Premier League of Belize

The Premier League of Belize is the highest competitive football league in Belize. It was founded on 28 December 2011^[1] after the merger between the Belize Premier Football League and the Super League of Belize.

Premier League of Belize

Founded	28 December 2011; 11 years ago (2011-12-28)
Country	Belize
Confederation	CONCACAF
Number of teams	8
Level on pyramid	1
International cup(s)	CONCACAF League
Current champions	Altitude (2022–23 Opening)
Most championships	Belmopan Bandits (9)
Website	premierleagueofbelize.com
Current: 2022–23 Premier League of Belize

History

 

Former logo used by Premier League of Belize

The formation of the league was a combination of Belize’s suspension by FIFA^[2] and the Belize Premier Football League withdrawing from the Football Federation of Belize.^[3] It was decided that a brand new top league was to be formed, the winner of which would represent Belize in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 Premier League of Belize closing season was cancelled after the eighth round of games and a winner was not crowned.^[4]

The Premier League of Belize (PLB) was suspended from administering the 2021–22 season by the Football Federation of Belize (FFB). The FFB administered the highest competitive football league in the country for this season, and sanctioned the 2021–22 FFB Top League.^[5] The PLB returned for the 2022–23 season.^[6]

Officials

On 6 January 2012 the current President of the League was announced as Jaime O. Perdomo, Jr, the Vice-President as Al Westby and the members being Celso Carcamo, Wilhelm Miguel and Onan McLean.^[7]

After election problems had left the league inactive for the whole of the 2021–22 season, on 2 June 2022 the league elected a new Executive in preparation for the 2022–23 season. Ian Haylock was elected as President, with Godfrey Arzu as Vice-President. Also elected were Karol Маldоnаdо Сlаrо, as Fеmаlе Ехесutіvе Меmbеr and Lorin Frazer and Јоrdаn Zаbаnеh, as Executive Members.^[8]

Current Teams (2022–23 Closing Season)

Team	City	Stadium
Altitude	Independence	Michael Ashcroft Stadium
Belmopan Bandits	Belmopan	Isidoro Beaton Stadium
Benque Viejo United	Benque	Marshalleck Stadium
Port Layola	Belize City	MCC Grounds
Progresso	Orange Walk	Orange Walk People's Stadium
San Pedro Pirates	San Pedro	Ambergris Stadium
Verdes	San Ignacio	Norman Broaster Stadium
Wagiya	Dangriga	Carl Ramos Stadium

League champions

Season	Champions	Runner-Up
2012	Placencia Assassins	Police United
2012–13 O	Belmopan Bandits	Police United
2012–13 C	Police United	FC Belize
2013–14 O	Belmopan Bandits	FC Belize
2013–14 C	Belmopan Bandits	Police United
2014–15 O	Belmopan Bandits	Police United
2014–15 C	Verdes	Belmopan Bandits
2015–16 O	Police United	Verdes
2015–16 C	Belmopan Bandits	Placencia Assassins
2016–17 O	Belmopan Bandits	Belize Defence Force
2016–17 C	Belmopan Bandits	Verdes
2017–18 O	Verdes	Belmopan Bandits
2017–18 C	Belmopan Bandits	Belize Defence Force
2018–19 O	Belmopan Bandits	Verdes
2018–19 C	San Pedro Pirates	Belmopan Bandits
2019–20 O	Verdes	Belmopan Bandits
2019–20 C	Season cancelled
2022–23 O	Altitude	Verdes

Titles by team

Team	Champions	Runner-Up
Belmopan Bandits	9	4
Verdes	3	4
Police United	2	4
Placencia Assassins	1	1
Altitude	1	0
San Pedro Pirates	1	0
Belize Defence Force	0	2
FC Belize	0	2

Awards

Top scorers Season Player Team Goals^* 2012   Jesse Smith San Pedro Seadogs 8 2012–13 O   Daniel Jimenez Police United 13 2012–13 C   Jeromy James Belmopan Bandits 9   Deon McCaulay 2013–14 O   Deon McCaulay Belmopan Bandits 13 2013–14 C   Clifton West Police United 7 2014–15 O   Harrison Roches Police United 10 2014–15 C   Jarret Davis Verdes 10 2015–16 O   Deon McCaulay Verdes 10 2015–16 C   Devon Makin Police United 6 2016–17 O   Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits 14 2016–17 C   Daniel Jimenez Police United 10   Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits 2017–18 O   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits 18 2017–18 C   Trimayne Harris Belize Defence Force 13 2018–19 O   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits 17 2018–19 C   Elroy Smith Verdes 11 2019–20 O   Mariano Landero Verdes 14 2019–20 C Season cancelled 2022–23 O   Andres Orozco Altitude 11 ^* Includes playoff goals.

MVP (Regular Season) Season Player Team 2012 Not awarded 2012–13 O   Woodrow West Belmopan Bandits 2012–13 C   Glenford Chimilio FC Belize 2013–14 O   Franz Vernon Paradise/Freedom Fighters 2013–14 C   Keith Allen Police United 2014–15 O   Rodney Pacheco Verdes 2014–15 C   Rodney Pacheco Verdes 2015–16 O   Luis Torres Placencia Assassins 2015–16 C   Dalton Eiley Placencia Assassins 2016–17 O   Shane Orio Belmopan Bandits 2016–17 C   Daniel Jimenez Police United 2017–18 O   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits 2017–18 C   Trimayne Harris Belize Defence Force 2018–19 O   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits 2018–19 C   Georgie Welcome Belmopan Bandits 2019–20 O   Edwin Villeda Verdes 2019–20 C Season cancelled

Best Young Player Season Player Team 2012 Not awarded 2012–13 O   Eduardo Gongora Verdes 2012–13 C   Carlton Thomas FC Belize 2013–14 O Not awarded 2013–14 C 2014–15 O 2014–15 C 2015–16 O   Darren Myers Police United 2015–16 C   Jordy Polanco Belmopan Bandits 2016–17 O   Jaren Lambey Freedom Fighters 2016–17 C   Rene Leslie Placencia Assassins 2017–18 O   Krisean Lopez Wagiya 2017–18 C   Jonard Castillo Wagiya 2018–19 O   Krisean Lopez Verdes 2018–19 C   Warren Moss Wagiya 2019–20 O   Jesse August Belize Defence Force 2019–20 C Season cancelled

Best Coach Season Player Team 2012 Not awarded 2012–13 O   Edmund Pandy Sr. Belmopan Bandits 2012–13 C   Marvin Ottley FC Belize 2013–14 O   Pablo Cacho Verdes 2013–14 C   Hilberto Muschamp Police United 2014–15 O Not awarded 2014–15 C 2015–16 O   Hilberto Muschamp Police United 2015–16 C   Robert Muschamp Placencia Assassins 2016–17 O   Kent Gabourel Belmopan Bandits 2016–17 C   Marvin Ottley Verdes 2017–18 O   Marvin Ottley Verdes 2017–18 C   Kent Gabourel Belmopan Bandits 2018–19 O   Kent Gabourel Belmopan Bandits 2018–19 C   Jorge Nunez San Pedro Pirates 2019–20 O   Cesar Martin Dall'Orso Verdes 2019–20 C Season cancelled

Top 5 all-time scorers

Rank	Player	Team(s)	Goals^*
1	Daniel Jimenez	Belize Defence Force Belmopan Bandits Police United	73
2	Jarret Davis	FC Belize Verdes	71
3	Jeromy James	Belmopan Bandits FC Belize Verdes	69
4	Alexander Peters	Freedom Fighters Placencia Assassins	58
5	Georgie Welcome	Belmopan Bandits	53

^* Includes playoff goals.

References

1. "FFB electoral committee on "Top League" elections". Amandala Online. January 10, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
2. "FIFA suspends Belize". Amandala Online. June 21, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
3. "BPFL confirms withdrawal from FFB". Amandala Online. May 13, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
4. "Belize's semi-pro basketball and football leagues cancelled due to COVID-19". San Pedro Sun. April 20, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
5. "Football strife; Bandits not happy with FFB". Amandala Online. October 20, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
6. "Premier League of Belize to kick off on July 23". Breaking Belize News. June 2, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
7. "FFB electoral committee on "Top League" elections". Amandala Online. January 10, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
8. "The Premier League of Belize (PLB) elects a new executive". Breaking Belize News. June 13, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.

External links

• Belize - List of Champions, RSSSF.com