From humble beginnings on Canal Side to the bright lights of Belize’s Civic Center, the Leslie name has long been etched into the story of sports in this country. Now, with the launch of the Belize Premier Basketball League (BPBL), Dion Leslie is determined to carry his father’s legacy forward—funding not just a team, but an entire conference.
A Vision Born in the 80s
Leslie’s Imports was founded in the early 1980s by the late Tony Leslie, who returned from the United States with a vision to make appliances affordable for Belize’s working-class families. But his entrepreneurial spirit soon spilled over into sports. Sponsorship of football, volleyball, softball, cycling, and basketball became an extension of his life’s work.
“He grew up poor,” Dion recalls. “Raised by his great grandmother after losing his father at 18, he knew the struggle. Sponsoring sports was his way of giving back. He saw it as a way for kids on the Southside of Belize City to lift themselves out of poverty.”
Through the ACROS brand, Tony first became involved with football. By the mid-90s, he was sponsoring semi-pro basketball teams like the ACROS Jajam and later the ACROS Burners. Dion vividly remembers designing the Burners’ logo as a Standard Six student in 1995. “I remember me and some friends sketching logos in class. My dad let us bring them home to dinner. That’s how connected he was to us, and to sports.”
Family, Sports, and Fond Memories
For Dion, the memories go beyond sponsorship—they are family memories etched in football stadiums and basketball arenas. He recalls championship celebrations, Sunday football traditions, and the roar of packed venues in the 90s.
“MCC, People’s Stadium, Norman Broaster—it was thousands of fans. The atmosphere was pure love for the game. Civic would shake when Burners played the Raiders. That’s what stayed with me. That love, that energy, that bond with my father and brothers.”
Even in Tony’s final days, sports remained a point of connection. “Up until the weeks before my dad passed, we’d gather around his hospital bed to watch Premier League football together,” Dion shares. “Sports is where we bonded as father and sons.”
Investing in the Future of Belizean Basketball
Now CEO of Leslie’s Imports, Dion continues that tradition. His decision to support the BPBL comes not from advertising needs—“My products sell themselves,” he admits—but from a deeper commitment to legacy and community.
“I’m a sucker when it comes to doing anything in my dad’s name,” he said. “But it’s only right. I want to bring back the love, the excitement, the passion for sports in Belize that I experienced growing up. I want my son and other kids to feel that.”
Dion emphasizes that his support of the BPBL is about more than competition. “This is bigger than exposure. It’s about prolonging my father’s legacy and being part of the revolution to revive sports in Belize. We have the talent here and abroad—bringing them home inspires hope in the younger generation. If they work hard, they can achieve.”
Honoring a Foundation
The league’s decision to enshrine Tony Leslie’s name through a prestigious trophy is something the family cherishes. “We’re truly grateful,” Dion says. “It keeps his name alive and allows others to recognize what he did for sports. Many in the younger generation don’t know the sacrifices he and others made to keep football and basketball alive.”
He points to names like Maito Perdomo, the late Mr. Paulo, Maria Chang, and the heights of the Kremandala Raiders as foundational figures. “They laid the groundwork. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to build on what worked and make it even better.”
A Legacy That Lives On
For Dion Leslie, this is about more than sponsorship—it’s about service. Service to country, service to sport, and service to a legacy that started with a boy from Canal Side who believed in the power of athletics to change lives.
“If we’re not trying, we’ll never know,” Dion affirms. “This league is a product of quality, and I believe it can revive that love and energy for sports. That’s what my father stood for, and that’s what I want to continue.”
The inaugural Mayan Conference Classic kicks off on Friday night, September 5, 2025, against the Cayo Western Ballers and the Belize City Thunderbolts at the Sacred Heart Auditorium in San Ignacio, with tipoff scheduled for 9 pm. Game two and a possible championship crowning is set for Sunday, 7th September 2025 at 5 pm at the Belize Civic Center. If necessary, Game 3 will be on Saturday 13th September at the Sacred Heart Auditorium in San Ignacio, with tipoff scheduled for 9 PM.
A Belizean Semi-Professional Basketball League
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