The current semi-pro sporting leagues in football and basketball are postponed amidst the pandemic COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) announced on Monday, March 16th, that all ongoing Premier League of Belize (PLB) tournaments will be postponed until further notice. While the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) has suspended its 2020 season until April 18, 2020.
The FFB indicated that the decision to postpone the games was made following the government’s newly implemented measures to contain the deadly disease. The sporting organization reminded the general public that the health and welfare of all their stakeholders remain of primary concern. The FFB will continue to monitor all developments regarding the outbreak and urges everyone to stay updated with the upcoming events.
The NEBL also considered halting its sporting events for a couple of weeks. After a meeting on Sunday, March 15th, NEBL decided to suspend the season until Saturday, April 18th. On this date, team owners are expected to meet and review the situation in order to make a decision regarding the remainder of the season. This decision will be made based on medical advice from the Ministry of Health and the safety conditions in Belize by that time.
The PLB was in its tenth week, with the San Pedro Pirates Football Club is one of the top three teams in the current 2019-2020 closing season. Meanwhile, the NEBL’s defending champions, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks are in second place in the 2020 basketball season.
In the meantime, the National Sports Council has also suspended all activities at all sports centers countrywide until further notice. This coincides with the government’s measures to limit the number of people in an area to 100. In a statement released on Tuesday, March 17th, the Council stated that they believe the safety and health of all Belizeans should be a priority. They further encouraged everyone to limit their social contact and stay away from large crowds. The National Sports Council advises everyone to continue practicing proper handwashing and to stay alert to information by the Ministry of Health.
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