The 2016–17 Premier League of Belize was the sixth 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 2016 and the closing was played at the beginning of 2017.
Team information
Team City Stadium Belize Defence Force Belize City MCC Grounds Belmopan Bandits Belmopan Isidoro Beaton Stadium FC Belize Belize City MCC Grounds Freedom Fighters Punta Gorda Victor Sanchez Union Field Orange Walk Orange Walk People's Stadium Placencia Assassins Independence Michael Ashcroft Stadium Police United San Ignacio Norman Broaster Stadium Verdes San Ignacio Norman Broaster Stadium Wagiya Dangriga Carl Ramos Stadium
Opening season
From the 2015–16 Premier League of Belize season, all 6 teams continued to play in the opening season of 2016–17. FC Belize and Freedom Fighters returned to the league, as well as a newly formed team, Orange Walk, making 9 teams in total.
There would be one league consisting of the 9 teams, who will play each other twice, with the top 4 teams advancing to the end of season playoffs. The opening season commenced on 20 August 2016.
League table
Results
Playoffs
Semi-finals
Game One
Game Two
Finals
Game One
Game Two
Season statistics
Top scorers RankPlayerTeamGoals1 Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits142 Dellon Torres Placencia Assassins123 Jarret Davis Verdes11 Aloisio Teixeira Belmopan Bandits5 Jaren Lambey Freedom Fighters106 Hector Martinez FC Belize9 Carlton Thomas Police United8 Ashton Torres Placencia Assassins89 Russell Cassanova FC Belize7 Joao Silva Orange Walk Vallan Symms Belize Defence Force12 Jeromy James Belmopan Bandits6 Harrison Roches Police United
Includes playoff goals.
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Dellon Torres4 Placencia Assassins Orange Walk 7–0 (A) Russell Cassanova FC Belize Orange Walk 4–2 (H) Carlton Thomas Police United Freedom Fighters 6–3 (A) Jairo Rochez4 Belmopan Bandits Orange Walk 9–2 (H) Hector Martinez FC Belize Freedom Fighters 6–1 (A)
4 Player scored 4 goals
Awards
In the post-game ceremonies of the final game of the season, the individual awards were announced.
Award Recipient Team Golden Boot Jairo RochezBelmopan Bandits MVP (Regular Season) Shane OrioBelmopan Bandits MVP (Playoff) Jordy PolancoBelmopan Bandits Best Young Player Jaren LambeyFreedom Fighters Best Midfielder Jordy PolancoBelmopan Bandits Best Defender Elroy SmithBelmopan Bandits Golden Glove Shane OrioBelmopan Bandits Best Coach Kent GabourelBelmopan Bandits Best Manager Kenneth BudnaBelmopan Bandits
Closing season
8 of the 9 teams that participated in the opening season will participate in the closing season, with Orange Walk not competing.
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 28 January 2017.
League table
Results
Playoffs
Semi-finals Game One
Game Two
Finals
Game One
Game Two
Season statistics
Top scorers RankPlayerTeamGoals1 Daniel Jimenez Police United10 Jairo Rochez Belmopan Bandits3 Brian Martinez Belize Defence Force94 Luis Torres Placencia Assassins85 Aloisio Teixeira Belmopan Bandits76 Highking Roberts Belmopan Bandits67 Jarret Davis Verdes5 Shane Flores Belize Defence Force Jaren Lambey Freedom Fighters Hector Martinez FC Belize11 Jeromy James Belmopan Bandits4 Alexander Peters Freedom Fighters Elroy Smith Belmopan Bandits Carlton Thomas Police United Gilroy Thurton Verdes
Includes playoff goals.
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Brian Martinez Belize Defence Force Wagiya 6–0 (H) Highking Roberts4 Belmopan Bandits Wagiya 11–0 (H) Aloisio Teixeira Belmopan Bandits Freedom Fighters 4–1 (H)
4 Player scored 4 goals
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) Daniel JimenezPolice United Golden Boot (Overall) Daniel JimenezPolice United Jairo RochezBelmopan Bandits MVP (Regular Season) Daniel JimenezPolice United MVP (Playoff) Ian GaynairBelmopan Bandits Best Young Player Rene LesliePlacencia Assassins Best Midfielder Denmark Casey Jr.Belmopan Bandits Best Defender Elroy SmithBelmopan Bandits Golden Glove Shane OrioBelmopan Bandits Best Coach Marvin OttleyVerdes Best Manager Lorin FrazerVerdes
References