Big 5: Walcott fires Hillview to brink of Premiership, with 3-0 win over Mucurapo West

Three years ago, Hillview College was little more than a footnote in secondary school football. Today, they stand on the brink of history.

A 3-0 win over Mucurapo West Secondary in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) First Citizens Big Five has brought them within touching distance of the Premiership Division.

Two goals by substitute Darnell Walcott—who was also involved in creating the other goal—was enough to fire Hillview to the top of the standings with six points from two matches.

Mucurapo West, who defeated south champions Palo Seco Secondary 3-1 in midweek, suffered their first loss of the season.

Presentation College (Chaguanas) were due to play Speyside on Saturday, but their match was postponed to a date to be announced.

Just three teams will step through the Big Five’s gateway into the Premiership, and Hillview are closest to rewriting their footballing history.

During the first half-hour at Mucurapo West Grounds on Saturday, fans filing through the gates may have thought this unlikely.

The opening half hour was a tense, punishing phase of the game—with Hillview on the receiving end.

Mucurapo almost went ahead within five seconds of Cecile Hinds’ whistle, as Hillview goalkeeper Dante Hajaree was forced to hurriedly palm away a shot from inside the centre circle.

After that, the Port of Spain team—marshalled by head coach Theo Boyce—put on a display of fearless, attacking football.

The midfield, led by Jamani “Reddo” Andrews, produced waves of attacks that pinned the Hillview defence back.

Amenhotep Harper and Caleb Jacob had the best chances for Mucurapo during the opening barrage, but they were left frustrated as Hillview got bodies in the right places.

Samuel Lee Lung, Hillview’s central defender, kept his lines organized, and when shots came through, they were dealt with by Hajaree.

“They preferred the long balls. They are a bit more direct. So, we sort of prepared for that,” said Hillview coach Jeremy McMeo. “We asked the boys to maintain their composure, be patient, and eventually our wheels would start spinning.”

Hillview’s wheels started spinning about the half-hour mark as Mucurapo’s raids became less frequent.

Lee Lung showed his passing range with pinpoint accurate deliveries to winger Jamarley Ellis, who used his long legs to good effect, pushing Mucurapo back towards their goal.

Kenwyn Williams, in goal for Mucurapo, was thrust into the limelight—making saves from Tafari Kerr, Kemarley Pierre, and Ellis in quick succession.

Late in the first half, Williams fumbled a Jayden Hinds attempt, and the ball squirmed through his legs towards the goal. Williams dived on it and saved the day, but he was helpless a few minutes later when a Lee Lung header was cleared off the line.

Hillview had the whip in their hand at the half, and Mucurapo were the ones holding on at the halftime whistle.

“Pass the ball with some love,” a dreadlocked Hillview fan shouted to his team as they went to the break.

Boyce re-emphasized his message of tactical discipline during the interval, while McMeo asked his charges to keep believing in the plan.

The Hillview tactician made two changes at the half—bringing on former national under-14 players Aaden Jones and Darnell Walcott.

Both had also played an under-16 game for Hillview during the week, and they were part of a quintet of starters missing from their win over Presentation (Chaguanas).

Mathias Motilal and Christiano Barrington came on later it the second half, while midweek hat-trick hero Orlando La Fleur does not play on Saturday’s for religious reasons.

“We expect players that are on the bench to come on to the field and make an impact,” said McMeo. “[Walcott] impacted the game. He changed the game.”

Just seven minutes into the fray, Walcott pounced.

Mucurapo failed to clear a corner and the former North Eastern College player smashed the ball into the net.

It was a goal that Hillview needed.

“It came at a time when the boys, perhaps, started to lose a little faith,” said McMeo, “It was the break that we needed. It came at a perfect time.”

Mucurapo’s unbeaten run for the season was under threat, while Hillview fans were delirious with joy.

The dreadlocked fan was back—he cupped his ear and shouted to the Mucurapo supporters: “Let me hear you now. I want back my $20.”

His calls for the return of his admission fee grew louder in the 68^th minute when Walcott started the move that led to the second goal.

His perfect slide-rule pass found Ellis in space.

The lanky forward caressed it into the path of midfielder Kalif Sylvester, who burst through the defence and slid the ball past Williams for the second goal.

Boyce felt that goal broke his team.

“We tried to lift them but it went over them already,” he said. “By the second goal, we had lost the game.”

Mucurapo looked a shadow of the team of the first half hour in the final minutes.

Walcott delivered the coup de gras in stoppage time, firing home after a clever pass from Jones sent him beyond the Mucurapo defence.

Game over. Dream on.

When the final whistle blew, Hillview were at the Big Five summit: two games, two wins, ten goals scored, two clean sheets.

Coach McMeo, who is not given to outlandish displays of emotion, allowed a rare smile to flit across his lips.

“It’s like a fairy tale,” he said, “The journey with me started three years ago. Mr Nirad Tewarie approached me as he saw an opportunity where he and I could start something.

“It started off rocky. Now we can smell it, we can touch it but we will get there.”

The Hillview coach did not linger long in the land of euphoria.

“Six points should do the job but eight should confirm it,” he said. “We don’t want to count our eggs before they are hatched.”

McMeo’s mantra of composure under pressure has soaked through the squad.

The Hillview players were jubilant but restrained in victory—before they celebrated among themselves, the whole team went around the field and picked up the disconsolate Mucurapo players, shaking hands and hugging them.

Mucurapo’s first defeat of the season will sting, but coach Boyce is confident his team can still secure promotion.

Boyce has spent the last four years crafting his vision at Mucurapo West and he was candid about his team’s undoing on Saturday.

“Discipline,” he explained. “The turning point is when the three midfielders we have decided they all want to attack at the same time.

“The discipline to play in their position and do what they are supposed to do, they stopped doing it. It caused us to lose the game.”

For Boyce, the lesson extends well beyond football

“Discipline is coming to school, putting on your clothes, put on your tie, go to class, keep your shirt in your pants,” he said. “If you get that discipline there, football will be easy.”

Despite the setback, Boyce believes that promotion is still in sight.

“It is a privilege to be in this,” he said. “I want to see people seeing these children just as they see CIC, Fatima.”

Beyond the drama on the pitch, Saturday’s clash also served notice of a coming change in Trinidad’s schoolboy football landscape.

Richardo Legay, Santa Cruz United president United and longtime Mucurapo supporter, believes this Big 5 campaign has wider implications.

“We hope to see two Mucurapo teams in the Premiership,” he said, “It is long overdue. They need to step up and represent.”

If Mucurapo West qualify, they would join Fatima College in the top flight, although Mucurapo East, the third school within a square kilometer on Mucurapo Road, remain in the Championship Division for at least another year—having been demoted in 2024.

Coach Boyce is aware of what is at stake.

“This is history making in Mucurapo right now,” he said. “It would be a real joy, not just for the football, for the community, for the East-West corridor.”

Hillview are also set to etch their name in history, but McMeo is leaving the champagne on ice for now.

“It is the school’s biggest accomplishment to date,” he said. “If you all knew where we came from to where we are. It is a lot of emotions.”

The SSFL Big Five enters its third round this week, with Hillview College—unbeaten and atop the standings—sitting out on a bye.

Mucurapo will look to resuscitate their campaign against Presentation College (Chaguanas), while Palo Seco must claim the three points against Speyside Secondary to keep their hopes alive.

Hillview, meanwhile, could secure promotion without lacing up a boot.

In 2024, they were at this point also, starting strong with a win before staggering to fourth. That wound has never healed, and while their rise is fairytale-like, they have chosen a pragmatic pathway in 2025.

Coach Jeremy McMeo remembers the lessons of 2024: “I was on a positive mind last year but this time we decided to remain grounded and be patient until that bell rings.”

That bell will toll soon—but to whom it tolls for is still not completely clear.

Teams

Mucurapo West Secondary (3-5-2): 1.Kenwyn Williams (GK); 15.Joshua Dopwell, 6.Omaleke Paul, 9.Nazim Skinner; 20.Eli Williams (19.Jaquan McMillan 62), 5.Jamani Andrews, 8.Marlon Jordan (21.Jameel Joseph 73), 12.Amenhotep Harper (2.Jonathan Preston 73), 14.Xanye Hamilton; 16.Caleb Jacob, 7.Alexis Warren (10.Josiah Oliver 58 [17.Tavon Hamilton 83]).

Unused substitutes: 11.Tyrese Wells, 18.Michael De Lisle.

Coach: Theophilus Boyce.

Hillview College (4-5-1): 30.Dante Hajaree (GK); 2.Javier Estrada (3.Cristiano Barrington 61), 25.Simeon Joseph (17.Aaden Jones 46), 6.Samuel Lee Lung, 5.Khalid Jones; 21.Jaylen Hinds (7.Darnell Walcott 46), 8.Kalif Sylvester (20.Alex D’Abreau 80), 12.Jaheim Mitchell, 10.Tafari Kerr (13.Matthias Motilal 85), 11.Jahmarley Ellis; 9.Kemarley Pierre (captain).

Unused substitutes: 4.Dhiren Tewarie, 14.Ky’mani Prieto, 15.Kidane Nieves, 18.Aaron Christian, 23.Marquis Allen, 31.Ryan D’Abreau.

Coach: Jeremy McMeo.

Referee: Cecile Hinds.

SSFL Big Five result

(Saturday 1 November)

Mucurapo West Secondary 0, Hillview College 3 (Darnell Walcott 52, 90+2, Kalif Sylvester 68).

Round Three fixtures

(Wed 5 November)

Presentation College (Chag) v Mucurapo West Sec, 3.30pm, Central;

Palo Seco Secondary v Speyside Secondary, 3.30pm, Palo Seco;

Hillview College are on a bye.

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

• Hillview College            2-2-0-0-10–0–6
• Mucurapo West Sec     2-1-0-1-3-4-3
• Speyside Secondary      0-0-0-0-0–0–0
• Palo Seco Secondary     1-0-0-1-1-3-0
• Presentation (Chag)      1-0-0-1-0–7–0