RBNYFL 25: QPCC squeeze past City; Jabloteh thump Sando—but face protest

East Zone champions QPCC FC ousted North Zone runners-up City FC on penalties on Saturday morning to set up a semifinal clash with Premier Sports Club in the 2025 Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL) Under-20 Division.

The contest between QPCC and City, two clubs that know more than a bit about each other, kicked off the RBNYFL U-20 quarterfinal round, which was staged at the Arima Velodrome.

City, arguably the underdogs, struck first through winger Keston Richards, only for QPCC to equalise through forward Joshua Mason. And the ‘Parkites’ eventually emerged 7-6 winners in a tense, high-quality penalty shootout.

“Today was a very bad day in terms of our style of play in the first half,” said QPCC head coach Wayne Sheppard. “I just think that the boys’ heart and desire to win, a little speech half halftime from the coaching staff, put us back on the right track.”

Premier SC had no such problems, as they put four past Police FC to stroll in to the semifinals with their eighth straight win of the season.

San Juan Jabloteh and Pro Series will meet in the other semifinal after shutting out Club Sando and Kamillionare FC, respectively, in one-sided quarterfinal matches.

Eran McLeod’s stunning strike, plus a brace of goalkeeping errors, gave Jabloteh a 3-0 win over Club Sando. And Pro Series scored three second half goals in 12 minutes to see off Kamillionare 4-0 and seal their eighth consecutive win of the 2025 season.

“Pro Series [are] on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days,” said Jabloteh coach Andre Morales. “They are the new kids on the block, and they have been doing well for the past few years.”

Jabloteh’s progress might not be a certainty yet. Club Sando played Saturday’s match under protest at their opponents use of McLeod and fellow midfielder Josiah Ochoa, who both represented Jabloteh in the TTPFL Tier 1 this season.

Team manager Anisa Duncan noted that the rules “at the outset of this year’s competition” forbid clubs from having players participate “in two competitions simultaneously”.

There might be a difference between written and verbal law, in this case. The RBNYFL Rules and Regulations state:

‘Players participating in the TTPFL Tier 1 and Tier 2 competitions are NOT permitted to take part in the Republic Cup. However, if a club in TTPFL 1 or Tier 2 is also participating in the National Youth League, players may represent that club—provided they are not contracted players and do not play for any other club.’

Sando’s grievance will now be determined by a TTFA Disciplinary Committee.

It was not the only controversial note at the Arima Velodrome on Saturday, as the tournament’s colourful new match balls were rejected by QPCC and City and, subsequently, Jabloteh and Sando, who all insisted on Fifa-approved footballs in accordance with competition rules.

QPCC and City’s shared stance on what constitutes proper match day equipment was not all the two clubs had in common.

City operated as the QPCC Academy prior to 2024 while siblings like Micah Nelson (QPCC) and Phillip Nelson (City) and Micaiah Leach (QPCC) and Matthew Leach (City) meant divide loyalties even between families.

In fact, QPCC does not have youth teams below under-20 level while City does not have an adult team. So, at present, the Parkites offer senior football to City players—but the two clubs overlap in this one age group.

“It’s just that [some of the older City players] want to play at a higher level in terms of Tier 2 football, so this is why we have them,” said Sheppard. “There is no malice between the two camps.”

“We know them (QPCC) well,” said City director and head coach Colm De Freitas. “I know a lot of those guys and the coaching staff as well.”

De Freitas’ troops kicked off with the wind at their backs at the Arima Velodrome and made a dominant start. And they should have been several goals clear inside the opening 45 minutes.

As early as the sixth minute, City worked Nelson into an open space on top of the box—but the striker failed to get his shot off early enough and his eventual effort was smothered by opposing goalkeeper Jadon-Paul Alexander.

Alexander, an Arima North Secondary student who would be at home at the Velodrome, played a huge part in keeping QPCC in the game.

At the other end, half chances fell to QPCC midfielders Seth Hadeed and Deisean Plaza, with the latter’s effort—in the 18th minute—kept out of the net by a brilliant reflex save from City custodian Jason Pollard.

Barely a minute later, City were on the board.

Nelson dribbled across the QPCC line before sending a cross from the right flank across the top of the box, which was cleverly dummied by midfielder Finn De Freitas into Richards’ pathway.

And Richards, who also represents Arima North, dipped his shoulder to glide past a third Arima schoolboy, Stephen Ollivierie, before driving the ball into the corner of the net.

Nelson could have doubled their lead three minutes later, but Alexander stretched every sinew in his body to tip his shot over the bar.

The City striker had another chance to score in the 33rd minute, but again Alexander thwarted his effort, this time with his feet.

QPCC were making their presence felt at the other end too. While City spurned clear-cut chances, the Parkites twice forced close-range saves from Pollard. And their persistence was rewarded with seconds to go in the first half.

Plaza combined with Shanon Zion Metivier down the left flank and the latter player arrowed a low cross to the near post, where Mason beat the City defence to the ball to slot past Pollard at his near post to equalise.

At the half, QPCC replaced Alexander with back-up goalkeeper Jaheim Affan in a pre-arranged substitution in case penalties were needed. More on that later.

“We have to thank the keeper (Alexander) and some last-ditch defending for keeping us in the game,” said Sheppard, of the first half. “But I knew once we settled, our fitness, the tempo that we wanted to play at, our quality, would eventually get us home.”

The QPCC tactician, who also coaches Arima North Secondary, hoped that his knowledge of the east-to-west Arima Velodrome field would work to his team’s advantage.

Football is truly a game of two halves at the Velodrome.

“This is my home ground with Arima, so going with the wind in the second half, I knew we were always going to press them and they couldn’t play out with the wind,” Sheppard said.

With the wind against them and QPCC’s ravenous front three nipping at the heels, City struggled to play out of the back as they would have liked.

“The high press—we had something worked out [for it], but they just weren’t able to put together the combinations,” said De Freitas, “which I put down to a learning lesson.”

Nelson shot wide for City just after the resumption. But QPCC were in the ascendancy.

Plaza—or Dave, to his grandfather watching in the stands—hit the bar from a right-side free-kick and set up chances for Metivier and Zion Aberdeen. But neither could apply the finishing touch.

Sheppard lamented two QPCC penalty appeals that were ignored by referee Gregory Guevarra.

“In normal time, we had two clear penalties that were not called,” he said. “The referee was calling for simple pushing in the middle of the field, but a serious push in the box—two hands in the back—he doesn’t call.

“Before that, a tackle; not the ball, all man. If we’re officiating the game and we want to see proper football, then we have to have stronger referees.”

Still, penalty kicks did decide which team advanced to the semifinals.

Both teams practiced penalties in the lead-up to the match, and it showed as the first 12 attempts were dispatched with panache.

Trinidad and Tobago National Under-17 midfielder Seth Hadeed took the seventh kick for QPCC and buried it to Pollard’s left, although the goalkeeper guessed correctly.

City substitute Jaylon Manswell had to score to keep his team in the game.

He set the football slightly ahead of the penalty spot, which had been battered into a hollow depression, only for referee Guevarra to insist, correctly, that he move the ball back to the proper spot.

Unlike previous kickers, who placed the ball at the top of the ridge, Manswell allowed the ball to rest in the depression for his crucial spot kick.

Inevitably, he sliced his kick and Affan—who went the wrong way for five of the previous six kicks—guessed right to make the block.

Sheppard, who suffered three penalty losses in a single week with the Dial Dynamos in 2024, was pleased with the quality of the shootout.

“I thought the boys held their nerves and put the penalties where they practiced,” he said. “On the other side of the fence, some very good penalties from City FC as well.

“Even the kid who missed, the delay before the kick is something that plays on any kicker’s mind—from the highest level down to youth level. It was tough.”

De Freitas concurred.

“Penalties is really a crap-shoot,” said the City coach. “The best in the world miss and, unfortunately, it was us [who fell short]. Congratulations to Queen’s Park.”

De Freitas voiced frustration with the structure of the RBNYFL, which groups teams based on geographical boundaries rather than ability. He suggested that City did not play enough testing games to be able to properly gauge his team.

“There is too much of a mix of the experience levels of teams,” said De Freitas, whose under-20 team won six of their eight games this season—with losses to Pro Series and QPCC. “I think when you split it up zonally, it is too late before you see quality teams.

“We are always glad to play the stronger teams. It is a good challenge for our boys, so we like it from that standpoint.”

For Sheppard, he is looking ahead to the semifinal stage and hopes to have several players back from injury as they face San Fernando-based Premier SC, who dominated the Central Under-20 zone.

“We only had 15 outfield players [available] today because of injuries and unavailability,” he said.

In Saturday’s second quarterfinal, South Zone champions Club Sando were unbeaten in five matches under coach Chris Bailey. They were up against a solid Jabloteh outfit whose only defeat this season came at the feet of QPCC.

The opening 15 minutes were uncertain for both teams. Bailey blamed this on the tournament ball.

“We started [feeling] a bit unsettled with regards to the match ball that was used,” said Bailey. “The ball appeared to be like one of those beach balls, and it is not (FIFA) approved.

“[…] That’s why we raised concerns, and they did agree and we changed it.”

Ironically, Sando conceded their first goal with one of Bailey’s own balls as goalkeeper Jerelle Thorne and his defenders had a horrible mix-up as they tried to deal with a long ball.

Jabloteh forward Josiah Gobin was left with the simple task of tapping in to an empty net for the opener.

Jabloteh, playing into the wind, laid siege on the Club Sando goal with skipper Marcel Valentine leading the charge

The San Juan Kings’ captain shot straight to the goalkeeper, had another shot deflected out for a corner, and set up a header for Ochoa, which the midfielder failed to score—all in a dizzying scoreless sequence.

Club Sando also had their moments in the first half, although their best chance came from a misplaced cross that drifted towards the Jabloteh goal.

Jabloteh goalkeeper Stephen Langaigne tripped as he retreated and had to palm the ball to safety while lying on his back.

From the resulting corner, Sando defender Antonio Hills skied a left-footed shot from a promising position inside the opposing box.

In the second half, Jabloteh, now playing with the wind to their backs, dominated and found the net twice.

In the 64th minute, Ochoa’s header on goal was parried onto the bar by Thorne and a zippy Roshaun Doobay convert the loose ball to double Jabloteh’s advantage.

Ochoa then shot over the bar and had a header strike the crossbar, as the Kings went for the knockout punch.

It came with four minutes to go off the boot of the skillful McLeod.

Starting on the left flank, McLeod feigned to go down the line before cutting into the box, leaving a defender trailing in his wake. He then curled a right-footed effort into the top right corner of the net, past Thorne’s flailing dive.

The Arima Velodrome crowd, which included players from the day’s two remaining quarterfinalists, exploded.

McLeod celebrated wildly, and Jabloteh were well and truly home.

“Coach Marvin [Gordon] did good work with the youngster, and he is a pure talent,” said Morales. “It is always spectacular with Eran, aka ‘Spidey’. Things always nice coming from him.”

Bailey suggested that the final scoreline flattered Jabloteh.

“It was unfortunate that we lost in the manner that we did but the scoreline doesn’t really and truly reflect the exact way that the game was played,” he said.

Sando will fight on beyond the final whistle, as they pointed to what they felt was a breach of tournament rules by Jabloteh. Jabloteh deny the accusation.

A boardroom meeting will confirm which team tackle Pro Series next week, in what should be a sizzling semifinal meeting.

(Teams)

QPCC (3-4-3): 1.Jadon-Paul Alexander (GK); 6.Stephen Ollivierie, 12.Jadon Durity (captain), 2.Zakari King; 14.Jeremiah Frank-Williams, 3.Criston Gomez, 8.Seth Hadeed, 23.Shanon Zion Metivier; 19.Zion Aberdeen, 9.Joshua Mason, 7.Deisean Plaza.

Substitutes: 45.Jaheim Affan (GK), 10.Israel Joseph, 17.Giovanni Hospedales, 22.Makai Simmons, 24.Uzochi Bacchus, 31.Hirschil Parks.

Coach: Wayne Sheppard.

City FC (4-3-3): Jadon Pollard (GK); 6.Jediah David, 14.Christian Moses, 41.Josiah Thompson, 11.Nadeem Grant; 24.Aadil Abdul-Hakeem Jr, 9.Finn de Freitas, 5.Jalani Ottley; 7.Adriel Faure, 47.Phillip Nelson, 38.Keston Richards.

Substitutes: Kristoff Marcus (GK), 4.Anthony Mansoor, 15.Shazard Nabbie, 18.Jaylon Manswell, 23.Yohance Solomon, 26.Josiah Hunte, 34.Khaleil Serrette.

Coach: Colm De Freitas.

Referee: Gregory Guevarra.

Club Sando (4-1-4-1): 1.Jerelle Thorne (GK); 19.Kadon Elliot, 5.Tyrel Alexander (captain), 14.Darius Procope, 4.Antonio Hills; 6.Gabriel Collins; 15.Denzil Procope, 8.Jerell Cooper, 13.Adrian Alexander, 15.Darius Procope; 16.Akeal Neverson.

Substitutes: 22.Christian Ramkhelawan (GK), 3.Richard Hunte, 7.Asa Peters, 12.Triston Bernard, 17.Darrion Harewood, 20.Jadhan Piper, 21.Isaiah Gittens.

Coach: Chris Bailey.

San Juan Jabloteh (4-3-3): 1.Stephen Langaigne (GK); 17.Omaleke Paul, 16.Isaiah Audain, 23.Jadon McShine, 12.Jelani Valentine; 26.Josiah Ochoa, 15.Eran McLeod, 3.Roshaun Doobay; 19.Josiah Gobin, 9.Tyrell Stapleton, 8.Marcel Valentine (captain).

Substitutes: 30.John Aaron (GK), 2.Adam Francis, 4.Mathias Cruickshank, 10.Jose Felix Cedeno, 11.Nevaughn Brown, 13.Deon Bobb, 21.Kemarley Pierre, 24.Cory Marryshow, 25.Shumba Cudjoe.

Coach: Andre Morales.

Referee: Keston Agard.

RBNYFL KO Rounds

Trinidad Boys U-20 Quarterfinals

(Saturday 26 April)

QPCC FC 1 (Joshua Mason 45), City FC 1 (Keston Richards 19) at the Arima Velodrome;

*–QPCC won 7-6 on kicks from the penalty mark.

Club Sando 0, San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Josiah Gobin 8, Roshaun Doobay 64, Eran McLeod 86) at the Arima Velodrome;

Premier SC 4 (Reuben Phillip 6, Jah-Malee Barclay 39, Jabari Rodriguez 68, Akini Ramsey 72), Police FC 0 at the Arima Velodrome;

Pro Series 4 (Jedaiah King 3, Maalik Jarvis 61, Josante Duncan 65, Jaheim Bailey 73), Kamillionare FC 0 at the Arima Velodrome;

Trinidad Boys U-14 Quarterfinals

(Saturday 26 April)

Beatnix SC 0, City FC 2 (Jiair Nanton 18 pen, 41) at El Dorado West Secondary;

Pro Series 5 (Kymanni Nicholls 3, 50, Zaa’van Joseph 47, 52, Alex King 66), Cox Coaching School 0 at El Dorado West Secondary;

Point Fortin YFA 1 (Jamali St Hillarie 54), T&T Maestros 1 (Samuel Williams 65) at El Dorado West Secondary;

*–Point Fortin won 4-2 on kicks from the penalty mark.

Premier SC 2 (Khirell Charles 47, Kwesi Harding 67), Creek SCC 2 (Joshua York 30, Aaden Jones 69) at El Dorado West Secondary;

*–Premier won 4-2 on kicks from the penalty mark.

Tobago Girls U-17 semifinals

(Saturday 26 April)

Jewels SC 2, Black Panthers 1 at Black Rock, Courland;

Tobago Chicas 1 (Adrianna Fowler), Combined Ballerz 0 at Black Rock, Courland.

Trinidad Boys U-17 Quarterfinals

(Sunday 27 April)

Beatnix SC 0, Trendsetter Hawks 0 at St Augustine Secondary;

*–Trendsetter won 5-4 on penalty kicks;

Cox Coaching School 0, FC Ginga 2 (Kafense McKell, Kymani Hazel) at St Augustine Secondary;

Cardinals FA 2 (Giovanni Bartholomew, Karim Millington), Maloney RFA 0 at St Augustine Secondary;

San Juan Jabloteh 0, Pt Fortin YFA 0 at St Augustine Secondary;

*–Point Fortin won 5-3 on penalty kicks;

Upcoming RBNYFL KO fixtures

(Saturday 3 May)

Premier SC v City FC, Boys U14 semis, 9am, Arima Velodrome;

Pt Fortin YFA v Pro Series, Boys U14 semis, 11am, Arima Velodrome;

Premier SC v QPCC FC, Boys U20 semis, 1pm, Arima Velodrome;

Pro Series v San Juan Jabloteh, Boys U20 semis, 3pm, Arima Velodrome;

(Sunday 4 May)

Trendsetter Hawks vs Cox Coaching, T’dad G-U17 semis, 9am, St Augustine;

Point Fortin YFA v Trendsetter Hawks, Boys U17 semis, 11am, St Augustine;

Pro Series vs AIA Eagles, T’dad G-U17 semis, 1pm, St Augustine;

Cardinals FA v FC Ginga, Boys U17 semis, 3pm, St Augustine.