Fri, 26 May 23 16:36:09 +0000

NYFL 2023: Trinidad’s top youth teams enter ko phase; Cox, Pro Series, D/Force among title hopefuls

There are 32 Trinidad youth teams left standing in the 2023 Republic Cup National Youth Football League (NYFL) competition. However, there are only four available trophies.

Something will have to give over the next two weeks then, as the nationwide youth competition enters the knockout stage—albeit without invitations to Tobago teams for the second successive year.

QPCC midfielder Micah Nelson (left) tries to get around Pro Series captain Tau Lamsee during Republic Cup NYFL U-17 action in St Clair on 29 April 2023.
(Copyright Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868)

In truth, there are still 33 clubs with a chance at silverware. The North Zone Under-17 competition is not over yet as QPCC FC are in second place at present but can be overtaken by third place Police FC, who have a game in hand.

The young Police team, captained by National Under-17 utility player Aydon Caruth, face mid-table outfit Boyce Sports Coaching School from 8am at the Diego Martin North Secondary school on Saturday 27 May.

Should Police win, they will go on to play Central Zone champions Crown Trace FC next Tuesday. However, if Boyce Sports manage a draw or better, the “Parkites” will advance.

Crown Trace, incidentally, are the most dominant zonal force in the 2023 Republic Cup edition—as they snapped up all four Central titles in the U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-20 categories.

And the Crown Trace Under-13 side will kick off the knockout rounds at 9am tomorrow against QPCC at the Republic Bank Sports Club in Barataria.

Gasparillo Youths goalkeeper Kwasi St Lewis (right) takes out Crown Trace attacker Josiah Samuel (centre) while Gasparillo captain Gyasi Pinder looks on during NYFL action at Edinburgh 500 on 25 March 2023.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)

QPCC are the second most represented club in the knockout phase, although they didn’t have things their own way in the North.

The Parkites won the North Under-20 title, but had to settle for second place at U-13 and U-15 level while they remain in the running for a runner-up finish in the U-17 division too.

The 2023 competition was tougher still on traditional powerhouses like Trendsetter Hawks and FC Santa Rosa who failed to get past the group stage in any category. Instead, some newcomers came to the fore with Tinto’s Sporting Academy topping the East Under-17 chart and Cardinals FA leading the North Under-13 pack.

Cardinals FA captain Deron Blackman (left) plays the ball past a Santa Cruz United opponent during Republic Cup NYFL U-13 action at Serpentine Road on 13 May 2023.
(Copyright Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868)

South Zone representatives Cox Coaching School are the big noise in the Under-15 category but East Zone champs, FC Ginga, will be a handful themselves.

While the likes of North U-17 champs Pro Series and East U-20 conquerors Defence Force cannot be underestimated.

Check below for the full knockout brackets:

FC Ginga attacker Elijah Diaz (right) torments a Tinto’s Sporting Academy defender during Republic Cup NYFL U-15 action in Tacarigua on 16 April 2023.
(Copyright Brian Miller/ Wired868)

2023 Republic Cup NYFL knockout bracket

Under-13

(Saturday 27 May)

A: (Central 1) Crown Trace FC vs (North 2) QPCC, 9am, Republic Bank Sports Club

B: (East 1) FC Ginga vs (South 2) Union Hall FC, 11am, Republic Bank Sports Club

C: (North 1) Cardinals FA vs (East 2) Trincity Nationals, 1pm, Republic Bank Sports Club

(Sunday 28 May)

D: (South 1) Cox Coaching School vs (E Counties 1) Duranta FC, 9am, Republic Bank Sports Club

Semi-final match-ups: A v B; C v D

Arima Blasters midfielder Cory Marryshow (left) makes an acrobatic attempt at goal while Arima Araucans players Jariah Charles (centre) and Joel Spencer stand their ground during Republic Cup NYFL U-15 action in Tacarigua on 16 April 2023.
(Copyright Brian Miller/ Wired868)

Under-15

(Sunday 28 May)

C: (South 1) Cox Coaching School vs (Central 2) Evolution FC, 11am, Republic Bank Sports Club

A: (Central 1) Crown Trace FC vs (North 2) QPCC FC, 1.30pm, Republic Bank Sports Club

B: (East 1) FC Ginga vs (South 2) Union Hall FC, 3.30pm, Republic Bank Sports Club

(Wednesday 31 May)

D: (North 1) Pro Series vs (East 2) Arima Semi-Pro Blasters YA, 4.15pm, Republic Bank Sports Club

Semi-final match-ups: A v B; C v D

Pro Series captain Tau Lamsee (centre) is congratulated by teammates after a goal against QPCC FC during Republic Cup NYFL U-17 action in St Clair on 29 April 2023.
Lamsee scored twice to help secure all three points for Pro Series.
(Copyright Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868)

Under-17

(Saturday 27 May)

B: (East 1) Tinto’s Sporting Academy vs (South 2) Premier SC, 9am, St Augustine Secondary

C: (South 1) Pt Fortin YA vs (Central 2) Gasparillo Youths, 11.30am, St Augustine Secondary

D: (North 1) Pro Series vs (East 2) Beatnix SC, 2pm, St Augustine Secondary

(Tuesday 30 May)

A: (Central 1) Crown Trace FC vs (North 2) QPCC/ Police FC, TBA, Police Barracks

Semi-final match-ups: A v B; C v D

Eastern Jaguars flanker Kadeem Mendoza (top) tries to evade a tackle from FC Ginga midfielder Kyle Dwarika during NYFL East Zone U-20 action at the Eddie Hart Grounds on 21 May 2023.
(Copyright Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868)

(Under-20)

A: (East 1) Defence Force vs (South 2) Ste Madeleine Strikers, 9am, St Augustine Secondary

B: (Central 1) Crown Trace FC vs (North 2) Malick Blue Lions, 11.30am, St Augustine Secondary

C: (South 1) Premier SC vs (Eastern Counties 1) Eastern Counties United, 1.45pm, St Augustine Secondary

D: (North 1) QPCC vs (East 2) Eastern Jaguars, 4pm, St Augustine Secondary