RBNYFL 25: Ginga, Series, Trendsetter and QPCC triumph on thrilling weekend; B/Blasters, S/Vale and Jewels lead T’go challenge

Spectacular finishes, peeved referees, animated coaches, penalties scored and missed, cheers and tears…

There was nothing missing on Saturday as the Trinidad leg of the 2025 Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL) came to a sizzling finale on a damp day in Barataria.

“I think football was the winner today,” FC Ginga Under-17 team head coach Stefon Pierre told Wired868.

Well, his team were winners as well. And boy did they do it the hard way.

Twice, Ginga trailed Trendsetter Hawks in the Trinidad Boys Under-17 final and they were still behind, 2-1, after the full 80 minutes expired.

In stoppage time, referee Akil Weekes stopped play to allow diminutive Trendsetter goalkeeper Akinlade Jones to get treatment to his hurt wrist.

Coach Travis Mulraine readied substitute goalkeeper Orlando Francis to replace him. However, with seconds to go, Jones motioned to his coaching staff that he wanted to continue.

Did Jones really feel able to play on? Or was he just hanging on to be on the field when Weekes blew the final whistle?

Weekes restarted play with a drop ball to Ginga near the halfline and, two passes later, midfielder Sherlon Nesbitt received possession with time and space to measure a cross into the Trendsetter penalty area.

And Jones, still nursing his wrist, did not leave his line to claim the ball, which Ginga defender Elijah Edwards deposited into the back of the net with a simple downward header. 2-2!

Jones, and possibly Mulraine, might wish they had that moment back—and Ginga went on to win the contest 5-3 on penalty kicks.

In truth, there was no shortage of intrigue in any of Saturday’s finals, which Pro Series started with a 2-0 win over Premier Sports Club in the Under-14 division, only for the North Zone club to then lose in the Girls Under-17 and Boys Under-20 contests against Trendsetter Hawks and QPCC FC respectively.

For Pro Series, it must have been a bittersweet weekend. In the two full RBNYFL seasons since the pandemic, the Queen’s Park Savannah-based club picked up two titles each.

This year, they were in line for three trophies. And their Under-14s got them off to the best possible start at the Republic Bank Sports Ground in Barataria.

Premier SC, the San Fernando-based Central Zone champions, were good. But Pro Series were better.

Winger Amani Delph missed a first half penalty. Still, coach Damien Frederick’s boys would not be denied—as prolific striker Zaa’van Joseph pounced on a defensive error to put Pro Series ahead in first half stoppage time.

It was Joseph’s 18th goal of the season and his seventh in the knockout stage of the competition. The next best marksmen in Trinidad’s RBNYFL competition at all levels are the Cardinals Football Academy pair of Jaylon Roberts and Karim Millington.

(Joseph and Roberts are both St Mary’s College students, incidentally, while Millington attends St Anthony’s College.)

Twelve minutes into the second half, Pro Series midfielder Kymanni Nicholas punished Premier substitute Cyrus Sampath for not being alert to danger—as he pounced to disrupt his opponent’s build-up before doubling their advantage.

Premier flanker Khirell Charles never stopped probing away, while Soren Shade and Kwesi Harding toiled in central midfield. But the best that Premier could muster was a last minute penalty decision.

And, even then, they could not make it count—as giant Pro Series custodian Kaydon Harris rose to the occasion to keep out opposing midfielder Khilon Charles.

Physically imposing, athletic, organised and composed on the ball, Series present a significant hurdle for Tobago champions Ball Blasters Youth Academy, who lifted the RBNYFL National Under-14 crown last year.

Ball Blasters are the only club competing in two national finals, as they defeated St Clair Coaching School and Georgia FC in the Boys Under-14 and Under-17 finals at Black Rock yesterday.

On both occasions, they conceded first.

In the Under-14 final, the final score read 6-1 to Ball Blasters with Jaden Marcelle and Andion Thomas each chipping in with doubles. And in the Tobago U-17 showcase, two first half items from Raevion Marshall and Jaeden Anthony saw coach Downie Marcelle’s troops through.

Stokely Vale FC won the Tobago Boys Under-20 crown with a 2-0 triumph over Eagles FC while, in the Tobago Girls Under-17 final, Jewels Sports Club needed penalties to squeeze past Tobago Chicas 5-4.

Penalties would be needed in Trinidad too to decide the second affair, as Macoya-based FC Ginga, the Central Zone runners-up, faced North Zone runners-up Trendsetter Hawks.

Trendsetter rode their luck at times to get this far. They needed penalties to get past Beatnix Sports Club in the quarterfinals while they successfully defended a solitary item against the Point Fortin Youth Football Academy in the semis.

Ginga were favourites at kickoff. But Trendsetter, without their unwell skipper and influential midfielder Kewenis Saunders, deserved their 1-0 advantage at the half on Saturday.

Twice, Ginga threatened from set pieces. Flanker Mikel Murray headed a Sherlon Nesbitt free kick off the top of the opposing bar in the 18th minute while playmaker Darren De Four also clipped the Trendsetter bar off a set piece in first half stoppage time.

But Ginga were struggling to make inroads in Trendsetter’s territory and fell behind to an opportunistic finish by opposing forward Kadeem Morrison in the 24th minute, off a lofted pass that defender Ihsan Miller failed to deal with.

“We dropped [off] and allowed them to have possession at the back,” said Trendsetter coach Travis Mulraine. “We played on line two (with the line of confrontation near the halfline, rather than a high press). Once they played the ball into the midfield, we applied the pressure and played on the counter.

“From there, it was about forward passes to get the ball into their area and let guys like Gabriel [Frederick] do his magic.”

Frederick, tall and strong with an adhesive first touch, is always a handful—but he is just as likely to terrorise his own teammates as he is the opposition defenders.

And when Trendsetter needed him to put the game to bed, Frederick’s most memorable contribution was throwing a tantrum at his own player, Obama Hospedales, for not allowing him to take a free kick.

A goalkeeping error brought Ginga back into the game, as Jones spilled a diagonal ball and substitute Ky-Mani Hazel converted to level the scores in the 69th minute.

Their celebrations were quickly muted as Trendsetter took the lead for a second time. On this occasion, 15-year-old right back Jahda Riley did the damage with a strike that deflected off opposing defender Isaiah Coa and looped over Ginga goalkeeper Mark Belfon.

Riley celebrated with a somersault. But, as the seconds ticked away, an error of judgment by Jones gave Ginga a lifeline.

In the quarterfinals, the diminutive goalkeeper was Trendsetter’s hero as they squeezed past Beatnix. But he could not repeat the feat on Saturday. And, ironically, Mulraine replaced him for the shootout.

“He had a very good season so I can’t fault him for one mistake,” said Mulraine, who explained that he replaced his goalkeeper due to injury. “He pulled us out in some big games—that is how the cookie crumbles. One lack of concentration can cost you the game and I hope they learn from it.”

On the opposing bench, Pierre admitted that Ginga never really got their passing game going. But, somehow, they found a way.

Substitute goalkeeper Orlian Carrion denied Trendsetter’s third penalty from talented attacker Jahseem Pierre, which allowed Edwards to again be the hero with the decisive spot kick.

“Effort!” Pierre said. “I can’t say much more than that.”

At the start of the day, there was a moment’s silence for Maloney Real Footballers midfielder Zwade Alleyne and Eagles FC midfielder Kaniel Davidson, who both lost their lives last week: the former was shot in the head while the latter schoolboy succumbed to injuries from a car accident.

Alleyne, an Arima North Secondary student, was a regular in the RBNYFL with Ginga before switching clubs this season. Pierre said Alleyne’s death stunned his players.

“Zwade was our player, since he was nine years old,” said Pierre. “He is very close to our hearts because a lot of our boys attend Arima North too. It was a hard one for the guys. They just came out here and did it for him.”

Four Ginga starters, Murray, Nesbitt, De Four and Kafense McKell, along with unused substitute Jovanni Vitalis are with Arima North students. There were another bunch of Dial Dynamos involved in the Under-20 final too.

Sandwiched between those two finals was the Trinidad Girls showcase event, which more than held its own as a spectacle.

The Pro Series girls had a 100 percent record going into the final and finished five points clear of Trendsetter in the standings. But, within seven minutes, everyone at the Barataria ground realised it was not going to be business as usual.

From 25 yards out, Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 Team attacker Jayda Herbert settled the free kick and beat Pro Series custodian Nika Ifill with a stunning effort.

Series did manage a leveller, as prolific forward Scarlett Cole punished an error by Trendsetter goalkeeper Akeila Marryshow in the seventh minute.

But Trendsetter were in the mood. And utility player Hackeemar Goodridge, played upfront on Saturday, made the difference after the break with a polished double in an almost flawless display of centre forward play.

Goodridge almost had a hattrick too, but struck the bar off a free kick. Her performance was all the more remarkable as she was matched against the capable Pro Series defensive duo of Taya Williams and Calypso Ayoung.

Trendsetter coach Lyndon John was without Herbert, Goodridge and steely central defender Daniella Paul when they fell 4-3 to Pro Series in the group stage. And he was thrilled that his ladies stood tall when it counted most.

“They didn’t beat us; they matched us,” said John, of their 4-3 loss to Pro Series earlier this season. “Once we added a couple people like Paul, we were able to stabilise and get the job done.”

John thanked Republic Bank for the competition and suggested a second girls’ division next year would be welcomed. He was gracious too for the impact of the TTFA’s High Performance programme in lifting the quality of the players.

“Everything is growing and that is what we want for the Girls game,” said John. “All we want now is to go from ‘man of the match’ to ‘female of the match’… We hope Republic Bank continues this tournament for a very long time and maybe adds another Girls division too.”

The Under-20 final brought down the curtain on Saturday’s proceedings as two talented squads who knew more than a little about each other went toe to toe.

Pro Series coach Kerdyn Moe is also head coach at Fatima College where his backroom staff includes the QPCC manager Stephen ‘Bison’ Williams and goalkeeper coach Declan Squires.

Pro Series playmaker Tom Decle, left wing back Josiah Fernandes and substitute Jahaem Bailey are all Fatima students, as are QPCC players Seth Hadeed, Yohance Atherton and Micaiah Leach.

QPCC head coach Wayne Sheppard once worked alongside Moe at Fatima before moving to Arima North Secondary. And there were a flurry of Dial Dynamos across both sides too: Micha’el John, Hasheem Hill and Jaquan Aguilleria at Pro Series; and Jadon-Paul Alexander, Criston “CJ” Gomez, Stephen Ollivierie, Shanon Zion Metivier, Hirshil Parks and Jaydon Critchlow at QPCC.

Eight QRC players were also divided between the two teams for good measure: Seth Eve, Shemuel Cassimy, Kerry Baptiste Jr, and Stephon James (Pro Series); and Micah Nelson, Zion Aberdeen, Zakari King, and Jaheim Affan (QPCC).

It was, in short, a proper sibling rivalry.

Pro Series struck the first blow as Decle beat opposing goalkeeper, Alexander, with a freekick that whistled through a crowd of players—after a period in which Moe’s young men smothered their opponents.

“It reminded me a bit of our quarterfinal against City in terms of our start out of the blocks,” said Sheppard. “Pro series bullied us in the first 15 to 20 minutes… We were at 6s and 7s for the first half of the first half.”

Decle looked the most threatening player during that phase of play and had another free kick clip the top of the bar in the 38th minute.

Decle did not return for the second half and might have failed to shake off the effects of a foul by Gomez. His replacement, former QRC standout Tau Lamsee who has since moved to high school football in the US, was not too shabby.

But, in truth, QPCC had already worked their way back into the game by then.

Gomez and Deisean Plaza started to assert themselves in the midfield area, although the ‘Parkites’ were unable to get around Series defenders Aguilleria and Hill.

Sheppard turned to his bench where Metivier made a key impact.

In the 56th minute, ‘Meti’ stepped in off the right flank and picked out forward and stand-in captain Joshua Mason with a low cross. There was no obvious danger. Mason thought otherwise.

The pacy forward flicked the ball up to give himself space, before sending a crashing volley on the swivel into the far corner. It was the goal of the game.

“I don’t think Trinidad and Tobago got to see the best of that guy (Mason) because he is a ‘9’,” said Sheppard, of his versatile frontman who often featured on the flank during his time at Fatima.

“He is such a good player that coaches played him in other positions and he had success. But I think as a ‘9’, he is top class.”

Metivier was involved in QPCC’s winner too, although the foul might have been slightly generous by veteran referee Colin Smith.

• QPCC midfielder Deisean Plaza beats Pro Series goalkeeper Shemuel Cassimy from a free kick during the RBNYFL Trinidad U-20 final at the Republic Bank Sports Complex in Barataria on 17 May 2025.

Plaza beat Series goalkeeper, Cassimy, at his near post with his free kick from distance.

The nets used in the final have seen better days and Moe, his staff and parents argued vehemently—and incorrectly—that the ball passed through the side netting and should not have been given as a goal.

It made for a spicy end to the affair, while Lamsee’s mother, in particular, had to be restrained as she screamed abuse at the officials.

“Players are critiqued, coaches are critiqued, [but] officials are allowed to do whatever they want to do in a game and walk away scot-free,” said Sheppard. “This was supposed to be a very good final, but instead it almost got out of hand.”

For whatever it is worth, despite the perceived errors by the aging official, it would be harsh to say that Smith’s calls directly swung the match one way or the other.

Series might have equalised in the 72nd minute, only for John to strike the base of the post with a crisp drive.

The talented attacker nearly scored earlier too, after a mix-up between QPCC defender, Atherton, and Alexander—only for Atherton to recover with a goalline clearance.

But Metivier could have stretched QPCC’s lead too and was denied by a flying Cassimy save. Arguably, QPCC did enough to secure the result.

“This was a tough week and a tough month,” said Sheppard, as he referenced the murders of past and present Arima North schoolboys Ezekiel Ramdialsingh and Alleyne in separate incidents. “This victory just gave me something to smile about.”

Stokely Vale will need to produce something special to spoil his mood on Saturday, when the RBNYFL National Finals kick off at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

The Trinidad finals are a hard act to follow. But the talented Ball Blasters teams and the Ty’kaiya Dennis-led Jewels girls will not be short of quality themselves.

Bring it on.

(Teams)

Trinidad Boys U-14 final

Pro Series (4-1-4-1): 00.Kaydon Harris (GK); 2.Gabriel Mansoor, 4.Xavier Barrow (captain), 3.Liam Le Fleur, 5.Kiyan Jupiter; 13.Jibreel Williams; 11.Nasique George, 10.Kymanni Nicholls, 9.Matthias Legall, 20.Amani Delph; 7.Zaa’van Joseph.

Substitutes: 1.Liam Howard (GK), 6.Jemar Vidal, 12.Jamari Aguilleria, 13.Sebastien Chin, 17.Armani White, 19.Alex King, 21.Rahul Rajnarinesingh, 22.Ethan Tomy, 23.Cameron Watkins.

Coach: Damien Frederick.

Premier Sports Club (4-3-3): 1.Micah Mentor (GK); 19.Sameer Zaydan Ramsamooj, 4.Jamel Bartholomew (captain), 3.Micaiah Kinsale, 12.Ja’Mai Lewis; 8.Kwesi Harding, 6.Khilon Charles, 10.Soren Shade; 11.Nicholas Doyle, 14.Jasiel Daniel, 7.Khirell Charles.

Substitutes: 5.Cyrus Sampath, 9.Josiah Simon, 13.Deshawn Espinosa, 15.Zarif Ghany, 16.Kordell Ettienne, 18.Xavier Mohammed, 20.Ajani Andrews, 21.Jared Ramsubhag, 31.Zayedyn Addo.

Coach: Sharaz Ali.

Referee: Kern de Suza.

Trinidad Boys U-17 final

Trendsetter Hawks (4-2-1-3): 1.Akinlade Jones (GK); 12.Jahda Riley, 16.Joshua Jackson, 6.Malcolm Young, 4.Malique Marshall; 8.Gershon Chase (captain), 13.Keysan Haynes; 5.Obama Hospedales; 10.Jaquan Phillip, 11.Kadeem Morrison, 19.Gabriel Frederick.

Substitutes: 00.Orlando Francis (GK), 2.Hezekiah Charles, 3.Josiah Alfred, 9.Jahseem Pierre, 14.Thuy Stafford, 15.Isaiah Blackman, 17.Isiah Noel, 18.Elijah Norman, 21.Jumoke Gellineau.

Coach: Travis Mulraine.

FC Ginga (3-5-2): 20.Mark Belfon (GK); 2.Ihsan Miller, 4.Elijah Edwards, 16.Isaiah Coa; 7.Elijah Diaz (captain), 13.Sherlon Nesbitt, 5.Kylon Williams, 10.Darren De Four, 19.Mikel Murray; 11.Elisha Neils, 18.Kafense McKell.

Substitutes: 1.Orlian Carrion (GK), 3.Anthony Lewis, 6.Jamari Barker, 8.Jakwon Howell, 9.Ky-Mani Hazel, 12.Aaden Maharaj, 14.Aiden Bernard, 15.Jovanni Vitalis, 17.Hassan Edghill.

Coach: Stefon Pierre.

Referee: Akil Weekes.

Trinidad Girls U-17 final

Pro Series (4-3-3): 1.Nika Ifill (GK); 22.Jessica Nesbitt, 15.Taya Williams, 3.Calypso Ayoung, 4.Mateja Leben; 19.Rori Gittens, 11.Jaeda Wilson, 10.Khloe Kirton (captain); 7.Emma Nieves, 9.Scarlett Cole, 13.Sydney Pollard.

Substitutes: 5.Lucy Felix, 6.Nina-Reece Henderson, 8.Jodi Harragin, 12.Amelia Johnstone, 14.Coliya Harris, 16.London-Marie Millien, 18.Lexi Sankersingh, 20.Bethany Phillip.

Coach: Tasha St Louis.

Trendsetter Hawks (4-2-1-3): 2.Akeila Marryshow (GK); 24.Bryanna Vesprey, 12.Daniella Paul, 17.Jewel Francois, 30.Tashana Hackett; 31.Chelsea Reis, 11.Shiprah Alleyne; 9.Jayda Herbert; 13.Ahmeeda Bowman, 7.Hackeemar Goodridge (captain), 28.Amayah Nero.

Coach: Lyndon John.

Referee: Nathalya Williams.

Trinidad Boys U-20 final

Pro Series (3-4-1-2): 1.Shemuel Cassimy (GK); 12.Hasheem Hill (captain), 15.Jalane Browne, 4.Jaquan Aguilleria; 8.Seth Eve, 20.Josante Duncan, 16.Alejandro Harper, 23.Josiah Fernandes, 10.Thomas Decle; 18.Maalik Jarvis, 21.Micha’el John.

Substitutes: 2.Darius Humphrey, 6.Tau Lamsee, 7.Kerry Baptiste Jr, 11.Jahaem Bailey, 13.Gervais Frederick, 14.Nieem Taylor, 19.Stephon James, 22.Troy Bruno, 30.Aidan Browne.

Coach: Kerdyn Moe.

Referee: Colin Smith.

Trinidad finals

(Saturday 17 May)

Boys U14 final

Premier Sports Club 0, Pro Series 2 (Zaa’van Joseph 35, Kymanni Nicholls 47) at Barataria;

Boys U17 final

Trendsetter Hawks 2 (Kadeem Morrison 24, Jahda Riley 72), FC Ginga 2 (Ky-mani Hazel 69, Elijah Edwards 80+4) at Barataria;

*–Ginga won 5-3 on kicks via the penalty spot.

Girls U17 final

Pro Series 1 (Scarlett Cole 29), Trendsetter Hawks 3 (Jayda Herbert 7, Hackeemar Goodridge 48, 72) at Barataria;

Boys U20 final

Pro Series 1 (Tom Decle 15), QPCC FC 2 (Joshua Mason 56, Deisean Plaza 74) at Barataria;

Tobago finals

(Sunday 18 May)

Boys U-14 final

Ball Blasters Youth Academy 6 (Jaden Marcelle 7, 10 pen, Zaire McMillan 35, Andion Thomas 49, 54, Kai Cowan 63), St Clair’s Coaching School 1 (Isaiah Charles 4) at Black Rock, Courland;

Boys U-17 final

Ball Blasters Youth Academy 2 (Raevion Marshall 34, Jaeden Anthony 36), Georgia FC 1 (Jaheim Toney 1) at Black Rock, Courland;

Girls U-17 final

Tobago Chicas 2 (J’Naya Gray 42, 84), Jewels Sports Club 2 (Ty’kaiya Dennis 26, Kadia Ruiz 54) at Black Rock, Courland;

*–Jewels SC won 5-4 on kicks from the penalty mark;

Boys U-20 final

Stokely Vale FC 2 (Rickeldi Williams 73, Callany Job 89), Eagles FC 0 at Black Rock, Courland.