Central America was possible. But Salas’ request went to deaf ears.

Salas says that his relationship with FFB has deteriorated because of politics and the Federation’s preference for money over the team and the sport. Salas said he disagrees with the FFB’s decision to play Belize’s home game in the U.S. “I am unhappy with the President of the Football Federation of Belize, because I think that the team which is local should be given the advantage of having the support of its people, and all other aspects that motivate the players. I believe the Federation is making decisions based on economics and has forgotten the sport,” remarked Salas.

  FFB President, Bertie Chimilio

He pointed out that he had asked that the game be played as closest to Belize, perhaps Guatemala, El Salvador or Honduras, “since the country doesn’t have an appropriate field which are better choices to put more pressure on Mexico. But going to the U.S., because of the players’ experience and being in a stadium that will be filled with a huge number of Mexicans, it will make it more difficult really, because to me it will be a great challenge going against the monsters of CONCACAF, the giants, because for me the U.S. is nothing”.

Salas said that while “Mexico plays great football, he is confident that the Belizean talent would get the support of Central America to pull off a victory. But playing in the U.S. would be like giving up”.

Salas indicated in the interviews that the FFB is wilfully blocking his involvement with the team. “It seems the Federation wants to introduce an American coach and get rid of the person that really helped the team shine. They are treating me badly because they are no longer helping me, they don’t help with my visa, nothing.”

Salas said it was a major achievement when Belize surpassed 50 other teams, jumping from 204th place to 152nd in FIFA’s rankings. “I feel happy and proud of that and I’d like to see them do better but the issues are getting in the way. It’s like they [FFB] have forgotten the sport and have focused more on the economics with the way they are doing things,” ended Salas.