Belmopan Bandits FSC explained

Clubname:Belmopan Bandits FSC
Fullname:Belmopan Bandits Football Sporting Club
Nickname:The Bandits
Los Banditos
Ground:Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan
Capacity:2,500
Owner:John Saldivar[1]
Manager:Dale Pelayo Sr.
League:Premier League of Belize
Season:2022–23
Position:8th
Website:https://www.facebook.com/banditssports

Belmopan Bandits FSC is a professional football club from Belmopan, Belize, currently competing in the Premier League of Belize. With nine championships, the club is the most successful in Belizean football since the creation of the Premier League of Belize in 2012.[2] [3]

History

The club was founded in 1986 as the Builders Hardware Bandits.[4] After a period of inactivity, it returned in 2011 and quickly re-established itself as one of the country's top clubs. By 2017, Belmopan Bandits had won seven of the last eleven titles in Belize's top division, including the Premier League of Belize and its predecessor leagues.[5] The club qualified for the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League but was ultimately replaced by Costa Rica's C.S. Herediano after the surface of the FFB Stadium was deemed unplayable.[6] If they would have appeared in the tournament, the club would have been the first from Belize to participate in the competition since 2008–09.[7] By winning the 2014–15 championship, the club won the title for the fourth time in six seasons and its third championship in a row.[8] By 2016, the club was recognized by Amandala as having a stable ownership and financial security without scandals or controversies, and a number of members of the Belize national team in the squad.[9]

In July 2017, Belmopan Bandits won the Quadrangular Football Tournament held in San Pedro Town, beating the top teams from Ambergris Caye.[10] Later that summer the club made its CONCACAF debut in the 2017 CONCACAF League, the inaugural edition of the tournament. Honduran international and 2010 FIFA World Cup participant Georgie Welcome led the team's offense. They were eliminated by C.D. Walter Ferretti of Nicaragua in the Round of 16 with an aggregate score of 1–5. The team qualified for the competition again in 2018.[11] In their second attempt, the club was eliminated in the Round of 16 again, losing a well-played series against F.C. Motagua 0–3 on aggregate. By qualifying for the 2019 CONCACAF League, Belmopan Bandits became the first-ever club to qualify for the competition three consecutive seasons.[12]

In October 2021, Belmopan Bandits issued a statement that it would not participate in the 2021–22 FFB Top League which was organized by the Football Federation of Belize to replace the PLB season cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The club stated that their protest was because Clifford King, the person club management viewed as the legitimately elected President of the FFB, was not recognized by the federation. The matter was taken up by with the Supreme Court of Belize.[13]

In February 2023, it was announced that the club had entered a sponsorship agreement with Internacional Futbol Club of Mexico which would increase Belmopan's technical and financial resources. As part of the deal, Belmopan Bandits rebranded as Bandits-Internacional FC. While the original club would maintain ownership, Internacional FC would take over all operations and offer opportunities for Belizean players to sign in Mexico. The club played its first match under its new name against Altitude FC on 11 February 2023.[14] Before the end of the 2022–23 season, the club returned to wearing its original Bandits uniforms. In May 2023, it was announced that the club had ended its sponsorship agreement with Internacional FC and would return as the Belmopan Bandits for the 2023–24 season. The half season as played under the Bandits-Internacional FC moniker saw the club earn its worst-ever Closing Championship performance.[15]

Record

Year-by-year

Key
SeasonLeagueNotes
Div.RoundPos.Pl.WDLPts.Play-OffsRoundPos.Pl.WDLPts.Play-Offs
2012[16] 1stOpening5th, Southern Zone101457DNQClosing1494131
2012/13[17] Opening1494131Closing14102232Semis
2013/14[18] Opening1245317Closing1246218
2014/15[19] Opening851216Closing8 43115
2015/16[20] Opening1063121SemisClosing10 53218
2016/17[21] Opening16124040Closing14 113036
2017/18[22] Opening14112135Closing14 94131
2018/19[23] Opening14103133Closing14 74325
2019/20[24] Opening1484228Closing741213N/AClosing Round abandoned because of COVID-19 pandemic
2021/22[25] Did not enter
2022/23Opening1422108DNQClosing1402122DNQ
2023/24[26] Opening1422108DNQClosing

International competitions

SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAwayAggregate
2014–15CONCACAF Champions LeagueGroup Stagewithdrawn, replaced by Herediano
2017[27] CONCACAF LeagueRound of 16 Walter Ferretti1–40–31–5
2018[28] CONCACAF LeagueRound of 16 Motagua0–10–20–3
2019[29] CONCACAF LeaguePreliminary round Saprissa1–31–32–6

Honours

Basketball

Belmopan Bandits is an multi-sports club that also operates a basketball team in the Belize Elite Basketball League (BEBL). The team won its first league championship in 2017.[30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Bandits’ nightmare . Amandala.com . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327002351/https://amandala.com.bz/news/bandits-nightmare/ . live .
  2. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Belize - List of Champions . RSSSF . 26 March 2024 . 25 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925071148/https://rsssf.org/tablesb/belizechamp.html . live .
  3. Web site: About Us . Belmopan Bandits FSC . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326230406/https://belmopanbanditsfc.wordpress.com/about-us/ . live .
  4. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Belize - List of Foundation Dates . RSSSF . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326022016/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belizefound.html . live .
  5. Web site: Cuthkelvin . Delroy . Belmopan bandits sports success story . Breaking Belize News . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326020410/https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2017/05/21/belmopan-bandits-sports-success-story/ . live .
  6. Web site: CONCACAF Champions League: Costa Rica's Herediano to replace Belize's Belmopan Bandits . Major League Soccer . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326020409/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/concacaf-champions-league-costa-ricas-herediano-replace-belizes-belmopan-bandits . live .
  7. Web site: Hernandez . Cesar . Mexican sides primed for CCL success . ESPN . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326232304/https://africa.espn.com/football/story/_/id/37399864/mexican-sides-primed-ccl-success . live .
  8. Web site: FIFA President congratulates Belmopan Bandits . amandala.com . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326231838/https://amandala.com.bz/news/fifa-president-congratulates-belmopan-bandits/ . live .
  9. Web site: The Bandits are coming to town; old Belize City vs new capital . Amandala.com . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326020411/https://amandala.com.bz/news/bandits-coming-town-belize-city-capital/ . live .
  10. Web site: Belmopan Bandits win Quadrangular Football Tournament . San Pedro Sun . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326231234/https://www.sanpedrosun.com/sports/2017/07/18/belmopan-bandits-win-quadrangular-football-tournament/ . live .
  11. Web site: Stability has Belmopan Bandits poised for SCL run . Concacaf . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326021722/https://www.concacaf.com/en/concacaf-league/article/stability-has-belmopan-bandits-poised-for-scl-run/ . live .
  12. Web site: Belmopan Bandits will feature in the SCL for the third time . Concacaf . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326020409/https://www.concacaf.com/concacaf-league/article/belmopan-bandits-will-feature-in-the-scl-for-the-third-time/ . live .
  13. Web site: Belmopan Bandits issues press release . Amandala.com . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326020409/https://amandala.com.bz/news/belmopan-bandits-issues-press-release/ . live .
  14. Web site: Iglesias . Rubén Morales . Bandits strike sponsorship deal with Mexican football club, change name to Internacional Fútbol Club . Breaking Belize News . 26 March 2024 . 6 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206181412/https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2023/02/17/bandits-strike-sponsorship-deal-with-mexican-football-club-change-name-to-internacional-futbol-club/ . live .
  15. Web site: Iglesias . Rubén Morales . Bandits drop name Internacional, return for next Premier League of Belize season . Breaking Belize News . 26 March 2024 . 10 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210095656/https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2023/05/19/bandits-drop-name-internacional-return-for-next-premier-league-of-belize-season/ . live .
  16. Web site: King . Ian . Schöggl . Hans . Belize 2012 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327193720/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2012.html#fplay . live .
  17. Web site: King . Ian . Belize 2013 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327194542/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2013.html . live .
  18. Web site: King . Ian . Belize 2013/14 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327193152/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2014.html#splay . live .
  19. Web site: King . Ian . Belize 2014/15 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327171229/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2015.html . live .
  20. Web site: King . Ian . Belize 2015/16 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327170914/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2016.html . live .
  21. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Stokkermans . Karel . Belize 2016/17 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327170516/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2017.html . live .
  22. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Stokkermans . Karel . Belize 2017/18 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327170257/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2018.html . live .
  23. Web site: Stokkermans . Karel . Belize 2018/19 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327170003/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2019.html#splay . live .
  24. Web site: Stokkermans . Karel . Belize 2019/20 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 21 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321204955/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2020.html#fall . live .
  25. Web site: King . Ian . Stokkermans . Karel . Belize 2022/23 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327030919/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2023.html . live .
  26. Web site: Stokkermans . Karel . Belize 2023/24 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327024814/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belize2024.html#splay . live .
  27. Web site: Lugo . Erik Francisco . Central American Club Competitions 2017/18 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327010800/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cacups2018.html#conca . live .
  28. Web site: Lugo . Erik Francisco . Central American Club Competitions 2018/19 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327011148/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cacups2019.html#conca . live .
  29. Web site: Lugo . Erik Francisco . Central American Club Competitions 2019/20 . RSSSF . 27 March 2024 . 27 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327011400/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cacups2020.html . live .
  30. Web site: Gladden . Charleston . Belmopan Bandits captured their first NEBL Championship defeating San Pedro Tiger Sharks . Belize Elite Basketball League . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326230658/https://nebl.web.geniussports.com/belmopan-bandits-captured-their-first-nebl-championship-defeating-san-pedro-tiger-sharks/ . live .