RBNYFL 25: Ball Blasters lead T’go charge in finals, but QPCC, Pro Series well poised

The Ball Blasters Youth Academy left the UTT O’Meara Campus with one trophy from the two national finals they contested on the closing day of the 2024 Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL) competition.

Their 2024 National Under-14 crown was the only trophy that crossed the sea-bridge—but it was a memorable conquest in style and execution.

Can coach Downie Marcelle’s Ball Blasters produce an encore on Saturday, as the RBNYFL tournament climaxes from 9am at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva?

If the RBNYFL age divisions remained consistent and Ball Blasters’ Under-15 team were flying to Trinidad this weekend, it might have been a foregone conclusion.

Five players from Marcelle’s 2024 outfit ended up in the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-14 team: Jahmiah Gibbes, Jaeden Anthony, Ackim Duncan, Jaden Marcelle and Kyen Anderson.

And it could easily have been six but for an injury to stylish midfielder Amar Allie Bacchus.

However, with under-14 and under-17 divisions instead, Marcelle’s talent is split across two divisions.

They had enough firepower to conquer the Sister Isle. But they will be hard-pressed to do the same against a Pro Series under-14 squad that marries physicality with technical promise, and a street-wise FC Ginga under-17 outfit.

Pro Series are led by the competition’s top scorer, Zaa’van Joseph, who has 18 goals from 10 matches. But consider too that they have not conceded a goal yet from three knockout matches.

The role of goalkeeper Kaydon Harris and central defenders Xavier Barrow and Liam Le Fleur might be just as important for the Queen’s Park Savannah-based team then.

FC Ginga do not have an offensive focal point. Their leading scorer, Kafense McKell, has just four goals from 10 matches—which doesn’t even get him among the top 14 scorers, despite having played up to three games more than the other forwards.

However, Ginga’s ability to set the tempo of matches has seen them wear down opponents while their back three of Elijah Edwards, Isaiah Coa and Ihsan Miller, and defensive midfielder Kylon Williams have rarely looked rattled.

Can bustling Ball Blasters forward J’meke Watkins unsettle them?

In the Girls Under-17 Division, the versatile attacking pair of Hackeemar Goodridge and Jayda Herbert would be a handful to any defence while no forward would relish a battle with defender Daniella Paul at the other end.

However, Kimonique Spencer knows how to hit the back of the net for Jewels Sports Club while versatile attacker Ty’kaiya Dennis is surely at least as dynamic as any player in Hawks’ green strip.

It should make for an intriguing battle.

In the Under-20 final, QPCC coach Wayne Sheppard might feel his troops faced their toughest challenges already—with San Juan Jabloteh, City FC and Pro Series all in the rear view.

The ‘Parkites’ combine solid defensive structure with an array of offensive weapons like Joshua Mason, Giovanni Hospedales, and Micah Nelson, supported by the crafty midfield pairing of Deisean Plaza and Criston ‘CJ’ Gomez.

However, Stokely Vale FC have reason to feel confident in the competence of goalkeeper Duvon Collette while attackers Immanuel Wright, Keilon Jack and captain Ja Corey Julien will not be intimidated by lanky QPCC goalkeeper Jadon-Paul Alexander.

It should make for another intriguing day of football.

RBNYFL 2025 Finals

(Saturday 24 May at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva)

Pro Series vs Ball Blasters Youth Academy, 9am, Boys National U-14 final;

FC Ginga vs Ball Blasters Youth Academy, 11am, Boys National U-17 final;

Trendsetter Hawks vs Jewels Sports Club, 1pm, Girls National U-17 final;

QPCC FC vs Stokely Vale FC, 3pm, Boys National U-20 final.

Top Knock Out Goal Scorers (by division)

Boys U-14 

7—Zaa’van Joseph (Pro Series),

3—Kymanni Nicholls (Pro Series),

2—Jaden Marcelle [1 pen], Andion Thomas (Ball Blasters YA), Jiair Nanton [1 pen], Zachary Rizk (City FC), Khirell Charles (Premier SC), Alex King (Pro Series).

Boys U-17 

2—Ky-mani Hazel, Kafense McKell [1 pen] (FC Ginga),

1—Raevion Marshall, Jaeden Anthony (Ball Blasters YA), Giovanni Bartholomew, Karim Millington, Jaylon Roberts [1 pen] (Cardinals FA), Elijah Edwards, Elijah Diaz (FC Ginga), Jaheim Toney (Georgia FC), Kadeem Morrison, Jahda Riley, Jaquan Phillip (Trendsetter Hawks),

Girls U-17 

4—Hackeemar Goodridge (Trendsetter Hawks),

2—Kimonique Spencer (Jewels SC), Scarlett Cole (Pro Series), J’naya Gray (Tobago Chicas),

1—Shinika Lewis (AIA), Anesia Alleyne (Black Panthers),Ty’kaiya Dennis, Kadia Ruiz (Jewels SC), Rori Gittens, Sydney Pollard, Calypso Ayoung, Khloe Kirton (Pro Series), Adrianna Fowler (Tobago Chicas), Shiphrah Alleyne, Amayah Nero, Jayda Herbert (Trendsetter Hawks),

Boys U-20 

3—Micha’el John (Pro Series),

2—Josante Duncan (Pro Series), Joshua Mason (QPCC),

1—Keston Richards (City FC), Reuben Phillip, Jah-Malee Barclay, Jabari Rodriguez, Akini Ramsey (Premier SC), Jedaiah King, Maalik Jarvis, Jaheim Bailey, Tom Decle (Pro Series), Shanon Zion Metivier, Giovanni Hospedales, Seth Hadeed, Hirshil Parks, Deisean Plaza (QPCC), Josiah Gobin, Reshaun Doobay, Eran McLeod, Tyrell Stapleton, Shumba Cudjoe, Daniel George (San Juan Jabloteh), Rickeldi Williams, Callany Job (Stokely Vale FC).

Top Overall Goal Scorers (by division)

Under-14

18—Zaa’van Joseph pen (Pro Series),

14—Jaylon Carrington (Cox Coaching School), Aaden Jones (Creek SCC),

13—Asaiah Alexander (San Juan Jabloteh),

9—Jaden Marcelle (Ball Blasters YA), Israel Wickham [1 pen] (Trendsetter Hawks),

Under-17

14—Jaylon Roberts [1 pen], Karim Millington (Cardinals FA),

12—Gabriel Frederick (Trendsetter Hawks),

10—Cory Marryshow (San Juan Jabloteh),

9—Tsean Simon [1 pen] (Point Fortin YFA),

Under-20

11—Josante Duncan [3 pen] (Pro Series),

8—Jayden Christopher (City FC), Tyrell Stapleton (San Juan Jabloteh), Jaquan Phillip (Trendsetter Hawks),

7—Akini Ramsey (Premier SC), Jedaiah King [1 pen], Jahaem Bailey (Pro Series), Jahime Joseph (Trendsetter Hawks),

Girls Under-17

7—Sydney Pollard (Pro Series),

6—Shemaiah Toussaint (Cox Coaching School), Khloe Kirton (Pro Series), Geneisha George (Trendsetter Hawks),

5—Faith Durity (AC POS), Scarlett Cole (Pro Series),

*–Some data on Tobago goal scorers missing.