# 2017–18 Premier League of Belize

The 2017–18 Premier League of Belize was the seventh season of the highest competitive football league in Belize, after it was founded in 2011. There were two seasons which were spread over two years. The opening was played towards the end of 2017 and the closing was played at the beginning of 2018.

## Team information

| Team | City | Stadium |
| Belize Defence Force | Belize City | MCC Grounds |
| Belmopan Bandits | Belmopan | Isidoro Beaton Stadium |
| Freedom Fighters | Punta Gorda | Victor Sanchez Union Field |
| Placencia Assassins | Independence | Michael Ashcroft Stadium |
| Police United | Belmopan | Isidoro Beaton Stadium |
| San Pedro Pirates | San Pedro | Ambergris Stadium |
| Verdes | San Ignacio | Norman Broaster Stadium |
| Wagiya | Dangriga | Carl Ramos Stadium |

## Opening season

From the 2016–17 Premier League of Belize closing season, 7 teams continued to play in the opening season of 2017–18. FC Belize were replaced by a newly formed team, San Pedro Pirates, making 8 teams in total.
There would be one league consisting of the 8 teams, who will play each other twice, with the top 4 teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The opening season commenced on 12 August 2017.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Belmopan Bandits | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 12 | +26 | 35 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 2 | Verdes (C) | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 11 | +15 | 30 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 3 | Belize Defence Force | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 21 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 4 | San Pedro Pirates | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 21 | +5 | 20 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 5 | Police United | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 20 | |
| 6 | Placencia Assassins | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 27 | −5 | 16 | |
| 7 | Wagiya | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 26 | 46 | −20 | 11 | |
| 8 | Freedom Fighters | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 16 | 46 | −30 | 6 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | BDF | BEL | FRE | PLA | POL | SPE | VER | WAG |
| Belize Defence Force | | 1–0 | 7–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 |
| Belmopan Bandits | 2–1 | | 7–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 7–2 |
| Freedom Fighters | 0–3 | 0–2 | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 1–4 | 1–3 |
| Placencia Assassins | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 6–1 |
| Police United | 2–1 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 4–2 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 6–3 |
| San Pedro Pirates | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | | 1–2 | 5–0 |
| Verdes | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | | 1–0 |
| Wagiya | 1–1 | 1–2 | 6–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–3 | 3–4 | |

### Playoffs

| Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Belmopan Bandits | 6 | 3 | 9 | | | | | |
| 4 | San Pedro Pirates | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 4 | San Pedro Pirates | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Belmopan Bandits | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| | | | | | 2 | Verdes (a) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Verdes | 7 | 2 | 9 | 2 | Verdes (a) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Belize Defence Force | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |

#### Semi-finals

Game One
Game Two

#### Finals

Game One
Game Two
* 2017–18 Opening Season champions
* Verdes 2nd title

### Season statistics
#### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals$^*$ |
| 1 | Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits | 18 |
| 2 | Alcides Thomas | Verdes | 14 |
| 3 | Daniel Jimenez | Police United | 10 |
| 3 | Krisean Lopez | Wagiya | 10 |
| 5 | Jaren Lambey | Belize Defence Force | 9 |
| 5 | Hector Martinez | San Pedro Pirates | 9 |
| 7 | Darwin Bermudez | Belmopan Bandits | 7 |
| 7 | Jeromy James | Belmopan Bandits | 7 |
| 7 | Elroy Kuylen | Verdes | 7 |
| 7 | Luis Torres | Placencia Assassins | 7 |
| 11 | Shane Flores | Belize Defence Force | 6 |
| 11 | Elroy Smith | Belmopan Bandits | 6 |
$^*$ Includes playoff goals.

#### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Alcides Thomas | Verdes | Belize Defence Force | 3–1 (H) | 3 September 2017 |
| Daniel Jimenez | Police United | Wagiya | 6–3 (H) | 8 October 2017 |
| Krisean Lopez | Wagiya | Freedom Fighters | 6–2 (H) | 15 October 2017 |
| Georgie Welcome$^5$ | Belmopan Bandits | Freedom Fighters | 7–0 (H) | 4 November 2017 |
| Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits | Wagiya | 7–2 (H) | 11 November 2017 |
| Jaren Lambey$^4$ | Belize Defence Force | Freedom Fighters | 7–0 (H) | 12 November 2017 |
| Alcides Thomas | Verdes | Belize Defence Force | 7–1 (A) | 18 November 2017 |
$^4$ Player scored 4 goals
$^5$ Player scored 5 goals

### Awards

In the post-game ceremonies of the final game of the season, the individual awards were announced.
| Award | Recipient | Team |
| Golden Boot | Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits |
| MVP (Regular Season) | Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits |
| MVP (Playoff) | Roberto Silva de Lima | Verdes |
| Best Young Player | Krisean Lopez | Wagiya |
| Best Forward | Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits |
| Best Midfielder | Denmark Casey Jr. | Verdes |
| Best Defender | Elroy Smith | Belmopan Bandits |
| Golden Glove | Selvin Zeron Sagastume | Verdes |
| Best Coach | Marvin Ottley | Verdes |
| Best Manager | Lorin Frazer | Verdes |

## Closing season

All 8 teams that participated in the opening season will participate in the closing season.
The format will be the same as the opening season with one league consisting of the 8 teams, who will play each other twice, with the top 4 teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The closing season commenced on 13 January 2018.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Belmopan Bandits (C) | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 19 | +14 | 31 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 2 | Verdes | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 14 | +18 | 29 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 3 | Belize Defence Force | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 18 | +8 | 20 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 4 | Police United | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 28 | −2 | 20 | Qualification to the Playoffs |
| 5 | Freedom Fighters | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 25 | 31 | −6 | 16 | |
| 6 | San Pedro Pirates | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 28 | −7 | 15 | |
| 7 | Wagiya | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 14 | |
| 8 | Placencia Assassins | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 29 | −14 | 11 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | BDF | BEL | FRE | PLA | POL | SPE | VER | WAG |
| Belize Defence Force | | 2–2 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Belmopan Bandits | 2–1 | | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Freedom Fighters | 0–3 | 2–4 | | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 6–0 |
| Placencia Assassins | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | | 2–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Police United | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| San Pedro Pirates | 2–1 | 3–4 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 1–6 | | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Verdes | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 7–1 | 1–2 | | 3–2 |
| Wagiya | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 1–4 | |

### Playoffs

| Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Belmopan Bandits (a) | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | Police United | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | Police United | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Belmopan Bandits | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| | | | | | 3 | Belize Defence Force | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2 | Verdes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Belize Defence Force | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | Belize Defence Force | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | |

#### Semi-finals

Game One
Game Two

#### Finals

Game One
Game Two
* 2017–18 Closing Season champions
* Belmopan Bandits 8th title

### Season statistics
#### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals$^*$ |
| 1 | Trimayne Harris | Belize Defence Force | 13 |
| 2 | Jonard Castillo | Wagiya | 10 |
| 2 | Rony Flores | Belmopan Bandits | 10 |
| 4 | Hector Martinez | Belmopan Bandits | 8 |
| 4 | Elroy Smith | Belmopan Bandits | 8 |
| 4 | Alcides Thomas | Verdes | 8 |
| 7 | Jarret Davis | Verdes | 6 |
| 7 | Alexander Peters | Freedom Fighters | 6 |
| 7 | Luis Torres | Placencia Assassins | 6 |
| 7 | Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits | 6 |
| 11 | Inri Gonzaga | San Pedro Pirates | 5 |
| 11 | Daniel Jimenez | Police United | 5 |
| 11 | Krisean Lopez | Verdes | 5 |
$^*$ Includes playoff goals.

#### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Byron Usher | Police United | San Pedro Pirates | 6–1 (A) | 14 January 2018 |
| Luis Torres | Placencia Assassins | Police United | 3–3 (A) | 21 January 2018 |
| Luis Mencia | San Pedro Pirates | Freedom Fighters | 4–1 (H) | 18 February 2018 |
| Hector Martinez | Belmopan Bandits | San Pedro Pirates | 4–3 (A) | 11 March 2018 |
| Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits | Belize Defence Force | 5–3 (H) | 21 May 2018 |

### Awards

In the post-game ceremonies of the final game of the season, the individual awards were announced.
| Award | Recipient | Team |
| Golden Boot (Regular Season) | Jonard Castillo | Wagiya |
| Golden Boot (Overall) | Trimayne Harris | Belize Defence Force |
| MVP (Regular Season) | Trimayne Harris | Belize Defence Force |
| MVP (Playoff) | Georgie Welcome | Belmopan Bandits |
| Best Young Player | Jonard Castillo | Wagiya |
| Best Midfielder | Denmark Casey Jr. | Verdes |
| Best Defender | Dalton Eiley | Belmopan Bandits |
| Golden Glove | Selvin Zeron Sagastume | Verdes |
| Best Coach | Kent Gabourel | Belmopan Bandits |
| Best Manager | Captain Kenrick Martinez | Belize Defence Force |

## Aggregate table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Belmopan Bandits | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 71 | 31 | +40 | 66 | 2018 CONCACAF League |
| 2 | Verdes | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 25 | +33 | 59 | |
| 3 | Belize Defence Force | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 49 | 36 | +13 | 41 | |
| 4 | Police United | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 40 | |
| 5 | San Pedro Pirates | 27 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 35 | |
| 6 | Placencia Assassins | 28 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 37 | 56 | −19 | 27 | |
| 7 | Wagiya | 27 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 43 | 74 | −31 | 25 | |
| 8 | Freedom Fighters | 28 | 7 | 1 | 20 | 31 | 77 | −46 | 22 | |