SSFL 25: Riquelme stings Benedict’s, as ‘Naps’ revive title hopes with crucial win

Naparima College are back in the driver’s seat as the 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division season heads slowly towards its final act, as they won a war of attrition against their southern rivals, St Benedict’s College, 2-0 at Lewis Street in San Fernando today.

Two second half goals in the space of three minutes from Jabari Rodriguez and Riquelme Phillips saw “Naps” stall Benedict’s march towards the trophy.

St Benedict’s remain in first place with 33 points from 14 matches—two points more than second placed Naparima and third placed Presentation College (San Fernando). However, Naps have a game in hand and would leapfrog the “La Romaine Lions” with wins over St Mary’s College and Signal Hill Secondary respectively.

Incidentally, Signal Hill are tenth but, with an eye-watering eight games still to play, can still become the first secondary school to claim the Premier Division crown if they win them all.

In today’s other Premier Division fixture, 15-year-old utility player Jahda Riley scored a late winner, five minutes into second half stoppage time, to steer Malick Secondary to a shock 2-1 win over St Anthony’s College at Westmoorings.

The “Westmoorings Tigers” defeated Fatima College and Naparima respectively in their last outings. But they could not handle a fired-up Malick, who climbed from 13th to 12th place with the result—three points clear of San Juan North Secondary and St Augustine Secondary, with the latter team in the relegation zone at present.

The fixture between Trinity College (Moka) and Scarborough Secondary never kicked off, which has been a fairly regular occurrence this season with games that involved inter-island travel.

In San Fernando, both teams showed up and there was plenty at stake, although the hard, bouncy field made it difficult for either to produce elegant football.

Both teams seemed to prioritise not losing the game over attacking intent, though, although the hosts looked the more ambitious of the two—as right winger Arron Raymond tried, often unsuccessfully, to get around Benedict’s left back Ruben Phillip and centre back Joshua Figaro.

Ironically, Phillip created the best chance of the first half against his own goalkeeper, as his headed back pass nearly wrong-footed Thane Devenish.

Ten minutes later, Naparima forward Riquelme Phillips shot high and wide from an impressive passing move.

Phillips had another golden opportunity, one minute into the second half, as Devenish slipped under pressure from the Naparima forward, only for the latter player to roll his shot harmlessly across the face of the Benedict’s goal.

By then, Jaydon Caprietta—who started the game at left back—had switched roles with Sebastian James and began injecting some pace and purpose into his team’s attacks.

Then, in the 63rd minute, a long through ball down the middle sent Phillips clear, and a fortunate deflection allowed him to get a shot past opposing central defenders Figaro and Malerky Fraser.

Devenish saved the initial attempt but the rebound fell to Jabari Rodriguez who, on his second attempt, slammed home to send supporters into a frenzy.

Naparima’s second goal was also a bit scrappy. Midfielder Jacob O’Reilly seemed to overhit a speculative long ball towards Phillips, only for Figaro’s attempted header back to Devenish to loop up invitingly for the opposing forward.

Phillips did not let his second gift of the half go to waste, as he coolly slotted his shot past the onrushing keeper to double his team’s advantage.

Naps sensed that the job was done and, unlike their visitors, they gave nothing away at the back.

In a desperate roll of the dice, St Benedict’s brought on substitute goalkeeper Naftali Charles and pushed Devenish into a right-wing position, where the goalie-cum-winger served up some inviting crosses.

But the hosts held firm.

When referee Cecile Hinds blew the final whistle, Naparima players and supporters celebrated a hard-earned victory that kept the title race alive.

On Monday 10 November, Naparima are away to St Mary’s College while Benedict’s travel to Trinity College East.

A loss for either school might rule them out of contention for the title. Should both lose, third place Presentation College (San Fernando) could make their own play for the title with a win away to Trinity College.

It’s crunch time.

Teams

Naparima College (4-3-3): 1.Mikhail Clement (GK); 16.Darion Hernandez (14.Mikhael Bullock 60), 3.Elijah Edwards, 4.Antonio Hills, 5.Jaydon Caprietta; 22.Shabani Thompson (captain), 9.Jabari Rodriguez (6.Camron Bovell 87), 21.Jacob O’Reilly; 23.Arron Raymond (8.Jerrel Cooper 70), 17.Riquelme Phillips (7.Ryan Radellant 90+2), 24.Sebastian James.

Unused substitutes: 25.Adriano Baptiste (GK), 10.Xarion France, 11.Adasa Richardson, 15.Seth Eve, 19.Darius Procope, 27.Donovan Drayton.

Coach: Angus Eve.

St Benedict’s College (4-3-3): 22.Thane Devenish (GK); 13.Kai Robertson, 5.Malerky Fraser, 17.Joshua Figaro (21.Jaylon Carrington 85), 2.Ruben Phillip; 4.Adam Pierre (captain), 12.Josiah Ochoa, 8.Cam’ron Burke (3.Jahel Lewis 85); 10.Elijah David (1.Naftali Charles 70), 7.Jaylon Forbes (80.Jelani Roberts 70), 9.Jelani Stoute (14.Josiah Barrow 57).

Unused substitutes: 6.Isaiah David, 11.Jude Neckles, 15.Samuel Balfour, 16.Yohance Stoute, 18.Ahkioh Medford, 19.Jelani Scott.

Coach: Randolph Boyce.

Referee: Cecile Hinds.

SSFL Premier Division results

(Mon 3 November)

Naparima College 2 (Jabari Rodriguez 63, Riquelme Phillips 66), St Benedict’s College 0 at Lewis Street;

St Anthony’s College 1 (Jean-Marc Thomas 30), Malick Secondary 2 (Teung Burnley 43, Jahda Riley 90+5) at Westmoorings.

Upcoming fixtures

(Tue 4 November)

San Juan North v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse;

(Thu 6 November)

Signal Hill Sec v St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;

Trinity East v Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Trincity;

(Fri 7 November)

Trinity College v San Juan North, 3.30pm, Moka.

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