SSFL 25: Fatima penalise under-strength Benedict’s; Nikita inspires ‘P-ville’ in Super Cup

The Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) 2025 season got off to a slow start yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, with the SSFL Super Cup contested between the reigning league and knockout winners of the boys and girls divisions.

Fatima College edged St Benedict’s College 4-2 on penalties in the boys fixture, while Pleasantville Secondary held off St Joseph’s Convent 2-1 in the girls exhibition showcase.

In the boys fixture, both teams turned out without several stand-out names while St Benedict’s head coach Randolph Boyce did not even sit on the bench.

SSFL president Merere Gonzales suggested that the two schools were still awaiting form five repeaters and lower six students—although that only half-explained the absences, since some stalwarts like Benedict’s holding midfielder Adam ‘Toka’ Pierre are already active students.

What ensued was a contest that showcased far more perspiration than inspiration.

Fatima dominated possession but St Benedict’s well drilled defensive unit ensured that none of it was close to their goal. A shot from Fatima midfielder Antuan Louison that forced St Benedict’s goalkeeper Naftali Charles to extend himself, was as good as it got in a largely tepid first half.

Charles was a bit busier after the break, as he kept out efforts from Fatima newcomers Zia Gittens and Matthew Lee Young, while Seth Hadeed, a relative veteran in his third season at this level, had his fierce effort pushed wide.

The game never really erupted though. And after a goalless finish, it was left to kicks from the penalty spot to determine the destination of the first boys’ trophy of the season.

Fatima were flawless from the spot, with substitute Jediah King, Daquan Jackman, Hadeed and Louison all converting their efforts. Jelani Scott and Salim Soanes hit the target for St Benedict’s as well—but Andel Gabriel and Che Baptiste did not.

And Fatima coach Kerdyn Moe had his first trophy at the helm, after replacing Hutson Charles earlier this year.

Moe felt Fatima should have won the match in regulation time.

“I thought we had the better of the chances,” said the Fatima coach. “St Benedict’s goalie (Naftali Charles) was outstanding tonight.”

St Benedict’s under-16 team coach Keith Williams, who ran the bench yesterday, concurred with Moe.

“I think the moment got the better of the younger players,” said Williams. “You even saw it in the penalties—when they heard the [Fatima] chant it kinda intimidate them a little bit and guys who are quality penalty kickers made some errors.

“Hats off to Fatima College for the job well done. They deserved to win.”

Williams confirmed that Benedict’s opted to use their Under-16 players yesterday and gave their Premier Division squad a rest. He vowed that they would “definitely” look completely different when the competitive action starts.

In Fatima’s case, Moe said he used his best available players—with a few boys waiting to start lower six.

Only two of Fatima’s 16 players used yesterday, Hadeed and King, had prior Premier Division experience, while they introduced 14-year-old defender Xavier Barrow in the second half.

“We lost 17 of our players from last year,” said Moe. “So we only had Seth Hadeed today, who was a starter from last year then we brought in Jedaiah King.

“So other than that we just have a young squad this year and it’s a rebuilding year for us. But this was a good way for the boys to start—to look forward to a good season.”

The girls contest, the first of two north versus south affairs, saw Pleasantville establish early control with the midfield trio of captain Natalia Gosine, her sister Nikita Gosine and Alisha Mitchell dominant.

Nikita Gosine gave ‘P-ville’ the lead in the sixth minute, when she picked up the ball just to the left of the 18-yard box, dribbled past two defenders and fired a low shot into the far corner of the goal.

Left winger Zara Chase doubled her team’s lead in the 35th minute, as she ran from inside her half of the field and left national youth defender Kaitlyn Darwent for dead, before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Alexia Dolland.

Two goals down at the half, Convent coach Tasha St Louis-Joseph made a tactical tweak as Darwent was moved from central defence to midfield, which allowed her to apply earlier pressure on Nikita.

Not only did Darwent disrupt the Pleasantville star’s dominance but she contributed in her team’s first goal too—as she picked up a loose ball in midfield and threaded an excellent through ball to forward Scarlett Cole.

Cole fumbled the opportunity but the ball ricocheted into the path of Sydney Pollard, who took it into her stride and calmly slotted past Pleasantville goalkeeper Akeila Marryshow to halve their deficit.

From that point on, SJC pushed hard for an equaliser—but Pleasantville had enough quality to keep them out and were deserved winners in the end.

Both coaches were pleased with their teams’ efforts while acknowledging that there was still room for improvement.

“We didn’t get a lot of training in,” said St Joseph’s Convent coach St Louis-Joseph. “In fact, this was our first game—so it was difficult for the girls to keep the fitness up. Despite that they did pretty well.”

Coach London was also pleased with his team while acknowledging that there were things to improve on.

“I think the game was a game of two halves,” said London, who noted that his girls completely bossed the first half, but were made to sweat after the break by their Port of Spain rivals.

“In the second half we had that self-inflicted wound [and] they took the ascendency after that. I told them that if they have to play for 80 minutes. Once they do that no one would be able to play with us.”

(Teams)

Pleasantville Secondary (4-3-3): 23.Akeila Marryshow (GK); 2.Joe-Nelle Jones, 14.Reneisha Jack, 10.Mikalah Guerero, 3.Giovanna Sherwood; 9.Nikita Gosine, 6.Natalia Gosine (captain), 8.Alisha Mitchell; 11.Khairiyah Fortune (19.Daniella Ramlogan 70), 12.Kaeley Martin (16.Brianna Stoute 81), 7.Zara Chase.

Unused substitutes: 1.Tshai Greenidge (GK), 5.Daniella Wickham, 13.Serena Andrews, 15.Niara Percy, 17.Taisiya Dillion, 18.Shekinah Fleming, 22.Raeland Dillon.

Coach: Brian London.

St Joseph’s Convent (POS) (4-3-3): 1.Alexia Dolland (GK); 32.Khayla Gouveia, 13.Kaitlyn Darwent (captain), 5.Mateja Leben, 3.Lucy Felix (12.Kara Cooper 34); 8.Jaeda Wilson, 6.Sián Rigaud, 19.Daneelyah Salandy; 11.Emma Nieves, 9.Scarlett Cole (31.Coliya Harris 73), 17.Sydney Pollard.

Unused substitutes: 4.Xara-Marie Campbell, 7.London-Marie Millien, 15.T’sehai Smith, 21.Madisyn Boissiere.

Coach: Tasha St Louis-Joseph.

Referee: Charlize Hood.

Fatima College (4-3-3): 40.Aidan Browne (GK) (1.Jaiden Barnett GK 90+3); 2.Reagan Rowe (21.Xavier Barrow 78), 4.Daquan Jackman, 5.Elijah Allahar, 29.Josiah Fernandes (captain), (7.Harland Samuel 75); 12.Gervais Aruajo (19.Jeremai Nanton 64), 6.Antuan Louison, 8.Seth Hadeed; 16.Matthew Lee Young, 13.Zia Gittens (17.Jedaiah King 58), 15.Tyler Edwards.

Unused substitutes: 18.Lucas Simpson-Thompson, 28.Tristan Jackman.

Coach: Kerdyn Moe.

St Benedict’s College (4-3-3): 1.Naftali Charles (GK) (captain); 3.Jahel Lewis (16.Gabriel Alexis 68), 6.Salim Soanes, 15.Che Baptiste, 4.Yohance Stoute (18.Kymani Aberdeen 68); 12.Akhioh Medford (17.Andel Gabriel 68), 5.Jaydon Duncan (13.Malik Charles 56), 8.Jelani Scott; 19.Josiah Huggins, 7.Meshach Webb, 11.Aaron Gosine (10.Jude Neckles 25).

Unused substitutes: 22.Micah Mentor (GK), 2.Denzil Procope, 9.Justin Thom, 21.Malachi Samuel.

Referee: Nathalya Wiliams.

SSFL Girls Super Cup

(12 September)

Pleasantville Secondary 2 (Nikita Gosine 6, Zara Chase 35), St Joseph’s Convent (POS) 1 (Sydney Pollard 55) at Hasely Crawford Stadium;

SSFL Boys Super Cup

(12 September)

Fatima College 0, St Benedict’s College 0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium;

*–Fatima won 4-2 on penalty kicks.