Last night, we told you that the National football Coach, Leroy Sherrier, abruptly vacated the post for a second time. It came as a surprise to the entire football community in Belize because the last time he spoke with the media, he said that he was about to sign a contract to remain in Belize for the long term.
Information to 7News was that he had difficulties with some of the members of the National Team Committee, but at a press conference today, the President of the Football Federation of Belize, Ruperto Vicente said that there were a number of issues that led to his departure.
In a very diplomatic letter to the President, Sherrier outlined a list of personal reasons which led him to the decision to leave. Those included a lack of motivation, his old age while nearing 70 years, the fact that he missed his family back home, and some issues he had with certain Committee members.
He was diplomatic throughout the letter, but when he touched the topic of the committee members, he bravely questioned their commitment to football in Belize, requesting that Vicente and the executive look closely at the criteria for appointing members because he called them figureheads.
It is a very telling indication of his underlying issues with the football authorities in Belize, so we asked the President to expand on that topic in his capacity as chief arbiter. Here's how he described it, along with his intermediate plan in the wake of Sherrier's decision:
Ruperto Vicente - President, Football Federation of Belize
"He also complained about his relationship with some of our national team committee members. He cited that some of the national team committee members are there only for a ride and to enjoy the success of our national federation. The members of the national team committee have opinions even on the job that the coach is doing, and the coach has his own opinion on how the national team committee members go about doing their job. But that is given; that is understood, and we will all have opinions on each other's role. The issue with the members with the national team committee, I do not see it as being the key factor for his exit. We must move on. The coach has left, and we must accept his exit at this point. And for continuity's sake, we're going to get Mr. Charlie Slusher as our coach assisted by Mr. Julio Santos and Mr. Kent Gabriel."
Charlie Slusher - Interim Head Coach, Belize National Team
"I think it was a wise choice that the president made, like what he mention the continuity in the sense that we don't want to start the program from beginning, because I think that is the biggest fear our football public has that we reach a stage and starting all over again. I believe by keeping me around I know the team very well, I know the players I know some of the down falls that we have that we need to work on."
Charlie Slusher will be the interim coach while the FFB looks for a replacement who will be an international coach.
According to the FFB, they will continue with the plans outlined by Sherrier, and he will always be remembered in Belizean football history as the coach who helped Belize qualify for the Gold Cup.
Channel 7
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