Intercol 24: Zoom Zoom reigns! Garcia double sees St Benedict’s hold off Fatima

It had to be him.

St Benedict’s College finished the 2024 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season unbeaten, after a 2-0 triumph over Fatima College in the Coca Cola Boys National Intercol final this evening at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

And, not for the first time, forward and team captain Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia led the “La Romaine Lions” with a goal near the start and end of the contest.

Across 20 games, St Benedict’s won 16 outright, with two penalty shootout triumphs and two draws. On the field of play, there has been no doubt which outfit has lorded over the 2024 season.

In the Girls National Intercol final, St Joseph’s Convent (Port of Spain) lifted the prestigious title after a 5-3 win via penalties over Pleasantville Secondary.

The Convent girls opened the scoring in the 13th minute through forward Bethany Phillip, who followed up after captain Kaitlyn Darwent’s effort was tipped on to the bar by opposing goalkeeper Janike Ramoutar.

However, Pleasantville pulled level in the 27th minute through a brilliant solo effort by the gifted Nikita Gosine—arguably the most breathtaking player on display on the day, which was no faint praise.

Neither Darwent nor Gosine could conjure up a winning item for their teams in regulation time.

St Joseph’s Convent attacker Emma Nieves wasted a straightforward opportunity off a Darwent delivery in the first half, while, after the interval, Pleasantville Secondary forwards Khairiyah Fortune and Zara Chase got in each other’s way with the goal wide open after a Gosine cross.

Penalty kicks ensued and St Joseph’s Convent custodian Alexia Dolland made a crucial save from Giovanna Sherwood while forward Scarlett Cole fired home her effort to clinch the national crown for the North Zone champions.

The Boys final never quite matched the preceding game for intrigue on the field.

Fatima, without suspended playmaker Caden Trestrail, were overrun in midfield for much of the first half hour, with almost every turnover followed by a clipped ball over the top for the lively Benedict’s front three of Garcia, Cam’ron Burke and Ethan Trotman.

And Benedict’s already had two decent looks before midfielder Josiah Ochoa played through Garcia for a precise finish from close range in the 15th minute.

Garcia celebrated with the now-popular Cole Palmer celebration as he feigned warming his two arms.

Not for the first time this season, he was too hot for Fatima.

The northern juggernauts almost managed a spectacular response from forward Michael Chaves, who turned and blasted at goal with his right boot from close to 30 yards in the 21st minute—only to strike the inside of the far post.

Eleven minutes later, Chaves tried his luck with his left foot, but Benedict’s goalkeeper, Thane Devenish, was alert to the danger and responded with a flying save to match.

Chaves could only shake his head ruefully.

The 2023 SSFL MVP and a capped Men’s National Senior Team player, Chaves shook off a horrific broken leg to play in the 2024 season. But, while everything Garcia touched turned to gold, the Fatima forward has had such rotten luck that he would probably cut himself with a plastic butter knife.

The scoreline remained 1-0 at the interval, and with Benedict’s midfielder Adam “Toka” Pierre walking around the stadium as though he had a lease for the place, it was hard to see how Fatima could fashion a recovery.

Coach Hutson Charles’ boys started their build-ups with promise but were too often undone by loose passing or wrong decisions against a strong, athletic Benedict’s team. And, at all times, Garcia was waiting to strike in transition.

The 17-year-old St Benedict’s captain has a knack for being able to execute manoeuvres at a speed that others had to slow down to try and mimic. Zoom Zoom could not be a more appropriate moniker—it’s like watching a player move on fast forward in real-time.

Pierre nearly got Benedict’s second goal on the hour mark with a clever low free kick that Fatima goalkeeper Shameal O’Brian did well to keep out. But, as coach Charles went for broke, St Benedict’s found themselves pegged back for the last 20 minutes of the game.

Substitutes Jaheam Bailey and Josiah Gobin added some much-needed impetus to the Fatima attack, as the northerners switched to a virtual 3-2-5 formation at the death—with left back Micaiah Leach joining the front line.

But, even then, they lacked the composure and quality in the final third to really trouble Benedict’s.

And, four minutes into stoppage time, Garcia put them out of their misery.

Another Fatima substitute, Josiah Fernandes, could not execute an accurate 10-yard pass to a teammate—and, to be fair, he was hardly alone in that regard—and Pierre swooped in to clear the ball.

Suddenly, Garcia was on to it and behind the Fatima defence.

Was it a calculated move by Pierre? Or is the seemingly omnipresent Garcia able to make any hoof behind the opposing defence look like a training ground routine?

It’s a moot point at this stage.

Garcia scored. Again. And Benedict’s won. Again.

One way or another, for better and for worse—the 2024 SSFL season has belonged to Derrel Garcia.

Teams

St Benedict’s College (4-3-3): 22.Thane Devenish (GK); 2.Ackeem James, 17.Joshua Figaro, 5.Sahrai Mitchell, 13.Elijah George; 19.Lyshaun Morris, 4.Adam Pierre, 12.Josiah Ochoa; 11.Ethan Trotman (18.Kylon Cayenne 87), 10.Derrel Garcia (captain), 8.Cam’ron Burke (7.Elijah David 67).

Unused substitutes: 1.Naftali Charles (GK), 3.Isaiah David, 6.Salim Soanes, 9.Jelani Stoute, 14.Josiah Barrow, 15.Nathan George, 16.Kai Robertson, 20.Jelanie Scott, 21.Ruben Phillips.

Coach: Randolph Boyce

Fatima College (4-3-3): 00.Shameal O’Brian (GK); 24.Liam Gooding, 26.Matthew Barrington, 4.Yohance Atherton (captain), 19.Micaiah Leach; 9.Seth Hadeed (16.Savio Yearwood 77), 17.Jediah King (7.Jaheam Bailey 58), 9.Luke Correia; 2.David Hospedales (29.Josiah Fernandes 87), 13.Michael Chaves, 22.Levi Smith (11.Josiah Gobin 67).

Unused substitutes: 1.Jayden Lucas (GK), 40.Logan Hamel-Smith (GK), 14.Joziah Contant-Shing Hon, 30.Immanuel Smith-Oliver.

Coach: Hutson Charles

Referee: Kwinsi Williams

Pleasantville Secondary (4-3-3): 23.Janike Ramoutar (GK); 8.Alisha Mitchell, 4.Reneisha Jack, 2.Mikalah Guerero, 3.Giovanna Sherwood; 10.Tayeann Wylie (captain), 6.Natalia Gosine, 9.Nikita Gosine; 17.Akeila Marryshow (19.Daniella Ramlogan 72), 11.Khairiyah Fortune (5.Daniella Wickham 88), 14.Zara Chase.

Unused substitutes: 22.Raeland Dillon (GK), 7.Joe-nelle Jones, 12.Taisiya Dillon, 13.Brianna Stoute, 15.Shekinah Fleming, 16.Niara Percy, 18.Kaeley Martin.

Coach: Brian London

St Joseph’s Convent (PoS) (4-3-3): 1.Alexia Dolland (GK); 32.Khayla Gouveia, 7.Mikaela Yearwood, 5.Mateja Leben, 6.Sia’n Rigaud (3.Lucy Felix 46); 10.Rori Gittens, 8.Chelsea Richards (35.Jaeda Wilson 70), 19.Daneelyah Salandy; 13.Kaitlyn Darwent (captain), 25.Bethany Phillip, 11.Emma Nieves (9.Scarlett Cole 58).

Unused substitutes: 4.Xara Campbell, 12.Kara Cooper, 23.Madisyn Boissiers, 23.Nina-Reece Henderson, 31.Coliya Harris, 33.London Millien.

Coach: Tasha St Louis-Joseph

Referee: Crystal Sobers

Girls National Intercol final

(5 December 2024)

St Joseph’s Convent 1 (Bethany Phillip 13), Pleasantville Secondary 1 (Nikita Gosine 27) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

*–St Joseph’s Convent win 5-3 via penalty kicks

MVP: Daneelyah Salandy (St Joseph’s Convent)

Boys National Intercol final

(5 December 2024)

St Benedict’s College 2 (Derrel Garcia 50, 90+4), Fatima College 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium.

MVP: Derrel Garcia (St Benedict’s College)