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San Juan North Secondary reasserted themselves on their east Trinidad rivals tonight with their first zonal Intercol title since the Covid-19 pandemic, as they edged Trinity College East 2-1 in the East Zone Intercol final at the Arima Velodrome.
This capped off a successful visit to Arima for the Bourg Mulatresse-based school, as the girls’ team eked out a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Five Rivers Secondary in the Girls East Zone final—in the opening match of a double header.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Five Rivers were favourites going into the girls’ contest. But try telling that to San Juan North goalkeeper Myeisha Cox, whose two saves in the shootout were box office material.
Was Cox’s coronation a good omen for the San Juan North boys? It did not look that way at first.
The Trinity “Blue Hawks” have won just four games from 19 outings this season, while both their triumphs in the Intercol have come via penalties. Yet, they sent an early warning in this evening’s contest.
San Juan North captain Desailly Lewis and goalkeeper D’Andre Giddens were both debating about who should deal with a straightforward ball over the top when TCE attacker Khaleem Prince stuck a boot out of nowhere to hook the sphere beyond the pair—but off the heel of the post.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Prince had a second sniff in the 22nd minute, as he ran on to a through ball but failed to hit the target with an angled shot.
The third time was the charm. The Bourg Mulatresse Boys failed to clear a Dexter Croal free kick into the box, and Prince was alive to the opportunity as he headed his team into the lead after 27 minutes.
The East Intercol final was, for the most part, route one football—with both teams going long from the back towards their centre forward at the earliest opportunity and then attempting to play off the second ball, or knock downs.
It was ironic, then, that Trinity East’s first notable attempt at a back pass proved so catastrophic.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Left back Anderson Barnwell attempted to play the ball back to his defender, Ethan Fortune, but sold his teammate short. And 15-year-old San Juan North flanker Jelani Valentine made them pay as he stole possession and broke clear of the opposing defence in one motion before stroking past opposing goalkeeper Alexis Ambrose.
“We were a little flat at the start,” said veteran San Juan North coach Jerry Moe, “but when we got the goal, we took over…”
Moe’s troops should have gone ahead in the 41st minute as star attacker Lindell Sween peeled away from Trinity East defender Uzochi Bacchus and teed up Jadiel Joseph at the edge of the opposing six-yard box.
Somehow, Fortune was able to get his body in the way to deny what looked to be a certain goal.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
After joy came sorrow for Trinity East head coach Dwayne Davis, though, as San Juan North took the lead in first-half stoppage time with a straightforward corner kick routine.
Sween curled the ball into the penalty area, and Fortune was on the wrong side of his assigned player, Jaheem Danclar, who scored with a glancing header towards the far corner.
Danclar started the season at centre forward but has since operated as makeshift left back for San Juan North. Clearly, he can still finish though.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
There would be no further goals as TCE threw players forward in vain, but conversely, it was San Juan North who appeared stronger as the game continued with Sween increasingly influential.
“In the form we are in now, we are very confident,” said Sween, in his post-match interview.
They face the North Zone champions next in the National Intercol semifinals at the Diego Martin Complex on Thursday, 28 November.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
(Teams)
Trinity College East (4-1-3-2): 22.Alexis Ambrose (GK); 6.Jehrell Ignatius, 4.Uzochi Bacchus, 21.Ethan Fortune, 12.Anderson Barnwell (11.Xavier Maricheau 80); 16.Dejon Martinez; 13.Shane Burnett-Mattis, 24.Amani Lopez (9.Elijah Diaz 58), 5.Dexter Croal; 18.Jonathan Emrith, 10.Khaleem Prince (captain).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jadon Pollard (GK), 2.Zahir Ramkissoon, 3.Javon Denoon, 8.Jakwon Howell, 14.Josiah Thompson, 17.Caleb Johnson, 19.Javon Jobe, 20.Daniel Bazzey, 23.Joshe Gill, 25.Akeem Abdallah.
Coach: Dwayne Davis
San Juan North Secondary (4-4-1-1): 30.D’Andre Giddens (GK); 14.Desailly Lewis (captain), 6.Jaheshua Ferguson, 15.Kent Guy, 10.Jaheem Danclar; 16.Jelani Valentine, 21.Isaiah Audain, 19.Daniel Lewis (8.Jamaludin Blandin 82), 11.Jadiel Joseph; 18.Lindell Sween; 17.Jahdel Chase-Charles (23.Michel Baptiste 73).
Unused substitutes: 1.Elijah Lawrence (GK), 3.Levan Assevero, 4.Mathyyas Charles, 7.Elizsha Rogers, 20.Jesse Chadband, 22.Anthony Lewis, 24.Nahi Morrison.
Coach: Jerry Moe
Referee: Cecile Hinds
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Today’s Intercol results
(Wed 20 Nov)
Trinity College East 1 (Khaleem Prince 27), San Juan Secondary 2 (Jelani Valentine 32, Jaheem Danclar 45) at Arima Velodrome.
Upcoming Intercol fixtures
(Thu 21 Nov)
Fatima College vs Queen’s Royal College, North, 5.30pm, Diego Martin Complex;
(Fri 22 Nov)
St Benedict’s College v Naparima College, South, 5.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Signal Hill Secondary vs Scarborough Secondary, Tobago, 5.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
(Tue 26 Nov)
Miracle Ministries PHS v Signal Hill/ Scarborough, ¼ final, 3.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(Thu 28 Nov)
Fatima/ QRC v San Juan North, semifinal, 4.30pm, Diego Martin Complex;
(Fri 29 Nov)
MMPHS/ Tobago v St Benedict’s/ Naparima, semifinal, 4.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(Thu 5 Dec)
National Intercol final, 5.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
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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.
