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The Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) 2025 season got off to a slow start yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, with the SSFL Super Cup contested between the reigning league and knockout winners of the boys and girls divisions.
Fatima College edged St Benedict’s College 4-2 on penalties in the boys fixture, while Pleasantville Secondary held off St Joseph’s Convent 2-1 in the girls exhibition showcase.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
In the boys fixture, both teams turned out without several stand-out names while St Benedict’s head coach Randolph Boyce did not even sit on the bench.
SSFL president Merere Gonzales suggested that the two schools were still awaiting form five repeaters and lower six students—although that only half-explained the absences, since some stalwarts like Benedict’s holding midfielder Adam ‘Toka’ Pierre are already active students.
What ensued was a contest that showcased far more perspiration than inspiration.
Fatima dominated possession but St Benedict’s well drilled defensive unit ensured that none of it was close to their goal. A shot from Fatima midfielder Antuan Louison that forced St Benedict’s goalkeeper Naftali Charles to extend himself, was as good as it got in a largely tepid first half.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
Charles was a bit busier after the break, as he kept out efforts from Fatima newcomers Zia Gittens and Matthew Lee Young, while Seth Hadeed, a relative veteran in his third season at this level, had his fierce effort pushed wide.
The game never really erupted though. And after a goalless finish, Fatima prevailed 4-2 in the shootout.
The girls contest, the first of two north versus south affairs, saw Pleasantville establish early control with the midfield trio of captain Natalia Gosine, her sister Nikita Gosine and Alisha Mitchell dominant.
Nikita Gosine gave ‘P-ville’ the lead in the sixth minute, when she picked up the ball just to the left of the 18-yard box, dribbled past two defenders and fired a low shot into the far corner of the goal.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
Left winger Zara Chase doubled her team’s lead in the 35th minute, as she ran from inside her half of the field and left national youth defender Kaitlyn Darwent for dead, before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Alexia Dolland.
Two goals down at the half, Convent coach Tasha St Louis-Joseph made a tactical tweak as Darwent was moved from central defence to midfield, which allowed her to apply earlier pressure on Nikita.
Not only did Darwent disrupt the Pleasantville star’s dominance but she contributed in her team’s first goal too—as she picked up a loose ball in midfield and threaded an excellent through ball to forward Scarlett Cole.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
Cole fumbled the opportunity but the ball ricocheted into the path of Sydney Pollard, who took it into her shot and calmly slotted past Pleasantville goalkeeper Akeila Marryshaw to halve their deficit.
From that point on, SJC pushed hard for an equaliser—but Pleasantville had enough quality to keep them out and were deserved winners in the end.
(Editor’s Note: See Wired868 later for an updated story with the full report.)
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
SSFL Girls Super Cup
(12 September)
Pleasantville Secondary 2 (Nikita Gosine 6, Zara Chase 35), St Joseph’s Convent (POS) 1 (Sydney Pollard 55) at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
SSFL Boys Super Cup
(12 September)
Fatima College 0, St Benedict’s College 0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
*–Fatima won 4-2 on penalty kicks.
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