RBNYFL 25: Tied up—Santa Cruz, Trendsetter, City and Moka draw, as Pro Series U14s go clear

On a sweltering hot Saturday at Moka, Santa Cruz United and Trendsetter Hawks could not keep pace with Pro Series on a potentially pivotal day in the North Zone Under-14 Division of the 2025 Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL).

Santa Cruz United and Trendsetter Hawks started match day three with a maximum six points from their opening two matches—just like Pro Series. But then came the stumble, as Santa Cruz and Trendsetter were both faced to come from behind to get a solitary point against Moka Lions FC and City FC respectively.

Pro Series had no such as issues as they cruised to a 5-0 win over Project Pro Academy on Saturday’s final North U-14 fixture.

Zaa’van Joseph grabbed a brace for Pro Series in the game’s first three minutes, while Xavier Barrow and Alex King netted within a minute of each other, midway through the first half.

Nasique George rounded off the scoring in the 59th minute, to take Pro Series two points clear at the top of the standings.

It was the only outright in that division on the day. Dibe Dragons and AC Port of Spain were first to take to the field, in a bottom of the table clash, and a last minute item by Dragons’ Azem Glasgow meant they both left with a point each.

Glasgow’s late intervention, which was the Dragons’ first goal for the 2025 season, appeared to set the tone for what was to follow.

Moka Lions, hoping to wash away the detritus of their 2-0 loss to Trendsetter Hawks the week before, grabbed the opener in the 26th minute through a Triston Barnes tap-in—after Santa Cruz goalkeeper Darean Diaz failed to gather the ball, much to the delight of the Maraval faithful.

Santa Cruz refused to be beaten though, as they applied sustained pressure to their hosts throughout the second half, an eventually got a volleyed equalizing goal from Giovanni Hypolite in the 51st minute.

Santa Cruz United coach Ricardo Legay was aggrieved that his side got only a point from the game.

“We lived in the Trinity Lions half, their defensive third, and threw away a lot of chances, that we should have put away,” he said. “I felt that like it was two points lost.”

Legay’s team dispatched AC POS Youths 5-1 in their opening match before edging past Dibe Dragons 2-1 in the second round, and he felt they still lacked consistency.

“The team showed a lot of fight in the games, but we could have played better despite winning by large margins,” he said.

Legay is aware they are far from securing a place in the knockout round with quality opposition to come, but he backed his young team to qualify.

“We are confident that our team can come out on top and if not, qualify for second place, and go into the quarterfinals,” he said. “We just have to continue playing hard and smart with speed of thought, good football, and we should get there.

“We are coming up against some pretty good teams—Pro Series, City FC, Project Pro—but I think that our kind of game, the high press, could deal with them.”

The Santa Cruz United team, interestingly, is composed mainly of primary school players who play for rival schools in the sports-mad valley in North Trinidad.

The rival schools, Santa Cruz RC and La Pastora Government Primary School contested the East Zone Primary School U-15 final in November 2024.

Santa Cruz RC won the final on penalties (4-3) after a 1-1 draw in the East U15 final, with their goalkeeper Diaz scoring from a freekick to send the game to a shootout.

They eventually lost the National U-15 final 1-0 to Carapichaima RC, a game in which they missed two penalties.

“For our U-14s, we want to see them consistent and learning the game right, develop discipline, and see the love of the game grow,” said Legay. “Santa Cruz is mainly known for its cricket, but we have a lot of good footballers too.”

The Santa Cruz Football Academy was instrumental in unearthing national U-20 star Lindell Sween, former Fatima College goalkeeper Tristan Edwards, and former national youth player Simeon Bailey.

Joel Charles, the coach of Moka Lions, felt his team deserved a point from the game after his team had the lion’s share (pun intended) of possession in the first half.

“It was a fair result. In the first half, we had more of the play. In the second half, Santa Cruz had more of the play,” he said.

His team beat Project Pro 1-0 in their opening game but fell 2-0 to Trendsetter Hawks.

“Project Pro: we were more mentally ready for that game—we were tough in that game,” said Charles. “Against Trendsetter Hawks, the team was more afraid because of the reputation of Trendsetter Hawks. They were not prepared mentally for it.”

Several of Charles’ players are members of the Trendsetter Hawks club and were coming up against players they face regularly in training.

“Usually on the bench, players are raring to go, but they were in a shell,” Charles continued, “but only in the second half they started to grow into the game—but Trendsetter scored two early goals.

“I spoke to them about that at half-time and that’s when they started to pick up in the second half.”

The Moka Lions U-14 team is made up of Form 1 and Form 2 students from Trinity College and Charles wants to ensure they get as much playing time as possible during the 2025 RBNYFL.

“It’s more about getting them acclimatized at playing matches. It is about getting them playing as many games as possible,” he said.

Charles said Trinity College created a development program in January 2025 to give their team a fighting chance at the top level of the upcoming Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season.

“It’s a year-round development program—we are trying to keep the players together as much as possible; to have them playing and competing with each other so they would be ready for the schools’ season in September,” he said.

“We started it in January […] because we got promoted to Premiership (Division). We are trying to get them to gel for the competition.”

The third game in the North Zone on Saturday featured unbeaten Trendsetter Hawks against 2024 Trinidad U-14 champions City FC.

City FC took the lead in the 19th minute through Daniel Chaves (younger brother of former Fatima striker Michael Chaves) but gave up the equalizer barely a minute later to Nickel Gordon, the only primary school student in Trendsetter’s team.

Despite both teams getting late chances to seal the fate of the three points, City FC shared the spoils with the Hawks.

City FC, who came into the new season with only three players from their championship-winning team, lost their opening game 2-1 to Pro Series before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Project Pro Academy.

Even with Austin Lake, Malachi Leach, and Christian Parks from 2024, City FC are made up of U-13 players, who would be eligible to play next year if the RBNYFL retains its U-14 category.

Their coach Mykhael Bain was happy with the effort his young charges put in against Trendsetter Hawks.

“It was a competitive game. We know that Trendsetter Hawks are a very physical team. Their players are bigger and faster than our players,” he said.

“We tried to play our style of football, putting the ball on the ground, knocking it around. They played a more direct game, straight to their forwards.”

Bain, who shares coaching duties with senior coach Anthony Selby, said his team has not hit their top gear and will give a better account of themselves as the tournament progresses.

“Week by week we are progressing. As a team, we are meshing,” he said, “They are still training together, still trying to find their chemistry. They are getting better.

“I would say that on a scale of one to ten, they are probably a seven right now.”

The former St Anthony’s College captain, who played for QPCC and Ma Pau SC, said City FC is committed to developing their players to their fullest potential.

“This is supposed to be a developmental league, so we are working towards development—giving players as much playing time as possible, as equally and fairly as we possibly can, while also trying to contribute to a competitive game,” Bain said.

“We would like to understand the way that we would like them to play, and the formation that we play in. Also, we just want them to continue to play (the game), and to have fun as well. It’s all for development. The competition is also great for their development.”

Trendsetter Hawks defeated Dibe Dragons (4-0) and Moka Lions (2-0) before their City FC match, and their coach Wendell Faria said the 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the match.

“What I enjoyed about the game was that football won on the day,” he said. “The two teams went out and played football and I enjoyed the game. It was hard, tense and nobody could have said it was City’s game or.

“It was a very competitive game. Both teams came out and left everything on the pitch. I would have liked to come out victorious but the game drew 1-1 and we just have to move on from there and see how best we can do in the rest of games.”

Faria, who started with Trendsetter Hawks as a U-12 player in the late 1970s, said his team had no fear of the defending champions when they stepped on the pitch.

“We are always confident,” he said, “We work very hard. We fear no one. We come to play football on the day.”

“We have to take what we want. I always say, as long as we put out what we do in practice, the results will take care of itself.”

The Trendsetter Hawks trainer, who was an assistant coach to former Malvern star Arthur ‘Jap’ Brown at South East Port-of-Spain Secondary, said his focus is on growth and not solely on winning.

“My main goal, personally, is the development of my players,” he said, “If I do the right things and I lose, I have no problem.

“That is our problem in football, everybody goes to win at any cost. So, we have to take out the winning part and realize we need to develop these children, to understand how to play football at a certain level.”

The 2025 Republic Bank National Youth Football League will resume on 8 March after a break for the annual Carnival celebration.

2025 RBNYFL results

Central Zone

Under-14 Division

(Saturday 22 February)

Cooper’s Coaching Academy 4, Crown Trace FC 5 at Frederick Settlement;

T&T Maestros 4, Evolution FC 0 at Frederick Settlement;

Waterloo Tigers 0, FC Tigers 1 (Kaden Fournillier 65) at Frederick Settlement;

Premier SC, Maloney RFA at Frederick Settlement;

*–Premier SC won by default

(Wednesday 26 February)

Crown Trace FC 2 (Jeremiah Villafana 33, Jaylon Daniel 36), Maloney RFA 4 (Tariq Kerr 31, 32, Acer Rajmath 45, 48) at Frederick Settlement;

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Premier SC         3-3-0-0-16–0–9
2. FC Tigers            3-3-0-0-9-2-9
3. T&T Maestros    3-1-1-1-6-4-4
4. Maloney RFA     3-1-1-1-9-10-4
5. Crown Trace      3-1-0-2-9-12-3
6. Waterloo Tigers 2-0-1-1-2-3-1
7. Evolution FA      2-0-1-1-5-9-1
8. Cooper’s CA       3-0-0-3-4-20–0

Boys Under-17

(Sunday 23 February)

City FC 3 (Jareem Mondezie 13, Adriel Faure 61, Shazard Nabbie 77), Premier SC 0 at Frederick Settlement;

FC Ginga 1 (Kafense McKell 12), Gasparillo Youths 0 at Frederick Settlement;

Crown Trace FC 1 (Kellon John 18), Beatnix SC 2 (Jahmarley Ellis 24, Chad Nicholas 66 pen) at Frederick Settlement;

FC Tigers 1 (Israel Leonsing 33), Kamillionare FC 0 at Frederick Settlement;

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. City FC               3-3-0-0-8–1–9
2. FC Ginga            3-3-0-0-5-1–9
3. Beatnix SC          3-2-1-0-6-3-6
4. Premier SC         3-1-0-2-7-5-3
5. Gasparillo Yths  3-1-0-2-4-4-3
6. FC Tigers             3-1-0-2-2–10–3
7. Crown Trace      3-0-1-2-5-8-1
8. Kamillionare      3-0-1-3-2-7-1

Under-20 Division

(Saturday 22 February)

Cooper’s Coaching Academy 1 (Dusan Cooper 38), Premier SC 2 (Jahmarley Barclaay 31, Akini Ramsey 90) at Valsayn;

Harlem Strikers 0, Crown Trace FC 2 (Kellon John 19, Supreme Outar 80) at Valsayn;

Evolution FC 2 (Zayn Colthrust, Jelani Stoute), Boyce Sports SC 2 at Valsayn;

Kamillionare 2 (Samuel Sealey, Nekayse Moore), Prison Service 2 at Valsayn;

U-20 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Premier SC         3-2-1-0-6-4-7
2. Crown Trace      3-1-2-0-7-5-5
3. Kamillionare      3-1-2-0-5-4-5
4. Prison FC            3-1-1-1-7-5-4
5. Evolution FA      3-1-1-1-5-3–4
6. Boyce SCC          3-0-3-0-7-7-2
7. Cooper’s CA       3-0-2-1-4-5-2
8. Harlem St’rs       3-0-0-3-0–8–0

East Zone

Under-14 Division

(Saturday 22 February)

Creek SCC 3 (Aaden Jones 31, 37, 63), Arima Araucans 0 at El Dorado West Secondary;

Blue Hawks 1 (Josiah Cropper 52), FC Santa Rosa 0 at El Dorado West Secondary;

San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Jaheim Fonrose 35, 55), Cardinals FA 3 (Kadir Henry 11, Dylan Suarez 17, 63) at El Dorado West Secondary;

(Wednesday 26 February)

AIA Eagles, Beatnix SC at El Dorado West Secondary;

*–Beatnix win by default

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Beatnix SC    3-3-0-0-11-0–9
2. Blue Hawks   3-3-0-0-8-2-9
3. Creek SCC    3-2-1-0-15-1-7
4. Cardinals FA 3-2-0-1-11-7-6
5. Jabloteh         3-1-1-1-5-3-4
6. Araucans        3-0-0-3-0-7-0
7. Santa Rosa     3-0-0-3-2-13-0
8. AIA                    3-0-0-3-0–18–0

Boys Under-17

(Sunday 23 February)

AIA Eagles 0, San Juan Jabloteh 5 (Eran McLeod 13, Corry Marryshow 41, 58, 69, Armando Lashley 68) at El Dorado West Secondary;

FC Santa Rosa 3 (Jared Guevara 5, Fabio Adroguez Jacob 30, 48), Creek SC 2 (Jeremiah Ellis 56, Desaughn Daniel 59) at El Dorado West Secondary;

Arima Araucans 0, Blue Hawks 1 (Jayden Wilson 4) at El Dorado West Secondary;

Trincity Nationals 1 (Shomdell Plaza 72), Maloney RFA 1 (Jaimarley John 59) at El Dorado West Secondary;

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Jabloteh         3-3-0-0-14–0–9
2. Santa Rosa     3-1-2-0-6-5-5
3. Trincity Nat   3-1-1-1-6-4-4
4. Maloney RFA 3-1-1-1-7-6-4
5. AIA                 3-1-1-1-6-10-4
6. Blue Hawks   3-1-0-2-3-6-3
7. Creek SCC    3-1-0-2-6-11–3
8. Araucans        3-0-1-2-0-6-1

North Zone

Under-14 Division

(Saturday 22 February)

Dibe Dragons 1 (Azem Glasgow 70), AC POS 1 (Mikhai James 28) at Trinity Moka;

Moka Lions 1 (Triston Barnes 26), Santa Cruz Utd 1 (Giovanni Hypolite 51) at Trinity Moka;

City FC 1 (Daniel Chaves 19), Trendsetter Hawks 1 (Nickel Gordon 20) at Trinity Moka;

Pro Series 5 (Zaa’van Joseph 2, 3, Xavier Barrow 18, Alex King 19, Nasique George 59), Project Pro 0 at Trinity Moka;

U-14 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Pro Series       3-3-0-0-14–1–9
2. Santa Cruz     3-2-1-0-8-2-7
3. Trendsetter    3-2-1-0-7-1-7
4. City FC           3-1-1-1-5-4-4
5. Moka Lions    3-1-1-1-2-3-4
6. Dibe Dragons 3-0-1-2-1-7-1
7. AC POS          3-0-1-2-2-13–1
8. Project Pro     3-0-0-3-1-9-0

Under-17 Division

(Sunday 23 February)

Trendsetter Hawks 5 (Kewenis Saunders 44, Jaquan Phillip 48, Gabriel Frederick 47, 54, 74), Project Pro 2 (Max Maumaire 7, Kanye Glasgow 57) at Trinity Moka;

AC POS 2 (Jahed Magloire 6, Jahlon Stewart 62), T&T Maestros 1 (Jaedan Thomas 17) at Trinity Moka;

Cardinals FA, Betis Academy TT at Trinity Moka;

*–Game postponed due to illness within Betis squad

Santa Cruz Utd 0, Pro Series 6 (Giovanni Garcia 12, 80, Kai Williams 22, Cayden Spencer 30, Ajani Glasgow 48, Sampson Williams 70) at Trinity Moka;

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Trendsetter    3-3-0-0-30-2-9
2. Pro Series       3-2-1-0-7-0–7
3. AC POS          3-2-0-1-11-3-6
4. Cardinals        2-1-1-0-4-1-4
5. Project Pro     3-1-0-2-8-11-3
6. Santa Cruz     3-1-0-2-4-11-3
7. Maestros         3-0-0-3-4-15-0
8. Betis TT          2-0-0-2-1–26–0

Under-20 Division

(Saturday 22 February)

Extreme FC, Betis Academy TT at Trinity Moka;

*–Game postponed due to illness within Betis squad

Seekers FC 1 (Nalique Gould 85), Pro Series 8 (Hasheem Hill 4, Jedaiah King 14 pen, Josante Duncan 20, 60, Kerry Baptiste 42, 47, Joshe Gill 76, Gervais Frederick 86) at Trinity Moka;

Moka Lions 3 (Andre Constantine 62, 74, Kevez Quintero 77), Miscellaneous Laventille 2 (Mickel Morgan 10, 86) at Trinity Moka;

Trendsetter Hawks 1 (Jaquan Phillip 49), City FC 2 (Aadil Hakeem Jr 78, 88) at Trinity Moka;

U-20 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Pro Series       3-3-0-0-28–1–9
2. City FC           3-3-0-0-9-1–9
3. Trendsetter     3-1-1-1-16-5-4
4. Moka Lions    3-1-1-1-6-7-4
5. Extreme FC    2-1-0-1-8-5-3
6. Seekers FC     3-1-0-2-5-13-3
7. Laventille       3-0-0-3-5-15-0
8. Betis TT          2-0-0-2-0–30–0

South Zone

Under-17 Division

(Sunday 23 February)

Cox Coaching School 2 (Mikhael Bullock [2]), Carrat Shed FFA 0 at Mannie Ramjohn Training Field;

Dunstan Williams SA 0, Point Fortin YFA 1 (Khaliq Ashton) at Mannie Ramjohn Training Field;

Uprising YA 3, Penal Is Love 1 at Mannie Ramjohn Training Field;

Evolution FA 0, Moka Lions 0 at Mannie Ramjohn Training Field;

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Cox Coaching   3-2-1-0-6-1–7
2. Moka Lions       3-1-2-0-5-2-5
3. Pt Fortin YFA  3-1-2-0-3-2-5
4. Uprising Yths   3-1-1-1-6-5-4
5. DWSA               3-1-1-1-3-2-4
6. Evolution FA    3-1-1-1-3-5-4
7. Carrat Shed      3-1-0-2-7-8-3
8. Penal Is Love    3-0-0-3-3–11–0

Tobago Zone

Under-17 Division

(Sunday 23 February)

Ball Blasters YA 3 (Jaquon De Four 3, J’meke Watkins 9, Jaeden Anthony 30), TJ’s Sporting Academy 0 at Plymouth Recreation Ground;

Jaric Titans SD 3 (Riquelme Phillips 21, 35, 57), North Stars FC 1 (Jervae Weekes 60 pen) at Plymouth Recreation Ground;

Brother Ry FA 2 (Ajani Stewart 80+2, 80+3), Georgia FC 2 (Tevez Smith 17, Tyrell Anderson 25) at Plymouth Recreation Ground;

U-17 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Ball Blasters    3-3-0-0-22–0–9
2. Bro Ry FA       2-1-1-0-4-3-4
3. North Stars     2-1-0-1-4-5-3
4. Jaric Titans     3-1-0-2-4-15–3
5. Georgia FC     2-0-1-1-2-9-1
6. TJ’s Academy 2-0-0-2-2-6-0

Girls Under-17

Trinidad

(23 February 2025)

Crown Trace FC 0, Trendsetter Hawks 7 (Nyomeigh Stewart [2], Safeisha Ragguette [2], Jewel Francois, Geneisha George, Amayah Nero) at Mannie Ramjohn Training Field;

AIA Eagles 1, Cox Coaching School 1 (Alisha Mitchell) at Mannie Ramjohn Training Field;

Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

1. Trendsetter     3-2-0-1-17-4-6
2. Pro Series        2-2-0-0-6-3-6
3. Cox Coaching 2-1-1-0-7-3-4
4. AIA Eagles      1-0-1-1-1-3-1
5. Crown Trace   1-0-0-1-0-7-0
6. Blue Hawks    2-0-0-2-2-13–0