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For the first time in 29 years, outside of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Republic Cup National Youth Football League will not take place.
The youth football competition involved over 3,000 boys and girls and more than 115 clubs in 2025. However, bank officials are known to have had issues with the management of its competition, which was run by TTGameplan last season.
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Today, Republic Bank confirmed that they will not put out a competition in 2026. In an official release, the bank described it as a “hiatus” rather than an outright end to the popular youth tournament.
“While the fulsome energy of the 2026 season will be missed, the Bank is shifting its full focus to a landmark year in 2027, with the Republic Cup National Youth Football League 2027 marking its 30th anniversary,” stated Preston George, general manager of Group Marketing and Communications.
“This milestone edition will be a celebration of the Cup’s rich history and a bold step into its next chapter, featuring a revitalised experience for grassroots athletes and fans alike.”
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However, a subsequent Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) release suggested that the domestic youth club game is set to change drastically, with the local football body poised to take over the management of the Republic Cup.
TTFA president Kieron Edwards vowed to “align the [RBNYFL] more closely with the Association’s long-term technical and developmental vision for football in the country”.
“The Republic Bank National Youth League has long been a cornerstone of football development in Trinidad and Tobago for almost three decades,” stated Edwards, “and both the TTFA and Republic Bank remain firmly committed to safeguarding its legacy while strengthening its future.
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“This period of review will allow for the refinement of competition formats, operational standards, and development pathways, with the objective of delivering a more sustainable, competitive, and impactful product for young players.
“With the Republic Bank National Youth Football League being transitioned under the purview of the TTFA, there is an opportunity to align the League more closely with the Association’s long-term technical and developmental vision for football in the country.”
It will be the first time that the TTFA ever ran a national youth competition.
(via TTFA Media.)
The Youth Pro League, with between eight to 12 clubs and run by the Pro League executive, folded within roughly a decade, while the ongoing TTPFL Tier One competition, with just 12 teams, is also beset by managerial issues.
The TTFA is now preparing to add a giant youth competition with as many as 133 clubs and four divisions—and there were already talks to create a second girl division—to its list of responsibilities, which also includes eight national football teams.
George confirmed that Republic Bank and TTFA will use 2026 to decide upon the future blueprint for the competition, which will now be run by the Edwards-led executive.
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“Taking this time to pause and synchronize efforts in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, will ensure that the event continues to deliver the highest standards of competition and community engagement while complementing the broader sporting calendar,” said the Republic Bank manager.
In the interim, the TTFA and Republic Bank both promised a “truncated” youth competition for 2026, although details were scarce.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), in collaboration with Republic Bank, wishes to advise all stakeholders that the upcoming season of the National Youth Football League will be conducted in a truncated format,” stated Edwards.
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“[…] While the upcoming season will be more focused, it is viewed as a strategic step toward building a stronger and more resilient league structure that benefits academies, players, coaches, officials, fans of football, and all stakeholders in the football ecosystem.”
It is rumoured that the TTFA is considering a youth competition limited to teams from the TTPFL Tier One and/or Tier Two clubs. If so, the outcome could be to immediately strip talent from the majority of the country’s youth teams.
Players from the likes of Premier SC, Trendsetter Hawks, Cox Coaching School, Ball Blasters Youth Academy, FC Ginga, and Pro Series, among others, would be forced to relinquish their best players to TTPFL outfits, so they can play official football matches.
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Last season, San Juan Jabloteh, Prison FC, Club Sando, Police FC, and AC Port of Spain, all Tier One clubs, competed in the Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL). Most of them failed to even advance from their respective zonal groups, while none got beyond the quarterfinal stage—yet, they might be the only teams allowed to play in a TTFA-sanctioned youth competition in 2025.
If Tier Two clubs also get the nod, the likes of QPCC, Evolution FC, and City FC will also get to keep their youth players active in official competition.
For the other youth clubs, they might have to arrange minor league events or exhibition games with their remaining players.
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Incidentally, Edwards is also an official at Tier One club, Central FC, and a former Terminix La Horquetta Rangers director, while his executive includes directors from Tier One teams: Police, AC Port of Spain and 1976 FC Phoenix.
The TTFA did not say when more information on the 2026 youth football calendar would be forthcoming.
Republic Bank revealed that it will still hold an All-Star weekend “to ensure that our youth footballers have the opportunity to be scouted for international training development and exposure”. There were no further details.
Hospedales, the current St Augustine Secondary captain, also represented QPCC in the TTPFL Tier Two.
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“The Republic Bank National Youth League occupies a unique and critical position within Trinidad and Tobago’s football ecosystem, serving as a key pathway into the domestic footballing landscape,” stated Edwards.
“As part of this review process, particular emphasis will be placed on strengthening the League’s role in preparing and transitioning young players into elite youth, semi-professional, and professional environments across the local game as well as being a continued outlet for fun and participation.”
The TTFA’s own record of youth development is spotty. Edwards vowed to scrap the controversial High Performance Programme during his 2024 campaign, but is yet to make any significant change to its format.
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Last month, Five Rivers Secondary head coach Desiree Sarjeant and Pleasantville Secondary coach Brian London took school players who were overlooked by the Women’s National Under-17 Team head coach Ayana Russell.
And, in less than two weeks, Sarjeant and London led the combined SSFL team to a 1-0 win over Russell’s squad, which is an active High Performance team, in the 2025 Jewels of the Caribbean competition.
One way or the other, Republic Bank’s self-described hiatus and eventual handover of the management of its football tournament is likely to be a turning point in the domestic youth game.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
