RBNYFL 25: Zaa’van, Micha’el lead Pro Series triple threat; but Premier, Hawks and QPCC pose strong challenges

At this rate, the 2025 Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL) season is in danger of going down as the Year of the Pros.

With one match day left in the Trinidad leg of the domestic youth competition, Pro Series are in the three of the RBNYFL’s four finals—having emerged victorious in all three semifinals they faced: in the Boys’ Under-14 and Under-20, and Girls Under-17 divisions.

• Pro Series attacker Micha’el John scores a memorable goal during his team’s 4-3 RBNYFL U-20 T’dad semifinal win over San Juan Jabloteh at the Arima Velodrome on 3 May 2025.

At the Arima Velodrome on Saturday 3 May, it was the Queen’s Park Savannah-based team that turned up with the stardust as Under-14 striker Zaa’van Joseph and Under-20 attacker Micha’el John produced the individual performances of the round.

Joseph’s four-goal burst steered Pro Series to a 7-0 dismantling of South Zone champions, Point Fortin Youth Football Academy, in a lopsided Under-14 semifinal contest.

And, in the Under-20 Division, John scored a hattrick—including a screaming strike from outside the opposing penalty area—and won a penalty as Pro Series saw off San Juan Jabloteh 4-3.

The Pro Series U-14s will have a tougher time against Premier Sports Club in the Trinidad final, as the San Fernando-based Central Zone outfit edged City FC 7-6 on penalties, after a 2-2 stalemate.

And it would be difficult to decide who starts as favourites when they face a balanced QPCC FC outfit in the RBNYFL U-20 final on Saturday 17 May.

QPCC gave a show of strength on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Premier SC, thanks to a goal apiece from Shanon Zion Metivier, Giovanni Hospedales, Seth Hadeed and Hirshil Parks.

On Sunday, the Pro Series ladies took up the mantle with a comfortable 5-1 win over AIA at the St Augustine Secondary school ground in the second of two Girls Under-17 semifinals.

They will meet Trendsetter Hawks in the Trinidad Girls final, after the Hawks enjoyed an equally straightforward win over Cox Coaching School, who they thumped 4-0.

Hawks are also chasing a double as their Under-17 Boys held off Point Fortin Youth Football Academy 1-0 at St Augustine, thanks to a neat Jaquan Phillip finish off a Jahseem Pierre pass.

FC Ginga are the other Boys Under-17 finalists and the final scoreline, 2-1, flattered their opponents, Cardinals Football Academy, on Sunday.

Ginga, a Macoya-based club who participated in the Central Zone this season, showed personality and composure on the ball—although Cardinals, to their credit, restricted their opponents’ goal scoring opportunities.

In the end, Ginga had to settle for a Kafense McKell penalty and a crisp Elijah Diaz finish and were made to withstand a late barrage of long balls from Cardinals defender Jaylon Roberts.

Roberts got Cardinals’ consolation item from the penalty spot too. But it was too little too late for the North Zone champs.

On Saturday morning, a North Zone powerhouse fell at the Under-14 semifinal stage. Unable to advance past the group stage at Under-17 level and edged on penalties at Under-20 level, City again stuttered from the spot to be eliminated by Premier Sports Club.

It is the first time since 2019 that City will not be active on the final day of the competition in Trinidad.

“I was proud of the performance of all my players,” City coach Dominic Hosang told Wired868, after the final whistle. “They all gave their all. It was a 2-2 game and Premier just got that little bit of luck at the end.”

There was little to choose from between Premier and City on the day. Goalless at halftime, Premier, the south-based Central champs, probably deserved the opening goal, which came from midfielder Jasiel Daniel in the 37th minute.

Premier used a midfield square to good effect at times, as they outmanned City’s midfield triangle. Little surprise then that one of Premier’s ‘spare’ midfielders slipped forward to beat City goalkeeper Sebastian Plimmer with a dipping shot, after a left side cross from the lively Khirell Charles.

“They were quicker to some of the second balls when we were on our heels,” said Hosang.

Hosang turned to his bench and got almost immediate returns.

Keanu Sealey was introduced on the left flank while Jiair Nanton came in off the wing to replace Daniel Chaves in the midfield. And, in short order, Sealey got space down the side of the field and delivered a teasing cross that City captain Zachary Rizk headed home in the 45th minute—despite a touch from Premier goalkeeper Micah Mentor.

City never really looked like building on the lead. Instead, their athletic central defender, Christian Parks, was forced into a superb last ditch tackle to deny Charles a solo item.

Hosang barely had time to wipe his brow before, in the 48th minute, Premier were back in front.

Charles, again, was at the heart of it. City could not clear a free kick from Premier captain Jamel Bartholomew, and Charles stepped in off the flank to beat Plimmer with another dipping effort.

The pendulum swung the other way, yet again, with Mentor forced into two fine saves before he failed to deal with a Nanton corner kick in the 53rd minute, and Rizk was on spot to get his double with a neat downward header.

“It was a tough, tough game,” said Premier technical director Sharaz Ali. “Everytime we got ahead, we relaxed. I don’t think we managed the game well—we could have kept the ball better.

“I feel like City were a well-structured side. It was very, very difficult to break them down.”

Hosang also paid credit to his opponents.

“I believe we had the chances to bury the game but we did not execute,” said the City coach. “[…] Premier did play well a lot of times in the game and they fought really hard.”

City had one more trick up his sleeve. In the dying seconds of the match, Hosang substituted Plimmer for deputy goalkeeper Zane Chamely.

“We took penalties in training yesterday and he (Chamely) was the keeper who looked like the better penalty stopper to us,” said the coach.

It looked to be an inspired change when Chamely dived to his right to keep out the first penalty of the shootout from Premier playmaker Kwesi Harding. However, referee Keston Garcia spotted that the goalkeeper had moved off his line.

Harding scored the retake and Chamely never got close to another kick.

“It looked like [the change] worked with the first one,” said Hosang, with a chuckle, “but I think the retake threw off his mental [game]. I think he was just guessing after that, which wasn’t the way he was training to do it—when he was watching the kickers’ movement.

“[But] he gave his all.”

Mentor was the hero in the end, as he held his ground to keep out Sealey’s effort and send Premier to their first Trinidad final since 2023—when they finished as Under-17 runners-up to Pro Series.

Pro Series will not fold easily in 2025 either, as the Point Fortin Youth Football Academy found out.

On Saturday, the Pro Series U-14s stormed ahead after 90 seconds through giant forward Zaa’van Joseph and never looked back, as they scored four times in the first half and twice more after the interval.

“It was a tough one for us,” said Point Fortin Garell Ettienne, who looked distraught and paused to gather himself during the post-game interview. “This is a young team—most of the guys are 12 or 13 years old and the game was a bit challenging for them.

“Where they would usually win the 50/50 balls, today they were just bouncing off [the Pro Series players]. I believe it had a mental impact on them.

“[…] It didn’t go to plan, but this is how football goes sometimes.”

The game was not quite two minutes old when Joseph collected a pass from flanker Nasique George in his own half of the field and turned to face Point Fortin left back Jaheim Williams.

Joseph accelerated past Williams and into open space. The Point Fortin players were generally not fast enough to keep up—and the players who could match him for speed lacked the physique to knock him off the ball.

Two minutes into the contest, Joseph ran more than half the length of the field to score, without looking like he broke a sweat.

Eight minutes later, the St Mary’s College student got his second as he peeled off his marker to collect a through pass and, as calm as you like, made a mockery of the angle presented to score at the near post.

Joseph held off Point Fortin defender Zachary Simon with remarkable ease to complete his hattrick in the 26th minute. Again, the finish was calm and precise.

The semifinal was over inside of half an hour—thanks, in no small part, to Joseph’s finishing prowess.

“He is a gem,” said Pro Series coach Damien Frederick, about his precocious 13-year-old centre forward. “I speak to that boy over and over about his potential. I keep telling him how good he can be and how far he can go. But it mostly depends on him and his mentality.

“If he keeps working and keeps understanding the potential he has, he has far to go—very far to go in this game.”

Andre Toussaint Jr, son of the former Trinidad and Tobago international and Point Fortin Civic stand-out, showed good touches upfront, while burly defensive midfielder Leroy Cunningham and tiny attacker Tyshawn Thomas, in particular, showed some individual quality.

But, collectively, the South champions did not do enough to challenge Series.

Frederick said he identified Point Fortin’s perceived lack of tactical organisation as something his players could exploit.

“We came into the game giving our opponents the respect they deserved, playing to our strengths and trying to counter their weaknesses,” said Frederick. “[…] I felt they were not as structured as us, in terms of knowing when to spread and when to be compact. So, I knew if we came in the game with structure ourselves, it would give us a favourable result.”

Midfielder Jibreel Williams gave Pro Series their fourth goal with a rocket from outside the area in the 30th minute, while defender Liam Le Fleur hit the bar with an awkward free kick from distance.

In the second half, Joseph scored again with another cool finish—this time, between the legs of Point Fortin custodian Keli’l Ashton—before substitute Alex King closed off the score summary, after a well-crafted move by Pro Series playmaker Matthias Legall.

And, as far as Ettienne was concerned, Pro Series wingers George and Amani Delph were every bit as difficult to contain as Joseph.

“They had two wingers who were explosive and had a lot of trickery, and are very technical,” said Ettienne. “They had the edge on us because of that—and of course their physical attributes and attitude towards the game.

“They wanted it more than us. They were hungrier; they won the first ball and second ball. I know [my players] could have done a lot better—but then that is our first loss for the season and I know how far we have come from.

“We will try to console them and then it is back to the drawing board.”

Frederick is not ready for the 2025 edition of the RBNYFL to be over yet—not for his charges, at least.

“If you are here, the target has to be to go as far as you can and hopefully go all the way,” he said. “Kudos to Republic Bank again for having this tournament and giving the boys the opportunity to play. We look forward to many more of this.”

Premier, according to Ali, will not be overawed though. In fact, the Premier technical director shared some of his plans for the final.

“[Pro Series] were not moving the ball that quickly in the midfield and maybe we can capitalise on that,” said Ali. “I think we will have more of the ball in the midfield. Also I find their goalkeeper comes off his line, although he is a tall boy. That is also something I am looking at.

“[…] I am giving it away because I want to see a hard game when we [meet them in the final].”

Premier were losing RBNYFL Under-17 finalists in 2023, when they fell 6-2 to a Pro Series outfit inspired by midfielder Tau Lamsee.

Ali thinks that his current squad, marshalled by Jamel Bartholomew at the back and featuring the likes of attacking midfielder Soren Shade and brothers Khilon and Khirell Charles, could bring the first national trophy to his club.

“We have to put out some serious work in training and mark that striker (Zaa’van Joseph) from Pro Series,” said Ali. “We also have to put in some serious work on finishing and practice managing the game better.

“Once we execute, yes, we will be champions—but the boys have to put in the work and want it just as much as the coaches and the parents.”

Ali also credited tournament organisers, TTGameplan, for improved match day management, in their first time at the helm of the RBNYFL.

“I am seeing some improvements in the organisation and running of the Republic Cup,” said the Premier coach. “So kudos to them for picking up their game, because good administration would produce good football and produce good refereeing.

“So, the administration and the organisation of the Republic Cup has improved somewhat in the knockout stage. It is something they have to continue to work at.”

At the business end of the tournament, there is little room for slip ups. There are two more dramatic rounds of football to go.

An exciting finale beckons.

(Teams)

Pro Series (4-3-3): 00.Kaydon Harris (GK); 2.Gabriel Mansoor, 4.Xavier Barrow (captain), 3.Liam Le Fleur, 5.Kiyan Jupiter; 9.Matthias Legall, 13.Jibreel Williams, 10.Kymanni Nicholls; 11.Nasique George, 7.Zaa’van Joseph, 20.Amani Delph.

Substitutes: 1.Liam Howard (GK), 6.Jemar Vidal, 12.Jamari Aguilleria, 15.Sebastien Chin, 17.Armani White, 19.Alex King, 21.Rahul Rajnarinesingh, 22.Ethan Tomy, 23.Cameron Watkins.

Coach: Damien Frederick.

Point Fortin Youth Football Academy (4-3-3): 1.Keli’l Ashton (GK); 15.Kamron St Hillaire, 13.Aari Bernard (captain), 3.Zachary Smart, 8.Jaheim Williams; 6.Xavi Turton, 21.Leron Cunningham, 20.Israel Sutherland; 10.Jamali St Hillaire, 11.Andre Toussaint, 9.Tyshawn Thomas.

Substitutes: 4.Aden George, 5.Kwasi Wiseman, 7.Adriel John, 12.Jahiel Humphrey, 14.Malachi Joseph, 17.Travis Simon, 18.Trinity Swift, 19.Sancho James.

Coach: Garell Ettienne.

City FC (4-3-3): 1.Sebastian Plimmer (GK); 5.John Michael Rizk, 54.Christian Parks, 30.Aziz Hadeed, 11.Callum Trestrail; 19.Zachary Rizk (captain), 50.Ryan Francette, 8.Daniel Chaves; 21.Eli-Akim Nelson, 60.Darion Alzola, 51.Jiair Nanton.

Substitutes: 22.Zane Chamely (GK), 2.Drew Maingot, 10.Jake Correia, 12.Keanu Sealey, 14.Scott Crooks, 15.Tristan Hamel-Smith, 25.Aiden Barker, 55.Kymani Noel, 63.Cristiano Buoninfante.

Coach: Dominic Hosang.

Premier Sports Club (3-4-3): 1.Micah Mentor (GK); 5.Cyrus Sampath, 4.Jamel Bartholomew (captain), 3.Micaiah Kinsale; 6.Khilon Charles, 14.Jasiel Daniel, 8.Kwesi Harding, 10.Soren Shade; 11.Nicholas Doyle, 9.Josiah Simon, 7.Khirell Charles.

Substitutes: 12.Ja’mai Lewis, 13.Deshawn Espinosa, 15.Zarif Ghany, 16.Kordell Ettienne, 17.Zaiden Rennie, 18.Xavier Mohammed, 19.Sameer Ramsamooj, 20.Ajani Andrews, 21.Jared Ramsubhag.

Coach: Sharaz Ali.

Referee: Keston Garcia.

RBNYFL Knock Out

Tobago Girls U-17 semifinals

(Saturday 26 April)

Jewels SC 2 (Kimonique Spencer 26, 48), Black Panthers 1 (Anesia Alleyne 48) at Black Rock, Courland;

Tobago Chicas 1 (Adrianna Fowler 7), Combined Ballerz 0 at Black Rock, Courland;

Trinidad Boys U-14 semifinals

(Saturday 3 May)

Premier SC 2 (Jasiel Daniel 37, Khirell Charles 48), City FC 2 (Zachary Rizk 45, 53) at the Arima Velodrome;

*–Premier won 7-6 via penalty kicks;

Point Fortin YFA 0, Pro Series 6 (Zaa’van Joseph 2, 10, 26, 48, Jibreel Williams 30, Alex King 61) at the Arima Velodrome;

Trinidad Boys U-20 semifinals

(Saturday 3 May)

Premier SC 0, QPCC FC 4 (Zion Metivier, Giovanni Hospedales, Seth Hadeed, Hirshil Parks) at the Arima Velodrome;

Pro Series 4 (Josante Duncan 16 pen, Micha’el John 17, 29, 62), San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Tyrell Stapleton 25, Shumba Cudjoe 65, Daniel George 77) at the Arima Velodrome;

Trinidad Girls U-17 semifinals

(Sunday 4 May)

Trendsetter Hawks 4 (Shiphrah Alleyne 10, Hackeemar Goodridge 34, 41, Amayah Nero 54), Cox Coaching School 0 at St Augustine;

Pro Series 5 (Rori Gittens 30, Scarlett Cole 65, Sydney Pollard 77, Calypso Ayoung 77, Khloe Kirton 79), AIA 1 (Shinika Lewis 24) at St Augustine;

Trinidad Boys U-17 semifinals

(Sunday 4 May)

Point Fortin YFA 0, Trendsetter Hawks 1 (Jaquan Phillip 58) at St Augustine;

Cardinals FA 1 (Jaylon Roberts 52 pen), FC Ginga 2 (Kafense McKell 16 pen, Elijah Diaz 30) at St Augustine.

Trinidad finals

(Saturday 17 May)

Pro Series vs Trendsetter Hawks, T’dad G-U17 final;

Premier Sports Club vs Pro Series, Boys U14 final;

Trendsetter Hawks vs FC Ginga, Boys U17 final;

Pro Series vs QPCC FC, Boys U20 final.