RBNYFL 24: Araucans thump Unisons; FC Ginga edge PUFA to stay perfect

Jeremiah Charles scored a double as Arima Araucans Academy shut-out Ultimate Unisons 4-0 in East Zone Under-16 action in the 2024 Republic Bank National Football League (RBNYL) tournament at UWI Admin East Field on Sunday.

Charles fired home in the 17th minute of the match after Unisons goalkeeper Gary Clarke saved a close-range shot just moments earlier.

The Araucans missed a penalty early in the second half with midfielder McKelson Lewis skying his effort before Charles made it 2-0 with another spot-kick in the 55th minute.

With Unisons tiring, forward Kafense McKell finished from close range in the 63rd minute, before left back O’Neil Dyer’s hopeful shot was fumbled into the net for a 4-0 win.

It was a performance that left Unisons’ assistant coach Earl Carter with a huge sense of disappointment.

“We put in hard work but they didn’t do what they were supposed to do out there,” Carter told Wired868. “Bad marking, trapping, some of them were really tired and they were not really pressuring the side. They were allowing the side too much space.”

Arima Araucans team manager Lasana Liburd gave his team a passing grade and felt that it was a valuable exercise for this team with tougher fixtures to come.

“It was good in that we were trying to work on our team positioning, passing, tempo,” he said. “It was a game that kind of allowed us to do that without as much pressure as some of the tougher opponents.

“Sometimes in leagues like this, you play against teams that are not at the same development stage. They are a bit earlier in the development stage so it was a game for us to possess the ball more and play, and we did that okay.”

The Unisons, like the Araucans, came into the game with a win and a loss, and the match was important for both teams’ chances in the tournament.

The Araucans dominated the early phase of the game with their opponents doing enough to keep the scoreline level, until Charles struck.

“In both of our games so far, we haven’t been among the goals, so I suppose it took them a while to get going,” Liburd said. “I felt we could have been more composed with shooting in and around the opposing team’s penalty area.”

Carter said the Araucans’ opening two strikes owed a lot to his team’s communication issues in defence.

“The first half was tight—they were doing what they were supposed to do,” said Carter. “But lack of communication in the back. The ball was coming across and everybody was just standing and watching. Nobody was jumping to the football, so we got two goals coming across from the left side.

“Our fault, just bad marking.”

For the opening goal, the Bourg Mulatresse-based team failed to deal with a cross ball from the left by winger Dimitre Jones, which allowed the Araucans two bites of the cherry.

The second fell to the deadly right foot of Charles, who made no mistake—as he sent the ball to the right of Clarke.

In the second half, both penalty chances emerged off crosses from the flanks that left the Unisons defence locked in panic mode.

The first was awarded after a defender bundled the ball into his own net with his hand. Lewis, who missed the second match day for his team, fired that high over the crossbar.

The second penalty was for a push on an Araucans player at the top of the box. This time, Charles found the top angle with his left foot for 2-0.

The afternoon sun and the relentless attacks by the Arima outfit sapped away at the confidence of the Unisons players and the error count began to pile up.

Attacker Cristiano Hinds picked the ball off a defender and shot to goal only for the ball to fall into the pathway of McKell.

Assistant coach Aasan Lewis told the striker, just three minutes earlier, that he should go hard—because he would be coming off in three minutes. And with his last kick, McKell made his afternoon a profitable one, as he drilled into the far corner from close range.

“[McKell] got injured during the middle of the secondary school season last year [for Arima North Secondary], and this is actually his first game back,” said Liburd. “He has been out for three months or something. I expected to see a bit of rust. He got three good scoring chances, but it was good to see him get a goal.”

The final goal summed up the decline in Ultimate Unisons’ effort in the second half, as Dyer’s speculative daisy-cutter went through Clarke’s hands and into the net.

“He went with his legs open and his hands down and the ball slipped through—a bad error,” said Carter, with a grim expression. “For the next game, I will be working on fitness and ball control. They have to take their time and not leave space open. We have to pressure them (the opposition).”

Araucans hope to continue to grow from strength as the competition continues.

“We will have a sterner test next week, but this is what it is all about really,” said Liburd. “We want the boys to be tested and to be able to try to execute under pressure. We look forward to it.”

Arima Araucans will be playing Powerful United Football Academy (PUFA) next week, while Ultimate Unisoms are up against World Class.

Yesterday, PUFA dropped to their second loss as they went down 2-1 to FC Ginga, which has now won all three of their games.

After a goalless first half, where FC Ginga had the better of the exchanges, the destination of the three points was decided during a three-minute spell.

Fifteen minutes after the resumption, Jelani Martinez scored directly from a corner to send PUFA ahead in spectacular fashion.

“El Olimpico” seemed the perfect tonic for FC Ginga, though, as they equalized within 120 seconds of going behind.

Zwade Alleyne’s crisp finish brought the teams back to parity before Mikel Murray sent Ginga into a lead they held to the end without serious alarm.

Despite the win, Ginga head coach Stefon Pierre was not pleased with his team’s showing.

“I am definitely not happy—it wasn’t a good day for the guys, [and] not a good day for me,” he said. “They did not execute and we have to go back to fundamentals.”

His opposite number Nyron Jones had a different assessment on his team’s showing.

“I think it was excellent based on the team plan,” said Jones. “However, we would have given up two soft goals after we went up 1-0.”

La Horquetta-based PUFA have come up against FC Ginga in previous competitions and Jones adopted a counter-attacking strategy to deal with their opponents.

Pierre was careful to warn his reshuffled troops to guard against complacency against PUFA. However, the opening half was one to forget for the FC Ginga think-tank.

“First touch, very poor—shooting ability, very poor,” said Pierre. “Shape? I keep dwelling on the shape. They keep getting carried away by getting into other positions and staying in other positions.

“They are not communicating properly. They are leaving positions and not staying [which] will cause a big gap and it will get the other team into the game.”

Jones thought the first half was a fair reflection of the way the game went.

“It was excellent, the scoreline would have reflected that,” he said. “First half, we went exactly to our plans where Ginga would have been playing into our hands based on our plan.”

One member of the World Class football team, who stayed on to watch the FC Ginga match said they did not look like themselves.

“FC Ginga looking real weird, boy,” he told his teammates. “They missing they link man—that’s why they looking shaky.”

Pierre has over 20 players on his roster and said he rotated players through all three games. Inspirational midfielder and Trinidad and Tobago National Under-16 player Criston “CJ” Gomez missed out through injury.

The opening phase of the second half was similar to the first 45 minutes, with unaccepted chances falling to both teams.

Then came a moment of magic from a PUFA corner, which Martinez swung in with his left foot from the right-side corner flag.

The kick had pace and a surprising quantum of dip and bend, as it swerved back into the prevailing wind.

The football knuckled down and swung past the fingers of goalkeeper Orlian Carrion before crashing into the net.

1-0 to PUFA.

“That is straight off the training pitch,” said a beaming Jones. “What we encourage at PUFA Academy is for the boys to have that imagination. So what we do with any dead-ball situation is that we allow them the freedom to select what comes to mind.”

However, the stunning strike also galvanized the FC Ginga team into action.

“I believe it was good because if that goal came lower down, maybe the outcome would have been different,” said Pierre. “They really wasn’t feeling it and they were not giving me the power and the drive that they usually give.”

The team from Constantine Park in Tunapuna swung into action. Within two minutes, Alleyne’s low finish brought the FC Ginga supporters to their feet.

“That was all on them—they conceded and because of that it made them click,” said Pierre. “That was the opportunity for the guys to say, ‘Let’s get this done.’ And that is when I started seeing them communicating.”

Jones suggested his players were punished for momentarily losing concentration.

“With kids, you always have that lack of experience,” he said. “They get caught up in the moment. They were still celebrating. Ginga would have been excellent on capitalizing on that moment.”

Then Murray, who missed a couple of chances in the first half, made amends with what turned out to be the winner.

PUFA goalkeeper Jaydon Millard and his defenders lost their focus, leaving Murray with the ball at his feet inside the six-yard box. He did not miss.

PUFA, who came to the game with only two substitutes, were still able to stave off waves of FC Ginga attacks.

They created a couple of opportunities of their own too. But their front line, jaded and decimated by injury, could not find the equalizer.

“I think it didn’t really hurt us as the two goals that we conceded were self-inflicted,” said Jones, about their lack of available substitutes. “Of course, the weather would have played a part in the boys being sort of tired.

“It’s youths that we are dealing with, some of the boys have other commitments. We understand what we had on the bench and we would have built a plan around it.”

The PUFA head coach has a plan to improve his team ahead of their next game against the Arima Aruacans.

“Since the start of the tournament, the boys have been improving so we will go back to the training ground and we will recreate these sorts of situations and scenarios and we will come back next game,” he said.

As for Pierre, he will stick to his rotation policy, until he finds the right mix.

“I will bring in other faces that I have on the roster,” he said. “I will mix them up to suit until it reaches that stage that I can’t do that anymore and just keep picking my best 18 from there.

“I did not believe they were outclassed. [They were] at a better level, I believe. We need to fix the basics and come into every game with a good mindset.”

RBNYFL 2024 Results

Central Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 9 March)

Creek SCC 12 (Aaden Jones 3, 15, 42, 45, Antonio Frank 8, 12, 40, Jeremiah Edwards 17, Lael Augustus 25, Jabari Joseph 30, Luke Eccles 63, Jelani Marchan 71), San Juan Jabloteh 0 at Frederick Settlement;

HVC FC 2 (Matthew Beharry 4, Sanjeev Mungal 5), Evolution FC 0 at Frederick Settlement;

Ultimate Unison v Crown Trace FC at Frederick Settlement;

*–Game not played as Crown Trace unable to present a team.

Blue Hawks 3 (Kymani Nicholls 9, 77, Rea’jean Vanloo 29), Talent & Energy 0 at Frederick Settlement;

Under-16

(Sunday 10 March)

Gasparillo Youths 2 (Jerell Redhead 13, Brighten Ramcharan 77), Evolution FC 0 at UWI SPEC;

Waterloo Institute 4 (Jaleel Seales 8, 37, Miles Cadette 54, Nickealon Castillo 67), MIC Matura ReUnited 2 (Kellon John 11, 26) at UWI SPEC;

Beatnix SC 5 (Khalid Jones 9, 37, Kanye Glasgow 32, 33, Mikai Boney 52), Heart Academy 0 at UWI SPEC;

Crown Trace FC 1 (Nikosi Foncette 73), FC Tigers 0 at UWI SPEC;

Under-20

(Saturday 9 March)

Kamillionare FC 3 (Damario Boswell 15, Ranaldo Weeks 45+2, Romain Walcott 89), Prison FC 2 (Elijah Baptiste 5, 65) at UWI SPEC;

Talent & Energy 2 (Nkosi Yorrick 48, Miguel Chisholm 66), Crown Trace FC 0 at UWI SPEC;

MIC Matura ReUnited 5 (Josiah Hypolite 4, Jehrell Ignatius 63, Andrew Nicome 65, 76, Jamell Cooper 66), Evolution FC 1 at UWI SPEC.

East Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 9 March)

Beatnix SC 5 (Azaria Simon 4, 39, Kidane Nieves 11, Essien Thomas 26, 65, Zidan Tinto 60), Trincity Nationals 1 (Andreas Pacheco 70) at Republic Bank Grounds;

Arima Araucans 8 (Ky-Mani Moore 8, 43, 80, Jordan Pryce 10, Zain Greenidge 15, 37, Javan Smith 23, 65), MIC Matura Reunited 0 at Republic Bank Grounds;

World Class 5 (Marley Ramdass 18, 24, 38, 42 pen, Kymani Lawrence 70), FC Santa Rosa 1 (Liam Rose 71) at Republic Bank Grounds;

FC Ginga 6 (Luke Bahadoorsingh 13, Osleyker Herrera 16, 55, Sebastian Sanabria 24, 74, Nyrell Roberts 59), Maloney RF FC 3 (Zahlon Bernard 12, Jaimarley Persaud 39, Jordan Smith 67) at Republic Bank Grounds;

Under-16

(Sunday 10 March)

World Class 8 (Shumba Cudjoe 15, 27, 33, Marcel Valentine 23, 40, 62, Renaco Hernandez 55, Jelani Valentine 68), HVC FC 3 (Jaylen Hinds 24, 80, Maliq Assing 71) at UWI;

FC Santa Rosa 3 (Neil Ollivierre 4, Mikyel Rochford 40, Nasean Francois 71), Creek SCC 1 (Renaldo Punnette 10 pen) at UWI;

FC Ginga 2 (Zwade Alleyne 56, Mikel Murray 59), PUFA 1 (Jelani Martinez 53) at UWI;

Arima Araucans 4 (Jeremiah Charles 17, 54 pen, Kafense McKell 63, O’Neil Dyer 74), Ultimate Unisons 0 at UWI;

Under-20

(Saturday 9 March)

AIA 7 (Areelio Niles 14, 89, Khidr Atiba 36 pen, Jean-Marc Thomas 62, Theo Crovador 72, 81, Cassidy Lewis 90), Maloney RF FC 0 at UWI;

Malabar Youths 3 (Nathan Plaza 37, Ezekiel Jacob-Mata 59, Jeremiah Williams 61), HVC FC 0 at UWI;

PUFA 5 (Jeriel Davis 7, Keyel James 34, 41, Odele Larrier 56, Immanuel McMeo 77), Kick Start 1 (Yahouda O’Neil 77) at UWI;

FC Ginga 1 (Jeremy Joseph 86), Beatnix SC 1 (Mathias Cruickshank 39) at UWI;

North Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 9 March)

Cardinals FA 3 (Deron Blackman 37, Jaylon Roberts 46, Jaden Cummings OG 67), Pro Series 0 at Moka;

Project Pro 4 (Scott Abraham 6, Andre Constantine 9, 27, Luke Ferreira 18, 67, Olumayowa Oladiran 77), Dibe Dragons 0 at Moka;

City FC 8 (Jaren Chase 11, Reagan Rowe 25, Jeremai Nanton 34, Lucas Shaw 41, Matthew Lee Young 44, 45, Jude Correia 75, 78), Belmont AFE 0 at Moka;

Santa Cruz Utd 8 (Kevez Quintero 10, Jahmai Caesar 16, Johan Thomas 24, 43, Keion Elie 49, 66, Criston Pascall 65, Andre Clement 89), First Kick Academy 1 (Mikhi James 46) at Moka;

Under-16

(Sunday 10 March)

City FC 3 (Shane Telfer 17, Nadee Grant 54, Harland Samuel 60), Project Pro 0 at Moka;

Pro Series 3 (Jasai Theophilus 12, Jake Barclay 13, Jaeden Samuel 77), Santa Cruz Utd 1 (Tristan Franklyn 45) at Moka;

Cardinals FA 7 (Liam Hosein 2, Ishmael Wadi OG 37, Kai Williams 52, 68, 70, Deron Blackman 58, Zachary Dickson 76), Blue Hawks 0 at Moka;

Prison FC 1 (Daniel Lewis 50), Trendsetter Hawks 1 (Keysan Haynes 13) at Moka;

Under-20

(Saturday 9 March)

City FC 3, Santa Cruz Utd 0 at Moka;

First Kick Academy 2 (Akeem De Souza 62, Samuel Meridin 86), Cardinals FC 0 at Moka;

Pro Series 8 (Jediah King 2, Tau Lamsee 7, 16, Amaru Dunbar 14, Jaheim Bailey 18, 28, 43 pen, Maalik Jarvis 60 pen), Seekers FC 0 at Moka;

Boyce 5 (Reyshawn Andrews 11, 45+1, Brandon Parks 54, Nicoli Clarence 60, Morise Phillip 80), Extreme FC 0 at Moka;

South Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 9 March)

Premier SC 3 (Tariq Martin 2, Ezekiel Garcia 26, Soren Shade 66), Uprising Youths 1 (Curlon Williamson 30) at La Brea Recreation Grounds;

Tiny Mikes 2, Smart Academy 1 at La Brea Recreation Grounds;

San Fernando SA 3 (Giovanni Brooks 27, 48, 58), GDD 0 at La Brea Recreation Grounds;

Cox Coaching School 1, Union Hall Utd 0 at La Brea Recreation Grounds;

Under-16

(Sunday 10 March)

Dunstan Williams Soccer Academy 2, Union Hall Utd 1 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Premier SC 18, Plaisance Park Strikers 2 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Point Fortin YA 11, Smart Academy 0 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Under-20

(Saturday 9 March)

Premier SC 4 (Malachi Webb 26, Duane Edwards 53, Chad King 80, Rayshawn Crichlow 87), Gasparillo Youths 2 (Aaron Oudit 44, Jerrel Griffith 78) at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Club Sando 3 (Ayche Allum 47 pen, Asa Peters 57, 84), Penal Is Love 1 (Caden Richards 29) at Guapo Recreation Ground;

San Juan Jabloteh 3, Union Hall United 0 at Guapo Recreation Ground;

San F’do SA 5 (Jeremiah Bernard 23, Tyeell Dyeth 34, 72, 87, Duane Lawrence 46), South Star 1 (Khariem O’Brady 19) at Guapo Recreation Ground;

Tobago Zone

Under-14

(Saturday 9 March)

Bethel United 3 (Asaih Brandon 43, 49, Sherwyn Roberts 48), TJ’s Sporting Academy 1 (Dilarno Dillon 66) at Courland;

Eagles FC 4, Roxborough Lakers 0 at Mt St George;

Under-16

(Sunday 10 March)

Georgia FC 6 (Ishmael Toney 2, Jaheim Toney 6, Riquelme Phillips 39, Sheldon Henry 45, Justin Bernard 53, Kelsean Manswell 61), TJ’s Sporting Academy 1 (Aaron Radgman 67 pen) at Courland;

Ball Blasters YA 4 (J’meke Watkins 11, 57, Immanuel Wright 68, Siel Mills 80), North Stars 1 (Jayden Antoine 63 pen) at Courland;

Under-20

(Saturday 9 March)

Carnbee Mt Pleasant 2, Georgia FC 1 at Mt St George;

Gray’s DSA 2 (Garvin Osmond 11, Japhine Edwards 80), Bethel United 2 (Shawnim Baker 20, Hassani Bobb 64) at Mt St George;

Tobago Girls

(Saturday 9 March)

Tobago Chicas FC 2 (J’elisha Alexander 26, 32), Jewels Sports Club 1 (Skye Thomas 65) at Courland;

Combined Ballers 2, Black Panther WSC 0 at Courland;

Trinidad Girls

(Sunday 10 March)

Pro Series 12 (Kaitlyn Darwent 3, 57, Mariah Williams 10, 15, 35, Scarlette Cole 12, 31, Rori Gittens 19, Kanika Rodriguez 25, Jaeda Wilson 37, Calypso Ayuong 48, Khloe Kirton 61), Eastern County United 0 at Republic Bank Ground;

Trincity Nationals 4 (Aaliyah Trim 52, 65, Evangeline Farfan 83, 90), San Juan Jabloteh 0 at Republic Bank Ground;

Blue Hawks vs Curtis Orr Academy at Republic Bank Ground;

*–Curtis Orr Academy failed to show.

Pleasantville 6 (Taianna Wylie 16 pen, Nikita Gosine 21, 37, 82, Jade Shepherd 34, Khariyah Fortune 86), Crown Trace FC 2 (Jade Beekai 42, 73) at Republic Bank Ground;

Talent & Energy FC 7 (Aqua Rocke 24, 59, 80, Shre Dudley 39, 62, 65, Aaqila Virgil 49), NED FA 0 at Balmain Recreation.