SSFL 24: ‘Zoom Zoom’ doubles up as St Benedict’s down Fatima to claim top spot

Former Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 team flanker Derrel ‘Zoom Zoom’ Garcia returned to the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) with a bang today, as the gifted attacker scored twice in a 3-1 win for St Benedict’s College over defending champions Fatima College at the Mahaica Sporting Complex.

Garcia, who is still just 17-years-old, moved to CF Intercity in Spain’s third tier last year, as he pursued his dream of turning professional. That ambition seems to be on pause.

St Benedict’s title aspirations are soaring though, as today’s win took them three points clear atop the 16-team standings, with a game in hand over second place Fatima to boot.

Presentation College (San Fernando), who whipped Speyside High 5-0 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, are level with Fatima on points but have an inferior goal difference. However, the ‘Pres Lions’ also have a game in hand.

Arima North Secondary, who, like St Benedict’s, remain unbeaten this season won 2-1 away to San Juan North Secondary to climb to fourth place after Naparima College’s trip to Malick Secondary was postponed.

Queen’s Royal College (QRC) were the other big movers as they climbed to fifth place, courtesy of a 2-1 win away to Signal Hill Secondary.

(Video: Arima North Secondary attacker Micha’el John scores with a solo effort to open the score summary against San Juan North Secondary on 5 October 2024.)

At present, six points separates second place Fatima (16 points) from eighth place St Mary’s College (10 points) while ninth place San Juan North (9 points) are just six points ahead of cellar placed Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (3 points).

It might be the most keenly contested Premier League season since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, at the top of the table, St Benedict’s look like running away with the trophy.

Since their opening goalless draw with Arima North, St Benedict’s have six games on the trot—while routinely adding quality players to their roster along the way.

Garcia is the latest notable addition.

St Benedict’s began the match without captain and former National Under-20 team midfielder Josiah Ochoa, who was suspended. Their northern visitors drew first blood on the half-hour mark with a beautifully-taken left-footed shot by wing-back Micaiah Leach, following a short corner on the right from Jahaem Bailey.

Leach’s shot flew to the top-right corner of Thane Devenish’s goal and he was mobbed by his teammates, including the substitutes, in front of the Fatima fans.

“That goal that we went behind to was a good-quality goal,” said St Benedict’s assistant coach Clint McMillan. “His technique was flawless.”

But “Zoom Zoom” unleashed an outstanding long-range shot with his right foot, equalising the score 12 minutes later.

Fatima’s right-flankers Josiah Gobin (attacker) and Liam Gooding (defender) had a communication mix-up. Midfielder Cam’ron Burke seized the loose ball and fed Garcia who, in turn, caught Fatima goalkeeper Logan Hamel-Smith unawares with a 25-metre shot.

“We did a little research on the opponents,” McMillan told Wired868. “What they [fear] is physicality. After we watched how Naps played them (on 18 September)—and Naps played a physical game—we tried [to get] our strikers and wingers to press their backline and force errors.

“It wasn’t 100 percent but we still [got] the effect that we were looking for.”

The Fatima defence were under pressure early in the second half. Burke set up Ethan Trotman, whose right-footed curler was pushed wide by Hamel-Smith for a corner.

Minutes later, Lyshaun Morris collected a long ball on the right and found Burke, and the midfielder’s cross struck the left arm of Fatima’s defender Yohance Atherton inside the penalty box.

The Fatima captain appeared puzzled as referee Andrew Samuel awarded a spot-kick. Garcia then beat Hamel-Smith to his right with a thunderous right-footer to put St Benedict’s 2-1 ahead after 59 minutes.

“I’m questioning the penalty,” said Fatima head coach Hutson ‘Baba’ Charles. “With the penalty, my guy’s back [was] turned. The ball hit his hand. Nowhere was he aware that the ball hit his hand, but the referee gave a penalty.”

Fatima midfielder Caden Trestrail tried his best to level the scores at two-apiece, but his effort was blocked by St Benedict’s full-back Ackeem James, while Luke Correia sent the rebound overbar.

It seemed inevitable that Garcia would have the final say.

Ten minutes from the end of regulation time, he lived up to his nickname by zooming past centre-backs Matthew Barrington and Atherton, inside the penalty box.

His attempted chip was spilled by the Fatima goalie into the path of Trotman. And a gleeful Trotman, who was about to be substituted, put the icing on the cake for St Benedict’s as he chested the loose ball into the open net.

“Today, [Garcia] said he was under the weather so we didn’t get the defensive energy out of him,” said McMillan. “We just let him conserve defensively because we had nine other men behind him.”

Charles was gracious in defeat— even though it was Fatima’s second in a row.

“I thought the game was marvellous,” said the Fatima coach. “Congratulations to St Benedict’s. They [took] the advantages and put the ball into the back of the net. We made two mistakes and they capitalised.”

McMillan emphasised the importance of his players staying grounded, despite being the new leaders in the Premier Division.

“After every game, we tell the players to keep a level head, just be humble, take it one game at a time and learn to be a title-winner,” said the St Benedict’s assistant.

On the other hand, Charles said his troops will “go back to the drawing board and prepare best for the next game”.

On 9 October, St Benedict’s will visit QRC while Fatima will head to the sister isle to face Signal Hill Secondary.

Teams

St Benedict’s College (4-5-1): 22.Thane Devenish (GK); 2.Ackeem James, 17.Joshua Figaro, 5.Sahrai Mitchell, 13.Elijah George; 9.Jelani Stoute (7.Giovanni McKnight 67), 11.Ethan Trotman (14.Josiah Barrow 80), 4.Adam Pierre, 19.Lyshaun Morris, 8.Cam’ron Burke (20.Elijah David 80); 10.Derrel Garcia (captain) (12.Ruben Phillip 90).

Unused substitutes: 1.Naftali Charles (GK), 3.Kylon Cayenne, 6.Salim Soanes, 15.Malik Young, 16.Kai Robertson, 18.Kieron Hinds, 21.Thierry Ash.

Coach: Randolph Boyce

Fatima College (4-3-3): 1.Logan Hamel-Smith (GK); 24.Liam Gooding, 26.Matthew Barrington, 4.Yohance Atherton (captain), 19.Micaiah Leach; 9.Luke Correia, 17.Jedaiah King (8.Seth Hadeed 69), 23.Caden Trestrail; 11.Josiah Gobin (29.Josiah Fernandes 87), 7.Jahaem Bailey (2.David Hospedales 90), 13.Michael Chaves.

Unused substitutes: 00.Shameal O’Brien (GK), 10.Thomas Decle, 14.Joziah Contant-Shing Hon, 16.Savio Yearwood, 22.Levi Smith.

Coach: Hutson Charles

Referee: Andrew Samuel

SSFL Premier Division fixtures

(Sat 5 Oct)

St Benedict’s College 3 (Derrel Garcia 42, 59 pen, Ethan Trotman 80), Fatima College 1 (Micaiah Leach 30) at Mahaica Sporting Complex;

San Juan North 1 (Lindell Sween 43), Arima North Secondary 2 (Micha’el John 42, Jahmarley Caleb 80) at Bourg Mulatresse;

East Mucurapo Secondary 0, St Mary’s College 1 (Kristian James 66) at Mucurapo Road;

Presentation (San F’do) 5 (Vaughn Clement pen, Cody Cooper pen, Isaiah Jacob, Caleb Boyce, Duhrell Young), Speyside High 0 at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Signal Hill Secondary 1 (Kyle James), Queen’s Royal College 2 (Teshaun Franklyn, Raevion Marshall OG) at Signal Hill;

St Anthony’s College 3 (Davourne Thomas 25, Joshua Miller 74, Andell Fraser 80), Miracle Ministries PHS 1 (Kyle Holder 66) at Westmoorings;

Trinity College East 0, St Augustine Secondary 1 (Shumba Cudjoe 12) at Trincity.

Rescheduled matches

(Mon 7 Oct)

St Anthony’s College v St Benedict’s College, 4pm, Westmoorings;

Speyside High v St Augustine Secondary, 3pm, Speyside;

Upcoming fixtures

(Wed 9 Oct)

Naparima College v Speyside High, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

Signal Hill Secondary v Fatima College, 4pm, Signal Hill;

Malick Secondary v San Juan North, 4pm, Westmoorings;

Arima North Secondary v Miracle Ministries PHS, 4pm, Arima Velodrome;

Presentation (San F’do) v St Mary’s College, 4pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Queen’s Royal College v St Benedict’s College, 4pm, QRC;

St Augustine Secondary v East Mucurapo Secondary, 4pm, Warren Street;

Trinity College East v St Anthony’s College, 4pm, Trincity.