Intercol 25: San Juan North penalise Arima North to maintain East KO dominance

San Juan North Secondary will seek their third East Zone Intercol title in four seasons on Wednesday, after they edged Arima North Secondary 5-4 on penalty kicks—following an exciting 2-2 draw at the Arima school ground.

The “Dial Dynamos” led 2-0 at the interval, as playmaker Darren De Four converted from the spot in the 27^th minute—after a debatable decision by referee Jalene Stephens. And flanker Rickeel Phillip doubled the hosts’ advantage with a fine strike off a Cristiano Hinds pass in the 44^th minute.

But the “San Juan Kings” never stopped fighting and pulled a goal back in the 68^th minute, as captain Daniel Lewis punished loose marking inside the six-yard box off a set piece.

And, four minutes from time, substitute Jahdel Chase-Charles got the equaliser with a superb curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.

San Juan North custodian Elijah Lawrence dived low to his left to hold Arima North’s second penalty, from midfielder Hasheem Hill—and it proved to be the decisive moment of the shootout, as all other nine kickers found the back of the net.

Arima North, under head coach Wayne Sheppard, have become synonymous with penalties in the Intercol competition. In all five seasons since he took over football operations at the school, they faced spotkicks.

In 2023, the Dynamos defeated San Juan North 15-14 in the East Intercol final at the Larry Gomes Stadium—in the longest ever Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) shootout. However, Arima North lost to penalties against Manzanilla Secondary (2019), San Juan North (2022), Trinity College East (2024) and, again, San Juan North in 2025.

San Juan North, led by veteran coach Jerry Moe, face St Augustine Secondary in Wednesday’s final at the Larry Gomes Stadium and will be seeking to continue their iron-grip over the zonal accolade.

Remarkably, the Bourg Mulatresse boys have been in every zonal Intercol final since the pandemic, with two titles to show. They lost to Arima North in 2023 and Trinity College East in 2022.

And, in the six years prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, San Juan North lifted the trophy five times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019)—with only St Augustine spoiling their perfect record in 2015.

San Juan North and St Augustine are both battling to avoid relegation at present. For 90 minutes this week, they can put such woes behind them as they contest the zone’s biggest trophy.

At present, San Juan North are rostered to play St Augustine in the East Intercol final on Wednesday but also Scarborough Secondary in the last Premier Division match of the season on Thursday.

Almost certainly, the Intercol date would have to be shifted to better accommodate them.

Intercol results

(Sat 22 Nov)

Arima North Sec 2 (Darren De Four 27 pen, Rickeel Phillip 44), San Juan North Sec 2 (Daniel Lewis 68, Jardel Chase-Charles 86) at Arima North ground;

*–San Juan won 5-4 on penalties.

Upcoming fixtures

(Mon 24 Nov)

Scarborough Secondary v Pentecostal L&L, Tobago Quarters, B, TBA;

Speyside Secondary v Roxborough Secondary, Tobago Quarters, C, TBA;

Bishop’s High v Goodwood Secondary, Tobago Quarters, D, TBA;

Naparima College v Palo Seco Secondary, South Semis, 3pm, Ato Boldon Stadium,

St Benedict’s College v Presentation (San F’do), South Semis, 5pm, Ato Boldon Stadium,

(Tue 25 Nov)

Fatima College vs St Anthony’s College, North final, Hasely Crawford Stadium,

(Wed 26 Nov)

San Juan North v St Augustine Secondary, East final, Larry Gomes Stadium,

Carapichaima East Sec v Chaguanas North Sec, Central final, Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Sun 30 Nov)

Signal Hill Sec v Bishop’s High/ Goodwood Sec, Tobago semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

B v C, Tobago semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Mon 1 Dec)

South final, Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Tue 2 Dec)

Central v East, National quarterfinal, Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Wed 3 Dec)

Tobago finals, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Fri 5 Dec)

South v Central/ East, National semis, Ato Boldon Stadium,

(Sat 6 Dec)

North v Tobago, National semis, Hasely Crawford Stadium,

(Wed 10 Dec)

National final, Ato Boldon Stadium.

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