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Trinidad and Tobago’s most populous nationwide club youth tournament, the Republic Club National Youth Football League, kicks off its 2024 edition on Saturday 24 February, with over 140 teams expected in four divisions across five zones.
Today, Republic Bank manager of Group Brand Management Reena Gopaul hosted the media launch for the 2024 NYFL, with John Peter Clarke, general manager of Wealth Management at Republic Bank, Anton Corneal, Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) technical director, and Shem Alexander, Gateway Athletics managing director, among the guest speakers.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
The 2024 NYFL, which is again sanctioned as the TTFA’s de facto youth tournament, will comprise under-14, under-16 and under-20 boys competitions with an under-20 girls division.
Matches will be played in a round robin format in the North, South, East/ Eastern Counties, Central and Tobago Zones, while the competition concludes with national finals on Saturday 1 June.
Last year, the top teams from the two islands did not meet to decide the national youth champions—although that will not be the case in 2024.
The 2023 winners were as follows:
Boys’ Under-13: FC Ginga (Trinidad), Ball Blasters Youth Academy (Tobago)
Boys’ Under-15: Pro Series (Trinidad), Ball Blasters Youth Academy (Tobago)
Boys’ Under-17: Pro Series (Trinidad), Ball Blasters Youth Academy (Tobago)
Boys’ Under-20: Defence Force (Trinidad), Eagles FC (Tobago)
Girls’ Under-16: Cox Coaching School (Trinidad), Jewels FC (Tobago)
Girls’ Under-20: St Augustine FC (Trinidad), Black Panthers (Tobago)
(Copyright Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868)
This year, the top two teams in the four Trinidad zones will advance to the knockout stage in the Under-14 and Under-16 categories while the East Zone, which includes Eastern Counties, will get four qualifying spots in the Under-20 division due to its size.
Alexander, whose Gateway company runs the RBNYFL for a third consecutive year, explained why the tournament organisers opted to trim two divisions for 2024.
“The TTFA is hosting National Under-13 and Under-15 Girls’ competitions, so not wanting to duplicate we went with the Girls’ Under-20 division only this year,” he told Wired868.
(Copyright Brian Miller/ Wired868)
“We also had to make a division [to have] three boys’ age groups. And we decided to focus on the Under-20 division, as this is the age we felt would be given the most opportunities for players to receive scholarships and other opportunities abroad—right after leaving secondary school.”
Alexander pointed to six players whose dreams of turning professional received boosts through last year’s competition. Four Eagles FC players, Kareem Moses, Dominique Lyons, Jonathan Gibbz and Dmitrei Lewis, are now contracted to lower league teams in Croatia.
(Copyright Nicholas Williams/ CA-Images/ Wired868)
Lyons is at second division outfit NK Medulin, Moses is at third division NK Rudar Labin and Gibbz and Lewis are at NK Mledost Fazana. They were among seven players selected from the Republic Cup NYFL showcase last year, which was staged in both islands.
Alexander also identified QPCC flanker Christian Bailey and Eastern Jaguars goalkeeper Tor Fletcher as players who caught the attention of Germany-based recruitment agency, Next Level Talents, at the 2023 showcase. Both are said to be at trials in Germany at present, while a seventh player, Keon Boatswain, suffered a broken leg during a trial in Sweden but would hope to return.
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The showcase also created scholarship opportunities for players with roughly half dozen US college scouts in attendance.
“These accomplishments underscore the impact of the Republic Bank National Youth Football League and the role it plays in shaping the future of football in our region,” said Alexander. “Beyond the field, this tournament creates a sense of pride and identity for our youth. By representing their respective clubs and regions, players develop a strong connection to their communities and learn the values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.
“These principles, instilled at an early age, lay the foundation for responsible and engaged citizens who contribute positively to the social fabric of our society.”
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Corneal reiterated that the elite side of the NYFL competition is not the big picture. Its real value, the TTFA technical director suggested, was in giving young men and women an avenue to have healthy fun, socialise and enjoy the thrill of competition.
From its kickoff in 1995, the Republic Bank-sponsored competition—which falls under the bank’s Power To Make a Difference social responsibility programme—has used football to make an impact on thousands of young men and women.
“Similar to Intercol, the Republic Cup National Youth Football League has also become a much-anticipated staple on the annual sporting calendar here in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Republic Bank manager JP Clarke.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“For hundreds of young men and women in clubs across the country, participating in the Republic Cup stands out among their kaleidoscope of memories of this beautiful game and their passion for football flourishes because of our League.”
There will be more memories made in 2024, with action kicking off on 24 February.
If you are interested in registering a team for the 2024 Republic Cup National Youth Football, click HERE.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
