Ministry of Sports honours Belize volleyball gold medalists

_{Photo: Gold medal winners – National Team}

Author: William Isaguier

Belize City, Monday, July 22, 2024

The Belize National Under-21 Women’s Volleyball Team’s historic gold medal win at the 20th Central American U-21 Women’s Volleyball Championship prompted the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council to congratulate them at a press conference at the Marion Jones Sports Center and celebrate with a victory parade through the streets of Belize City on the morning of Monday, July 22.

This was the first time Belize won a gold medal in Central American Volleyball, and in his congratulatory message, Sports Minister Rodwell Ferguson noted that it was a source of pride for the entire country. He acknowledged that the budget of the Ministry of Sports was insignificant compared to the tasks it had to perform, but pledged that the Ministry would continue to support the development of young people in sports. He acknowledged that this was not an easy task and was vital for the country, as young people under the age of 25 make up 68% of the total population. He mentioned the 41 sports federations under the National Sports Council and described how the Ministry of Sports was exploring innovative ways to raise funds for Belizean sports, namely the launch of the “Support Sports BZ” app on June 21, through which Belizeans and friends around the world can provide financial support for Belizean sports.

Minister of State for Sports Gilroy Usher said the gold medal would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of coach Lupita Kwan over the years to promote the sport of volleyball. He cited the example of the Starlight Sports Complex on Princess Margaret Boulevard, which was completed in 2011 with an investment of $300,000, as a clear reflection of coach Lupita’s commitment to the sport, teaching girls and boys from primary school age and above to play volleyball.
“These gold medal girls have broken the glass ceiling and taken Belize volleyball to another level. National Sports Commission Director Iris Centeno also congratulated the girls for proving that women can be winners in the world of sports just like men. She happily noted that they can now serve as role models for other young girls in the world of sports and encourage other female athletes to follow their example.”

Belize Volleyball Association President Alan Sharp has been coaching volleyball since 1998, when the Belize men’s team won gold at the CARICOM Basketball Championships at the Civic Center, and for him, the road to victory has been a long one. He noted that while the Belize women’s softball team also won gold in the Caribbean in the 1970s, this year’s gold medal is what today’s young generation remembers.

He affirmed that investing in sports is the best investment for the development of Belizean society because it not only helps athletes excel in sports, but also helps them succeed in life and contribute to the development of the country. He thanked the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Committee for supporting the development of volleyball by hiring Cuban coaches, such as Coach Jose “Tito” Fontes Quintero, who guided the girls to gold. He noted that if the team was united, they could achieve more because it is a very young team with many girls fresh out of high school.

Captain Gareth Bruce, who stands at 5’3”, says height is not the only factor that matters and she encourages other Belizean girls to join the sport as volleyball can be a pathway to scholarship opportunities. Bruce has been playing volleyball since she was five years old while attending St. Martin de Porres RC School. She recalls that many of her friends would ask her why she had to carry a large, heavy equipment bag to practice every day after school. She stuck to her goals, training with Star Volleyball Club and winning a national championship with the St. Catherine’s College volleyball team, a success that earned her a full tuition and sports scholarship to Easter Wyoming College in the United States in June 2021. She is now in her second year of her Master’s degree.

Tournament MVP Nisan Martinez said she will begin studying at the University of Alabama in August. Off-spinner Bryce Omamur, who hit 14 smashes and one ace against El Salvador and scored six points against Guatemala, will also be heading to the United States to begin her studies at Panola College in Katic, Texas.

Belize’s road to gold began with years of success at the AFECAVOL Central American Women’s Volleyball Championships. Belize won bronze at the 2012 World Championship Qualifiers in Panama and again at the 2013 NORCECA World Championship Qualifiers in Curacao. Assistant coach Nelissa Ramirez was part of the senior women’s team that won silver at the Belize Civic Center in 2018, while the Under-23 girls also won silver in Managua, Nicaragua in 2019 and the Under-18 girls won silver in San Carlos, Costa Rica in 2019. Belize also won silver at the 2022 Under-21 AFECAVOL Championships when BVA hosted the Civic Center and again at the 2023 Under-19 Championships when BVA hosted them. Many of the gold medalists were also part of the under-23 team that won bronze last month in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.