RBNYFL 25: QPCC, Club Sando snare zonal titles, 7 KO spots up for grabs

There will be a final push for places in the 2025 Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL) quarterfinal round as zonal action continues this weekend, with seven of 24 knockout berths still up for grabs.

The East Zone U-20 and South Zone U-17 and U-20 divisions are completed, though.

On Saturday, QPCC FC snared the East U-20 title with a 5-1 win over San Juan Jabloteh at the St Augustine Secondary ground.

Jabloteh had a 100 percent record going into the contest and only needed a draw to finish first. The ‘Parkites’ opened the scoring via a Deisean Plaza freekick in the 11th minute, only for Jabloteh to level through attacker Kemarley Pierre in the 33rd minute.

However, QPCC coach Wayne Sheppard’s halftime talk, plus the introduction of forward Giovanni Hospedales, did the trick as they scored four unanswered goals after the interval to claim the zonal gong.

Hospedales got the go-ahead goal while midfielder Israel Joseph notched a double and winger Micah Nelson closed off the score summary.

Jabloteh, at present, are still due to progress to the knockout round as group runners-up. However, the RBNYFL tournament organisers, TTGameplan, have investigated a suspect case of an over-aged player that could have implications for the group standings.

The issue centres around Jabloteh midfielder Kadeem Maloney, who represented Eastern Jaguars in the 2023 RBNYFL competition as Kadeem Mendoza.

‘Maloney’ provided identification to Jabloteh which suggested he is 18 years old at present. Two years ago, Mendoza was listed as 19-years-old when he played under-20 for the Jaguars. And a third document has been sourced which indicates that he is actually 23.

TTGameplan managing director Dennis Tayé Allen stressed that investigations so far confirm that Jabloteh “are not complicit” in any wrongdoing. However, a Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) disciplinary committee will rule on the matter, which also has a safeguarding element.

‘Maloney’ got the equalising goal for Jabloteh in their 3-1 come-from-behind win over Tinto’s Sporting Academy at St Augustine on Saturday 22 March. If Jabloteh are deducted points for that match—or any other games that the midfielder featured in—then FC Ginga would jump from third to second spot.

Elsewhere, Club Sando also leapfrogged the South Zone U-20 leaders, Police FC, on the final match day.

Goals from Jerrel Cooper and Ayche Saunders were enough to turn the tables on Police, who got a consolation item from Nathaniel Johnson.

But the game might be remembered mostly for less savory incidents, as Police defender Desailly Lewis was ejected for a dangerous tackle and unsanitary language while referee Jovan Peters also showed Johnson the red card for his post-match behaviour.

There were complaints too of foul and abusive language towards officials, allegedly from Police FC supporters.

As the RBNYFL enters the knockout stage, there will be a new format in 2025 with the eight zonal qualifiers grouped based on their form rather than geographical location.

To clarify, rather than a case of South 1 vs Central 2 or East 1 vs North 2, all qualifiers from each division will be ranked based on a “weighted average” that considers: points accumulated from total available points, goal difference, and, as a tie-breaker, head-to-head result with group runners-up.

The top ranked team will then play the lowest ranked qualifier, the second-best team will play the second lowest ranked qualifier, etc.

Tobago clubs will be invited to play a Big Four competition on their island before meeting the Trinidad champion in each division for a national final.

The top four Trinidad Girls Under-17 teams will also play among themselves before the winners square off against the Tobago champs.

The following is a report on the Trinidad Under-14 zones:

Premier Sports Club have virtually wrapped up the Central Zone title with a 100 percent record and a +27 goal differential thus far, even with two outstanding matches against Waterloo Tigers and Evolution FC.

However, FC Tigers (12 points from six matches), T&T Maestros (10 points from five matches) and Waterloo Tigers (10 points from five matches) are competing for a solitary spot.

Beatnix Sports Club (16 points, +16 goal difference) are assured of a quarterfinal spot and have the East title in the bag as well. Below them, Blue Hawks FC (13 points, +5 goal difference) must find a way to hand Beatnix their first loss of the season to progress, or hope that third place Creek Sports and Cultural Club (11 points, +21 goal difference) lose or draw in their final fixture against Cardinals Football Academy.

It is a tense final day in the North Zone too, with City FC (13 points, +17 goal difference) and Trendsetter Hawks (13 points, +15 goal difference) trying to follow zonal winners Pro Series into the knockout rounds.

Basically, a shootout is likely to ensue with Trendsetter Hawks having to put two more goals past Santa Cruz United than City FC rest on AC Port of Spain—otherwise, Pro Series and City qualify.

The South Zone is done and dusted with Point Fortin Youth Football Academy (12 points from four matches) and Cox Coaching School (12 points from five matches) certain to finish first and second respectively.

Point Fortin have claimed the zonal title with a game to spare against fourth place Uprising Youths.

This weekend’s results would impact on the final placings of the eight Under-14 qualifiers. However, at present, the knockout bracket is likely to look this:

(1) Premier SC vs (8) FC Tigers; (4) Beatnix SC vs (5) Cox Coaching School.

(2) Pro Series vs (7) Blue Hawks; (3) Point Fortin vs (6) City FC.

Here is what the Under-17 zones look like:

Beatnix (18 points, +16 goal difference) are guaranteed the Central title, after they whipped Gasparillo Youths 3-0 at Frederick Settlement on Saturday. However, either FC Ginga (15 points, +6 goal difference) and City FC (13 points, +5 goal difference) can still qualify.

City play table proppers Kamillionare FC on Sunday and, to qualify, they need a handsome win as well as for fourth place Crown Trace FC to draw or win against Ginga.

The East Zone U-17 berths were wrapped up with a game to spare by San Juan Jabloteh (18 points, +24 goal difference) and Maloney Real Footballers Academy (13 points, +11 goal difference).

However, strong finishes may help them secure favourable more match-ups in the next round. Jabloteh close their group campaign this weekend against sixth-place Blue Hawks while Maloney face fourth place Arima Araucans Academy.

It’s almost a dead heat in the North where Pro Series (16 points, +35 goal difference) are closely followed by Cardinals (16 points, +29 goal difference) and Trendsetter (15 points, +31 goal difference).

Cardinals play sixth place Project Pro and could sneak into first position with a lopsided triumph. Trendsetter Hawks must defeat Pro Series to qualify, while the latter team can feasibly finish second with a draw but need all three points to snare the zonal title.

The South Zone’s fixtures are already completed with Cox Coaching School (19 points, +13 goal difference) and Point Fortin YFA (15 points, +20 goal difference) again taking the top two spots.

At present, the U-17 knockout bracket looks as follows:

(1) Jabloteh vs (8) Point Fortin; (4) Beatnix SC vs (5) Cardinals FA

(2) Pro Series vs (7) Maloney RFA; (3) Cox Coaching vs (6) FC Ginga.

In the Under-20 Division, only one knockout spot remains available—notwithstanding the disciplinary committee ruling on Jabloteh’s Kadeem Maloney.

Premier SC (16 points, +9 goal difference) cannot be caught as Central champs. However, second place Crown Trace FC (12 points, six games) still have to stay ahead of third place Kamillionare (eight points, five games).

Wired868 is uncertain of Crown Trace and Kamillionare’s remaining opponents.

Incidentally, Crown Trace also face a disciplinary committee hearing after Evolution FC alleged that they used two overaged players in a Central Under-14 match.

It is uncertain at this stage whether Crown Trace would be exonerated, or, if found guilty, whether sanctions would be limited to the Under-14 team rather than the club at all levels.

QPCC and Jabloteh are first and second respectively in the East Zone—pending a ruling on the latter team—with Club Sando and Police FC also wrapping up affairs in South.

And, in the North Zone, Pro Series (18 points, +36 goal difference) and City FC (15 points, +25 goal difference) have secured first and second respectively with a game to spare.

The RBNYFL U-20 KO bracket, at present, reads:

(1) Pro Series vs (8) Crown Trace; (4) Premier SC vs (5) City FC;

(2) QPCC vs (7) Police FC; (3) Club Sando vs (6) Jabloteh.

See below for last weekend’s results and current standings.

RBNYFL results and standings

Central Zone

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Premier SC         5-5-0-0-28–1–15

FC Tigers            6-4-0-2-15-8-12

T&T Maestros    5-3-1-1-12-5-10

Waterloo Tigers 5-3-1-1-12-5-10

Crown Trace      6-2-0-4-14-22-6

Maloney RFA     5-1-1-3-9-21-4

Evolution FC      5-0-2-3-10-20-2

Cooper’s CA       5-0-1-4-8–26–1

Boys Under-17

(Saturday 29 March)

Gasparillo Youths 0, Beatnix SC 3 (Khalid Jones, Jaylen Hinds, Mikai Boney) at Frederick Settlement;

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Beatnix SC          7-6-0-1-21-5-18

FC Ginga            6-5-0-1-8-2–15

City FC               6-4-1-1-10-5-13

Crown Trace      6-2-2-2-12-11-8

Gasparillo Yths  6-2-0-4-6-9-6

Premier SC         6-2-0-4-11-12-6

FC Tigers           6-1-0-5-3–20–3

Kamillionare      5-0-1-4-3-10-1

U-20 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Premier SC         6-5-1-0-14-5-16

Crown Trace      6-3-3-0-20-12-12

Kamillionare      5-2-2-1-9-10-8

Cooper’s CA       6-1-3-2-12-12-6

Boyce SCC          5-1-3-1-10-10-6

Evolution FC      5-1-2-2-9-8-5

Prison FC            5-1-2-2-9-10-5

Harlem St’rs       6-0-0-6-2–19–0

East Zone

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Beatnix SC    6-5-1-0-19-3–16

Blue Hawks   6-4-1-1-13-8-13

Creek SCC    6-3-2-1-26-5-11

Araucans        6-3-0-3-7-7-9

Jabloteh         6-2-2-2-11-8-8

Cardinals FA 6-2-1-3-12-13-7

Santa Rosa     6-1-0-5-7-24-3

AIA                 6-0-1-5-1–27–1

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Jabloteh         6-6-0-0-25–1–18

Maloney RFA 6-4-1-1-18-7-13

Santa Rosa     6-2-2-2-9-13-8

Araucans        6-2-1-3-8-7-7

Trincity Nat   6-2-1-3-8-10-7

Blue Hawks    6-2-0-4-7-13-6

Creek SCC     6-2-0-4-8-18-6

AIA                 6-1-1-4-8-22–4

Under-20 Division

(Saturday 29 March)

San Juan Jaboteh 1 (Kemarley Pierre 33), QPCC FC 5 (Deisean Plaza 11, Giovanni Hospedales 61, Israel Joseph 64, 68, Micah Nelson 80) at St Augustine Secondary;

U-20 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

QPCC             5-4-1-0-27–5–13

Jabloteh          5-4-0-1-20-9-12

FC Ginga        5-3-1-1-18-7-10

Tinto’s SA      5-2-0-3-14-22-6

Adrenaline     5-1-0-4-4-23–3

AIA                 5-0-0-5-5-22-0

North Zone

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Pro Series       6-6-0-0-24–3–18

City FC           6-4-1-1-21-4-13

Trendsetter    6-4-1-1-18-3-13

Santa Cruz     6-2-2-2-9-10-8

Moka Lions    6-2-1-3-10-9-7

Project Pro     6-1-1-4-7-15-4

Dibe Dragons 6-1-1-4-5-23-4

AC POS          6-0-1-5-3–30–1

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Pro Series       6-5-1-0-36-1–16

Cardinals       6-5-1-0-35-6-16

Trendsetter    6-5-0-1-37-6-15

Santa Cruz     6-2-1-3-10-16-7

AC POS          6-2-0-4-16-12-6

Project Pro     5-2-0-3-12-14-6

Maestros         6-0-1-5-8-31-1

Betis TT          5-0-0-4-1–69–0

U-20 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Pro Series       6-6-0-0-40–4–18

City FC           6-5-0-1-31-6-15

Trendsetter     6-3-1-2-33-10-10

Extreme FC    5-3-0-2-24-9-9

Moka Lions    6-2-1-3-10-18-7

Seekers FC     6-1-0-5-5-29-3

Betis TT          4-1-0-3-3–45–3

Laventille       5-0-0-5-3-33-0

South Zone

Under-14 Division

(Sunday 30 March)

Carrat Shed FFA 1 (Kristan O’Garro 56), Dunstan Williams SA 3 (Anterz Phillip 6, Makhai Nedd 32, Kamron Baptiste 63)

(Sunday 31 March)

Cox Coaching School 2, Tiny Mike’s 1

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Pt Fortin YFA 4-4-0-0-22–2–12

Cox Coaching  5-3-0-1-19-7-12

DWSA              5-2-1-2-16-14-7

Uprising Yths   4-1-2-1-7-8-5

Carrat Shed     5-1-1-3-6-20-4

Tiny Mike’s      5-0-0-4-2–21–0

Under-17 Division

(Monday 31 March)

Moka Lions 1, Point Fortin YFA 1

Cox Coaching School 6, Penal Is Love 2

Carrat Shed FFA 1, Uprising Youths 6

Evolution FC 2, Dunstan Williams SA 2

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Cox Coaching   7-6-1-0-19-6-19

Pt Fortin YFA  7-4-3-0-23–3–15

Uprising Yths   7-4-1-2-18-11-13

Evolution FA    7-3-2-2-10-13-11

Moka Lions       7-2-3-2-13-8-9

DWSA               7-2-2-3-11-12-8

Carrat Shed      7-1-0-6-11-29-3

Penal Is Love    7-0-0-7-7–30–0

Under-20 Division

(Sunday 30 March)

Gasparillo Youths 4 (Tyrese Harding 29, 44, Micah Cayenne 55, Kaedon Friday 88), Penal Is Love 1 (Keshaun Phillip 62)

Mayo Youth 5 (Tyrique McClean 5, Teeriq Pompey 20, 26, 34, Russel Lynch 90+3), Carrat Shed FFA 0

(Monday 31 March)

Club Sando 2 (Jerrel Cooper 14, Ayche Saunders 65), Police FC 1 (Nathaniel Johnson 68)

U-20 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Club Sando      5-4-1-0-14–5–13

Police FC          5-4-0-1-13-5–12

Gasparillo Yth 5-2-1-2-9-7-7

Mayo Youth     4-2-0-2-8-11-6

Carrat Shed     5-0-1-4-4-13–1

Penal Is Love    4-0-1-3-2-9-1

Tobago Zone

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Ball Blasters    5-5-0-0-36–2–15

St Clair CS      5-4-1-0-15-4-13

Bro Ry FA       6-4-0-2-17-8-12

Jaric Titans     6-2-0-4-24-14-6

Bethel Utd       5-1-1-3-5-11-4

Stokely Vale    4-1-0-3-3-15-3

Georgia FC     5-0-0-5-2–48–0

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Ball Blasters    4-4-0-0-24–0–12

Georgia FC     4-2-1-1-12-12-7

North Stars     4-2-0-2-7-8-6

Bro Ry FA       4-1-1-2-4-6-4

Jaric Titans     4-1-1-2-4-15–4

TJ’s Academy 4-0-1-3-3-13-1

U-20 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Sidey’s SC      4-2-2-0-4-1-8

Stokely Vale   4-2-1-1-6-4-7

FC Phoenix    4-2-0-2-4-7-6

Eagles FC        4-1-2-1-7-5-5

Tobago Select  4-1-1-2-7–7–4

Georgia FC      4-0-2-2-2-6-2

Girls Under-17

Trinidad

(Sunday 31 March)

AC POS 1 (Mariah Seenath 69), Cox Coaching School 3 (Keara Cedeno 19, Seraiah Toussaint 40+2, Afisha Allsop 76) at St Augustine Secondary;

T’dad Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Pro Series        5-5-0-0-23-6-15

Cox Coaching 6-3-2-1-16-9-11

Trendsetter     5-3-1-1-20-4–10

Crown Trace   5-3-0-2-10-10-9

AIA Eagles      5-2-1-2-12-4-7

AC POS          5-0-0-5-1-20-0

Blue Hawks    5-0-0-5-2-31–0

Tobago Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Tobago Chicas       4-4-0-0-5-0–12

Jewels SC               4-1-2-1-7-4-5

Black Panthers      4-1-1-2-3-4-4

Combined Ballerz 4-0-1-3-1–8–1