TTPFL golden boot race heats up

This weekend is expected to be an intriguing one in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season, as the top four teams will be squaring off against each other. 

Holders and current leaders, Defence Force (46 points), will take on third-placed rivals Miscellaneous Police FC (36 points) from 4 pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, on March 15. Meanwhile, the second-placed Club Sando (42 points) are expected to have their hands full when they take on the fourth-placed Prisons FC (35 points) from 8 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, tomorrow (March 14). 

Tarik Lee (number 9) is the man to watch in the Club Sando attack. Photo courtesy Club Sando

While the top four teams and the fifth-placed AC Port of Spain (34 points) are still jostling for Concacaf spots, another race is brewing as the TTPFL's golden boot charge is well and truly on. The league's leading goals scorer, Joevin Jones (11 goals), is away to Bolivia on international duty with the Trinidad and Tobago men's national team. Jones' absence could leave the door open for a new player to soar to the top of the scoring charts, as the trio of Teejay Cadiz, Dominic Douglas, and Tarik Lee are all tied on ten goals. 

From 6 pm today at the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation grounds, Douglas' Eagles team will take on AC PoS. Meanwhile, when Lee's Club Sando take on Prisons tomorrow, the nippy striker will be hoping to help his team reverse their 1-0 loss to Dexter Cyrus' Prisons outfit earlier this season. 

A look at the TT Premier Football League's top scorers heading into match 19

And in an early 2 pm kickoff in Malabar on March 15, Cadiz will be looking to inspire the ninth-placed 1976 FC Phoenix team when they take on the inconsistent Central FC Reboot, who find themselves in seventh place with 24 points. Phoenix have conceded the joint-highest number of goals this season (48), while Central will be without some key players such as Daniel David, Alvin Jones, Ross Russell Jr, and goalie Jabari Brice. All four have been called up by interim coach Derek King for TT's friendly with Bolivia on March 15. With that being said, expect goals to flow in the first game of the Malabar double-header this weekend. 

Do you have any picks for the golden boot winner? 

This is how the TTPFL top five is shaping up with just four games to go. 

Fatima, St Joseph's Convent PoS bag water polo hat-tricks

The students of Fatima College and St Joseph's Convent Port of Spain (SJCPoS) displayed their dominance when the Republic Bank Aquatic Sports Association of TT (ASATT) National Secondary Schools Water Polo League concluded on the weekend, as both splashed to a hat-trick of titles. 

When the action wrapped up at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva, on March 8, both schools had won the respective under-14, under-16, and open trophies. On the previous weekend, the Form One titles went to Bishop Anstey High School PoS (BAHS) and Diego Martin Central, respectively. BAHS beat Diego Central to the girls' Form One crown, but the Diego Martin boys put things right when a seven-goal showing from Andriel Williams powered them to a tight 9-8 victory over Queen's Royal College in the boys' Form One finale. 

The girls from SJCPoS made their intentions clear when they drubbed BAHS 15-2 in the under-14 final to clinch their first of three titles. Romaya Pierre and Drew Thomas scored four goals apiece to lead the SJCPoS riot.  

In the under-16 final against Holy Name Convent, SJCPoS used a breathtaking second-half performance to romp to a 22-12 victory after leading 9-7 at the halfway stage. Shauna Murphy was instrumental in SJCPoS's run to the under-16 title, leading with seven goals, while Alexis Avey, Eliana Lee, and Abella Mollenthiel all scored four goals each. Melanie Valdez Brown fought admirably for Holy Name with a team-high seven goals. 

In the girls' open final, SJCPoS had another battle with BAHS. On this occasion, BAHS were up for the fight, but just fell on the wrong side of a 6-5 scoreline. BAHS led 4-1 at the halftime break thanks to a Mya Dos Santos double, but her team was held scoreless in the third quarter as SJCPoS jumped out to a 5-4 lead. In the final quarter, Lee netted her second goal of the game to ensure SJCPoS hoisted their third trophy on the day. 

Holy Name Convent Port of Spain's Amilya Marshall (R) lines up a shot against St Joseph's Convent Port of Spain in the under-16 final of the National Secondary Schools Water Polo League at the National Aquatic Centre, Couva, on March 8. Photos courtesy Sorias Media 

Fatima got their title-hunt started on March 7 when they clobbered St Mary's College 19-5 in the under-14 final. Liam Rogers and Jude Galt scored six and five goals, respectively, to lead the boys from Mucurapo Road to their first title. Fatima's "B" team, meanwhile, registered a fourth-placed finish in the under-14 division after losing a tight third-place playoff. 

None shall pass: Fatima College "B" team player Gabriel Joseph (R) looks for a passing option against St Mary's College in their under-16 bronze-medal matchup in the National Secondary Schools Water Polo League. 

 

In both the under-16 and open finals, Fatima overpowered the QRC outfit to complete their hat-trick. The under-16 final was a much closer affair than the open finale, and Fatima actually trailed the Royalians 6-7 at halftime. By the end of the third quarter, QRC still had the upper hand, leading 10-9. In the final quarter, though, Fatima hit the accelerator as both Logan Calder and Giovanni Felician-Moses scored three goals in the period to help their school to a 17-13 comeback victory. Felician-Moses scored a game-high six goals, with both Luke Gibson and Aaron Villafana netting five goals in the losing effort for QRC. 

The open final was much more straightforward for Fatima, who opened up a big 9-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, en route to a 19-9 victory. Jeremiah Henriques-Brown matched the opponents' tally with an impressive nine-goal performance, with Liam Chin Lee chipping in with five goals. Villafana scored a double for QRC, while Javier Jordan led the Royalians with five goals. Their efforts weren't nearly enough to stop Fatima from cruising to their third title to end a dominant weekend in the pool. 

Jubilant Fatima College players dive in the pool after copping one of their three titles at the National Secondary Schools Water Polo League at the National Aquatic Centre, Couva, on March 8. 

Trinidad and Tobago women, El Salvador square off on April 17

The date, time, and venue have been locked in for the crucial Concacaf W Qualifier between Trinidad and Tobago's women's football team and El Salvador. The encounter is a must-win one for the TT women and will be played from 6 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on April 17. The match details were confirmed via a release from Concacaf earlier today (March 9).

Next month's match is the last for either team in the qualifying round as they aim to advance to the Concacaf W Championships. El Salvador are currently first in group F with six points after wins over Honduras (3-0) and Barbados (13-0), with TT second in the group on four points after salvaging a 2-2 draw away to Honduras last week. TT opened up the qualifiers with a resounding 5-0 win away to Barbados in December. Only the group winner will advance to the Concacaf W Championship. 

The Trinidad and Tobago women's football team celebrate a goal against Honduras in a Concacaf W Qualifier on March 4. Photo courtesy TTFA

The Concacaf W Championship is the region's qualifying tournament for the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics. The region's two highest-ranked teams, Canada and the US, received a bye to the Concacaf W Championship.   

In their match versus Honduras in Tegucigalpa on March 4, TT fell behind 2-0 midway through the first half. TT's fightback started late in the first half, as left back Kedie Johnson scored a penalty, before teenage sensation Nikita Gosine calmly scored a penalty of her own in the 87th minute to earn her team a share of the spoils.

In just over five weeks, the TT women will need all three points against El Salvador if they are to keep their World Cup dreams alive. 

The Trinidad and Tobago women's football team will face El Salvador in a crucial Concacaf W Qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on April 17. 

Derrel 'Zum' Zum' Garcia nets TTPFL hat-trick

Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 football team captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia lit up the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation ground with a stylish hat-trick on March 6, as his San Juan Jabloteh team crushed 1976 FC Phoenix 5-0. These were the first goals of the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season for Garcia, who scored nine goals last season en route to winning the league's Rising Star award.

Garcia opened the scoring for the sixth-placed Jabloteh in the 26th minute after being sprung on the counter by Malachi Webb, as he checked back on his right foot before curling a beautiful shot past goalkeeper Duvaughn Daniel. Just past the hour mark, Garcia got his and Jabloteh's second when he slammed a shot off the base of the post and in, after being teed up by lanky striker Dwight Jordan.

Jabloteh then put the game beyond all doubt with a quick three-goal burst in a 12-minute span, as flankers Jaheim Faustin and Andell Fraser both scored, before Zum Zum wrapped up the scoring with his hat-trick in the 74th minute. 

San Juan Jabloteh's Derrel Garcia (L) on the go during the 2024/25 TTPFL season. Photo courtesy TTPFL

Jordan, Faustin, and Fraser were all involved in the build-up, which led to Garcia's hat-trick goal, with Fraser eventually being clipped in the area by Daniel. Calm as ever, Garcia made no mistake from the spot as he rolled his penalty into the bottom corner to seal Jabloteh's five-star showing.

Jabloteh moved up to 27 points, with Phoenix (15 points) slipping to ninth on the 12-team table.

In the second game of the La Horquetta double-header, Caledonia AIA (16 points) moved up to eighth as they thumped the seventh-placed Central FC Reboot (24 points) 5-1. "Cale" took a 3-0 lead to the half after goals from Vynicius Dutra Sousa, Shaquan Nelson, and Jesse Williams, with flanker Jadiel Joseph putting the icing on the cake with a second-half brace.

The TTPFL action continues today with games at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella and at the St James Police Barracks. At 8 pm at the barracks, fifth-placed AC Port of Spain (31 points) will play third-placed Miscellaneous Police FC (36 points). 

Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia's masterclass against 1976 FC Phoenix in the TTPFL. 

D King returns as national team interim coach

Not for the first time, Derek King has been appointed interim coach of the Trinidad and Tobago men's football team. And his first mission will be to lead TT into friendly action away to Bolivia on March 15, before the senior team plays two matches in the Fifa Series late this month against Venezuela (March 27) and Gabon (March 30). 

The TT Football Association (TTFA) confirmed King's interim appointment on March 6, only a day after it said the contract of former senior team coach Dwight Yorke had been terminated via a mutual agreement on February 28. King is not short on experience with the national men's team, as he served as an assistant coach to both Yorke and his predecessor, Angus Eve. King was also an assistant to Stephen Hart, one of the country's most successful and popular coaches in the last decade. King got success of his own in 2014, when he led the TT under-20s to the Caribbean Cup title. 

Trinidad and Tobago men's football team interim coach Derek King. Photo courtesy TTFA

When the TTFA and Eve went their separate ways in July 2024, King assumed the interim role, which saw him taking charge of Concacaf Nations League matches against Honduras, French Guiana, and Cuba. King's first game as interim boss saw TT tasting a heavy 4-0 loss away to the Hondurans. 

The TTFA release said King brings extensive experience to the national programme as he spearheads the team for the three upcoming games and the foreseeable future. The TTFA said it will release further information regarding the composition of the technical staff in due course. 

The team for the Bolivia friendly is expected to be announced by March 10, with rumors suggesting that national under-20 defender Adam Pierre and the San Juan Jabloteh pair of Derrel Garcia and Jaheim Faustin are among those set to be called up. 

 

Joevin, Army lead TTPFL charts

Defence Force (45 points) may have been humbled in their Concacaf Champions Cup tie with Philadelphia Union, but they're still a cut above the rest on the local circuit at present, boasting a six-point lead in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) standings after 17 matches. 

With five games left in the league season, Defence Force are still unbeaten and are threatening to go undefeated for back-to-back league seasons. After being shown a red card in Defence Force's 5-0 first-leg loss to Philadelphia on Ash Wednesday, 34-year-old playmaker Joevin Jones got back down to business on March 4, scoring a brace as his team defeated Tobago's 1976 FC Phoenix 4-1 in a midweek TTPFL game. In the process, Jones moved to the top of the TTPFL scoring charts with 11 goals, just one ahead of Phoenix forward Teejay Cadiz. 

Having scored four league goals earlier this season for Miscellaneous Police FC before making the move to the Army/Coast Guard combination, Jones will be eager to add to his tally, as Defence Force are scheduled to face the cellar-placed Point Fortin Civic on March 7. 

Defence Force midfielder Joevin Jones (right) takes on a Philadelphia Union player during their Concacaf Champions Cup round one tie on February 18. Photo courtesy Concacaf/Daniel Prentice

From 6 pm at the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation ground on March 6, the sixth-placed San Juan Jabloteh (24 points) will play the eighth-placed Phoenix (15 points), with the seventh-placed MIC Central FC Reboot (24 points) taking on the ninth-placed Caledonia AIA (13 points) in the second game of the double-header. 

At the St James Police Barracks on March 7, the tenth-placed Eagles (13 points) will tackle the fourth-placed Prisons FC (32 points) in the first match, with the fifth-placed AC Port of Spain (31 points) then facing the third-placed Police (36 points) in a tasty clash. 

At the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on March 7, the second-placed Club Sando (39 points) will look to make their mark before Defence Force take centre stage when they go head-to-head with the 11th-placed Terminix La Horquetta Rangers (12 points). 

Top scorers in the TTPFL 2025/26 season after 17 matches. 

A look at the TTPFL top five in the 2025/26 season after 17 matches. 

TTFA, Yorke say 'mutual' goodbyes

The TT Football Association (TTFA) has parted ways with men's football team coach Dwight Yorke just ten days before an international friendly with Bolivia, claiming the coach's contract was "terminated by mutual agreement" on February 28. 

After media reports earlier today suggested that Yorke had stepped down from the post, the TTFA issued a release which said both parties had agreed to go their separate ways after failing to find a common ground to take the men's football programme forward. 

"Following the conclusion of the recent Fifa World Cup qualification campaign in which TT failed to advance to the 2026 World Cup, the executive committee conducted a comprehensive review of the campaign and the overall direction of the men's senior national team programme, inclusive of its technical structure and financial framework," the March 5 release said. 

The release said discussions were held with Yorke regarding revised contractual terms and remuneration geared towards the next phase of the setup. However, "after these discussions," the release read, "both parties were unable to reach an agreement on the proposed terms at this time, and it was mutually decided to part ways." 

Former Trinidad and Tobago men's football team captain and coach, Dwight Yorke. Photo courtesy TTFA

Yorke was officially appointed TT men's coach on November 1, 2024, and was given a clear mandate to qualify for this year's World Cup. TT finished third in group B of Concacaf's final qualifying round behind Curacao and favourites Jamaica, thus missing out on a spot in the World Cup and the intercontinental playoffs as well. 

When Yorke's predecessor, Angus Eve, was relieved of his duties as men's team coach in July 2024, Derek King was appointed on an interim basis, spearheading the team for a handful of matches in the Concacaf Nations League. With TTFA president Kieron Edwards and his board having little time to appoint a new coach before the March 15 Bolivia friendly and subsequent Fifa Series matches against Venezuela (March 27) and Gabon (March 30) in Uzbekistan, King is being tipped to take over the team in the interim once again. It's worth noting that the Bolivia friendly falls outside the March 23-31 Fifa window. 

The TTFA thanked Yorke for his commitment and service during his tenure, and insisted the door is not closed to future dialogue between the two parties. It said it remains committed to strengthening the men's team programme and "will continue to act in the best interests of TT football."  

Trinidad and Tobago grab late draw with Honduras

Trinidad and Tobago's women's football team stayed alive in their quest to advance to the Concacaf W Championships, as they fought back to get a 2-2 draw against Honduras in a qualifier on March 4. 

TT were stunned early on in the Concacaf W Qualifier in Tegucigalpa, as a stylish brace from striker Allyson Reed gave Honduras a 2-0 lead by the 21st minute. With TT enjoying as much as 72 per cent possession in the first half, along with nine shots, they got a way back into the contest in the 41st minute when French-based defender Kedie Johnson calmly dispatched a penalty. Honduras defender Izabella Hernandez was adjudged to have handled in the area, with TT head coach Damian Briggs and assistant Densill Theobald alerting the referee and fourth official to the infringement. 

Trinidad and Tobago women's team forward Nikita Gosine (left) during a Concacaf W Qualifier away to Barbados in December 2025. Photo courtesy TTFA

TT lost their momentum in the second half, with Honduras comfortably sitting on their one-goal cushion. Still, Honduras' goalie Madeline Nieto was called upon to make a fine save in the 73rd minute to stop a fierce drive from outside the area. With TT running out of time, Pleasantville Secondary standout Nikita Gosine clawed her team on level terms when she expertly converted an 87th-minute penalty after being fouled in the area by Yensi Ferrera. 

TT did face some nervy moments late on as the hosts won a few set pieces, but they held on to earn the draw, which took them to four points in group F of the qualifiers. 

On April 18, TT will host group leaders El Salvador (six points) with a spot in the Concacaf W Championships on the line. Only a win in that match will see TT moving to the next round, which kicks off in November. 

The final score in the Concacaf W Qualifier between Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago on March 4. 

'Los Ticos' beat Trinidad and Tobago to Concacaf U-20 spot

The objective for Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 team was clear, but executing it proved much tougher, as they were whipped 3-0 by Costa Rica in Alajuela on March 4, in their Concacaf Under-20 qualifier. The win saw Costa Rica finishing atop group E with ten points and will see them move on to the Concacaf Under-20 Men's Championships, with TT missing out on the sole qualifying spot as they eventually finished the group in third on seven points. Bermuda, which drew with both Costa Rica and TT, placed second with eight points. 

Needing a victory to leapfrog Costa Rica in the group and progress to the Concacaf Championships, coach Marvin Gordon's team never established a rhythm in the attacking third to pose enough of a threat to Costa Rican goalkeeper Ian Orourke. It could be argued that the hosts weren't particularly spectacular in the final third either, but they weren't the team in a must-win situation and needing to press the issue. Still, Costa Rica were clinical when they needed to be, and got the better of the TT defence three times through dead-ball situations. 

Trinidad and Tobago under-20 men's football team line up for their Concacaf qualifier against Costa Rica in Alajuela, on March 4. Photo courtesy TTFA 

After a needless foul outside the area from TT playmaker Dominic Joseph, Costa Rica's lanky forward Dax Palmer drilled a left-footer into the bottom corner in the 21st minute after Yamil Leal worked a short free kick to him. At the other end, TT struggled to pass through the press of the young "Los Ticos" team, and instead opted for long diagonal punts from centre backs Jeremy Meloney and Adam Pierre. The long ball tactic scarcely worked in TT's favour, with Costa Rica's captain, the 6'7" Matias Cordero, having a relatively comfortable day leading his troops from the back. 

With little momentum in their attacking play, Gordon would have been expected to turn to his bench much sooner than he did. TT's first change came in the 62nd minute, as Chaz Williams came in for Joseph, with striker Josiah Kallicharan entering the game for Phillip Nelson in the 69th minute. Kallicharan's first involvement saw him linking up with captain Derrel Garcia, who shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. 

TT's task became near-impossible in the 73rd minute, as striker David Garro sent a beautiful volley past goalkeeper Bryan Gafiuk after connecting with a right-side corner. Desperate to influence the game higher up the field, Pierre was found out of position as a TT play broke down. As he retreated towards his penalty area, Pierre was deemed to have fouled Gabriel Sibaja, with Yerlan Sosa making no mistake from the spot as his 81st-minute penalty assured Los Ticos all three points. 

Gordon may point to the heart and grit of his players, but it's another disappointing end to a qualifying campaign for one of TT's national youth teams. 

TT's starting line-up and formation for their Concacaf Under-20 Men's qualifier versus Costa Rica on March 4. 

Trinidad and Tobago women aim to peak in Honduras

Head coach Damian Briggs is hoping the Trinidad and Tobago women's football team can peak at the right time when they take on Honduras in their Concacaf W Qualifier in Tegucigalpa from 9 pm (TT time) on March 4. 

This is TT's second game in group F of the qualifiers, as they hammered Barbados 5-0 in Kensington in December. Also in December, Honduras fell to a 3-0 loss to group leaders El Salvador. On March 1, El Salvador made their intentions crystal clear when they drubbed Barbados 13-0 to move to the group summit on six points. On April 18, TT will host El Salvador, but before that, the girls from the land of soca and steelpan must deal with the challenge of Honduras on the road. 

"We're not trying to peak too early – we want to peak at the right time."

TT women's football team lineup for kickoff against Barbados in a Concacaf W Qualifier. Photos courtesy TTFA 

Late last month, the TT team had a six-day training camp in Panama, and Briggs believes that camp and the time spent in Honduras thus far have put the squad in a good space ahead of tonight's matchup. 

"We feel like we're on track for what we want to achieve. We're getting accustomed to the conditions, the weather, and the climate," Briggs told TT Football Association (TTFA) Media. 

"We're getting accustomed to the culture as well...the preparations have gone well. The players are quite positive. They have taken the messaging on board and what we want to do and how we want to play. It's all going quite well so far." 

Briggs said the senior players in the 23-player squad have been taking the younger players under their wings, and he's eager to see them put that to good effect on the field of play. 

"At this moment, we think we're on track for where we want to be. We're not trying to peak too early – we want to peak at the right time," Briggs said.

TT women's football team coach Damian Briggs and star attacker Alexcia Ali. 

"Now, being here in Honduras again, with some of the work we've done. We hope, with everything we have done so far, that everything comes together on the evening of March 4. We hope it could culminate in the result we want to get." 

The TT squad features senior players such as Kennya Cordner, Liana Hinds, and the French-based Kedie Johnson, as well as young starlets Alexcia Ali, Kaitlyn Darwent, goalkeeper Simone Eligon and 2025 Women's Player of the Year Nikita Gosine. 

"The mood in itself is buzzing. It's an exciting time and a time where all the players believe in what we've come here to do and they believe we can get the desired result." 

Only the group winner will advance to the eight-team Concacaf W Championship in November, heightening the importance of TT's clash with Honduras. The W Championship will serve as the region's qualifier for next year's Fifa Women's World Cup. Four teams will progress automatically to the World Cup, with two other teams moving on to an intercontinental playoff. The top two teams at the W Championship will also progress to the LA 2028 Olympics. 

TT women's team for Honduras match: 

Goalkeepers: Malaika Dedier, Simone Eligon, Akyla Walcott.  

Defenders: Kaitlyn Darwent, Kedie Johnson, Javanah Moreno, Emma Schneider, Myla Schneider, Victoria Swift, Christa Waterman, Cicely Spencer Wickham.  

Midfielders: Arianna Borneo, Ty'Kaiya Dennis, Elise Franco, Natalia Gosine, Nikita Gosine, Liana Hinds, Chrissy Mitchell, Lorall Romain. 

Forwards: Alexcia Ali, Kennya Cordner, Aaliyah Prince, Gabrielle Williams. 

Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago all square for mega U-20 showdown

Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 football teams will go head-to-head for a place in the Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship when they meet from 4 pm (TT time) in Alajuela on March 4. 

On March 2, the teams had contrasting results: TT spanked table-dwellers Sint Maarten 4-0, while Costa Rica played to an enthralling 3-3 draw with feisty Bermuda. The day's results mean that both Costa Rica and TT head group E with seven points apiece, with the former team leading the group with a +15 goal differential. TT have a +8 goal differential. Bermuda (five points) are third in the group, but came ever so close to edging "Los Ticos" in their six-goal thriller at the Costa Rican Federation Field. 

Having already missed a penalty in the contest, Bermuda took a surprise 2-1 lead over Costa Rica when Xahvi Deroza notched his second goal of the game on the hour mark. The Costa Ricans got on level terms in the 71st minute, only for Bermuda to dramatically retake the lead in the 77th minute through a wonderful free kick from striker Jace Donawa, who also netted in his team's 2-2 draw with TT on February 24. 

Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 midfielder Josiah Ochoa (C) tries to take the ball off his Bajan counterpart in a Concacaf qualifier in Costa Rica on February 26. Photo courtesy TTFA

The late drama wasn't done there, as Bermuda goalie Daniel Powell needlessly gave up a penalty in the 80th minute when he tried to dribble his way out of trouble in the area. Powell did make amends, though, diving to his left to save a right-footed penalty from David Garro. Still, there was no end to the chaos in the Bermuda area, as Andres Morera tapped in from close range from the subsequent corner after a Dax Palmer header rebounded off the bar. 

Powell was unable to carry on as he was labouring with a leg injury, and his replacement, David Martin, came up big in the dying moments when he saved a close-range shot from Garro in the fifth minute of stoppage-time. 

The 3-3 draw between Bermuda and Costa Rica now gives coach Marvin Gordon and his TT team a clear mandate for their meeting in a couple of days: defeat Los Ticos and advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships, which will be played from July-August. A draw will likely see Costa Rica moving on to the championships, as Bermuda would need to beat Barbados by 13 goals in their March 4 clash to leapfrog Costa Rica and TT and top the group. 

Screengrab of the Concacaf Men's Under-20 qualifying group, which features TT. 

In the first game of the double-header, TT breezed to three points against Sint Maarten, as goals from Giovanni Hospedales, Dominic Joseph, Josiah Kallicharan and Chaz Williams gave them a facile win. It was Joseph's third goal in as many games, with Swansea Youth Academy's Kallicharan scoring for the second straight game. 

A third straight win will see TT dancing into the final round. 

Army fall to 12-0 aggregate loss in Champions Cup

Defence Force may be the only unbeaten team remaining in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season, but they were exposed to a different level in the Concacaf Champions Cup, falling to a 12-0 aggregate loss to Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Pennsylvania on February 26. 

The Army/Coast Guard combination was no match for the Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit, as a 5-0 first-leg loss at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last week was followed by a 7-0 thumping away from home. With no realistic chance of overturning the deficit in the round-one tie, coach Devorn Jorsling was without two of his most experienced players, as Joevin Jones served a suspension, while captain Kevin Molino didn't make the trip. 

Philadelphia Union line up for the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup clash with Defence Force. Photos courtesy Philadelphia Union's Facebook page 

Sixteen-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan was the star of the show for Philadelphia, as he scored a brace late on and also set up a couple of goals. Giant striker Stas Korzeniowski also bagged a brace as the MLS club ran a riot in their home opener for the 2026 season. 

Amazingly, the Army had no shots in the game, and their brightest moment arguably came in the fifth minute when flanker Christian Bailey was played in over the top. Bailey delayed when through on goal, though, and his chance quickly disappeared. By the 12th minute, Defence Force's nightmare in the Champions Cup continued, as they were 3-0 down in the blink of an eye. 

Geiner Martinez opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a set piece, Jovan Lukic converted from the penalty spot in the tenth minute after a rash challenge from Shirwin Noel, while Korzeniowski finished off a flowing right-side move two minutes later. 

Jorsling and his charges will struggle to find positives from the two-legged affair, and stand-in captain Jelani Felix said the tie shows the team needs to get stronger and fitter, and improve their concentration at this level. 

While Philadelphia were in a class of their own, Defence Force's demise was also some of their own doing, evidenced by the home team's fourth goal, which came after Noel tried to chess-trap a cross in his own area in the 48th minute. The score swelled to 5-0 by the 53rd minute, with Sullivan adding gloss to the scoreline with his double which came in the 76th and 88th minutes. 

All smiles: Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan

Philadelphia will now contest Club America in the Champions Cup Round of 16, with the Army returning to a kinder schedule when they face 1976 FC Phoenix in a TTPFL clash on March 4. 

Defence Force starting XI: Isaiah Williams (GK); Isaiah Garcia, Russel Francois, Shirwin Noel, Jelani Fleix; Rivaldo Coryat, Joshua Araujo-Wilson; Christian Bailey, Adriel George, Tyrese Bailey; Kathon St Hillaire. 

Trinidad and Tobago U-20s whip Barbados 5-1

Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 football team got their first win of the Concacaf Men's Under-20 qualifiers on February 26 when they hammered fellow Caribbean team Barbados 5-1 in Alajuela, Costa Rica, to shoot to the group E summit. 

It was a much-improved showing from the TT team which drew 2-2 with Bermuda in a scrappy opener two days ago. Coach Marvin Gordon took full responsibility for the result against Bermuda, and signalled his intentions early for their second matchup by making as many as four changes to his starting lineup. 

Those changes perhaps had the desired effect as TT certainly started on the front foot, opening up a 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes. First, in the fifth minute, combative midfielder Josiah Ochoa calmly rolled in at the back post when Barbados failed to deal with a short corner from captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia. Four minutes later, TT's lead was doubled when left back Jaydon Caprietta beat goalie Damario Harewood from a tight angle. 

Just before halftime, TT got their third when lively playmaker Dominic Joseph passed into the net from close range after Chaz Williams picked him out with ease from the right byline. Both Joseph and Williams were brought into the starting XI for this game, with the former replacing his namesake Colin Joseph and Williams taking the place of speedster Malachi Webb, who operated on the right flank in TT's opener. It was Dominic's second goal of the tourney, as he came off the bench to briefly give TT the lead against Bermuda in the first clash. 

Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 central midfielder Jadon McShine (centre) makes a pass against Bermuda, with teammate Dominic Joseph (right) watching on keenly. Photo courtesy TTFA

In the 70th minute, Swansea City Academy player Josiah Kallicharan came off the bench to make it 4-0 when he calmly finished off a ball over the top from Garcia. Though the win wasn't in doubt, there were a few shaky moments at the back for Gordon's charges. In the 75th minute, goalie Bryan Gafiuk did brilliantly to save a penalty from Barbados' Jordan Bryan, who was brought down by a retreating Jadon McShine. 

In stoppage-time, an irate Gafiuk had his clean sheet spoiled when Tre Moore headed in a beautiful left-side cross from Kamari Johnson. Before the Bajan consolation, Garcia got his name on the scoresheet in the 90th minute when Harewood made a meal of a stinging free kick from the TT number ten. 

With four points to show from their first two matches, the TT boys will enjoy a few days of rest before returning to action in Alajuela with a match against Sint Maarten on March 2. 

Only the group winner will advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships later this year, and coach Gordon and his staff will surely keep a keen eye on hosts Costa Rica, who play Sint Maarten and Barbados on February 26 and 28, respectively. 

Trinidad and Tobago U-20s play to Bermuda draw

In November, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda played to a 2-2 draw as the teams ended their Fifa 2026 World Cup qualification campaigns. On February 24 in Alajuela, Costa Rica, the two nations again showed there was precious little to choose between them as their men's under-20 football teams battled to a 2-2 draw to kickstart their qualifying campaigns towards the 2027 Fifa Men's Under-20 World Cup. 

With Costa Rica on a bye to start group E of the Concacaf qualifiers, TT and Bermuda had the chance to take an early lead in the group after Barbados and Sint Maarten played to a draw earlier in the day. At the end of a scrappy and sometimes chaotic affair at the windy Costa Rican Football Federation Field venue, neither coach should say their team's display warranted all three points. 

TT's lineup was an enticing one on paper, as speedy forwards Malachi Wibb and captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia flanked striker Phillip Nelson up top, while ball-playing midfielders Josiah Ochoa and Caden Trestrail operated as a double-pivot in the middle of the park. Whether down to nerves or the trying breezy conditions, TT never really found fluidity in their build-up play, although they did create a handful of chances in transition. 

Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 football team line up for friendly action. Photo courtesy TTFA

Without a true "number six" or gritty ball-winner in the middle of the park, TT often looked bare on the defensive end as Bermuda broke down their lines with ease. In the 24th minute, TT should have taken the lead, but Garcia blazed a volley well over the bar after Nelson went on a mazy run through the heart of the Bermuda defence. 

In the 38th minute, TT's own defensive shortcomings were found out as Kennahz Fray split the defence with a raking pass out to the left flank, allowing Jace Donawa to coast past right back Talan McMillan and round goalie Bryan Gafiuk to score. 

Coach Marvin Gordon's response was immediate for TT, as he made a triple substitution at halftime, which saw Jadon McShine, Dominic Joseph, and Chaz Williams enter the game for Trestrail, Webb, and Colin Joseph, who started in the number ten role behind Nelson. Mere moments into the second half, TT were fortunate not to have Ochoa sent off, as the midfielder committed a naughty foul while already on a booking. The St Benedict's College man was swiftly subbed off in the 53rd minute, with winger Giovanni Hospedales taking his place. 

Though the team's buildup play remained disjointed, the speedy threat on the counter-attack also persisted. Just past the hour mark, Hospedales was denied by goalie David Martin after being played in by Garcia, while Dominic had a stinging right-footed shot brilliantly tipped over in the 64th minute. In between those TT chances, Gafiuk kept his team in the game when he saved with his feet to deny a surging Donawa, who had been played in with a long ball. 

With TT supposedly running out of answers, lively Swansea City Academy player Josiah Kallicharan provided a much-needed spark off the bench. In the space of a minute, the lanky Kallicharan played a hand in two goals as TT stunned Bermuda to take a 2-1 lead. In the 78th minute, Kallicharan squared from the byline into the six-yard box, with defender Emeer Peets unfortunately bundling the ball past his own keeper with Nelson in hot pursuit. Just seconds later, Kallicharan slipped in Dominic, who spanked a right-footer into the corner to give TT the unlikely lead. 

In a game which saw TT conceding numerous needless free kicks, Bermuda responded with an 84th-minute equaliser as substitute James Morrison beat Gafiuk with a looping header from a deep Khari Sharrief set piece. 

Both teams tried desperately for a late winner, but settled for a share of the spoils. With only the group winner advancing to the Concacaf Under-20 Championship later this year, TT will surely need improved performances if they are to top the hosts and win this group. TT will next play Barbados on February 26. 

TT starting team (4-2-3-1): 1.Bryan Gafiuk (GK); 14.Talan McMillan, 3.Sheridan McNish, 4.Adam Pierre, 5.Jaydon Caprietta; Caden Trestrail, 8.Josiah Ochoa; 7.Malachi Webb, 12.Colin Xavier Joseph, 10.Derrel Garcia (c); 9.Phillip Nelson. 

Trinidad and Tobago land March 15 friendly with Bolivia

Trinidad and Tobago's men's football team are likely to have a busy period over the next month, as they have landed a March 15 friendly with Bolivia. The Bolivia friendly will be followed by matches in the Fifa Series against Venezuela and Gabon on March 27 and 30, respectively. The Bolivia friendly comes outside of the Fifa international match window, which runs from March 23-31. 

The upcoming matches for the Dwight Yorke-coached team were confirmed by the TT Football Association (TTFA) on February 23. 

The Bolivia game will be played at the Estadio Ramon Tahuichi, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. When TT Bolivia met in a friendly in Sucre in January 2022, the then Agus Eve-coached team suffered a heavy 5-0 loss. Some of the players who featured in that game for TT were Justin Garcia, Neveal Hackshaw, Alvin Jones, Molik Jesse Khan, Reon Moore, Noah Powder, and Ryan Telfer.  

Trinidad and Tobago men's football team line up for a World Cup qualifier against Bermuda at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in November 2025. Photo courtesy TT Football Association 

TT are currently 97th on the Fifa rankings, with Bolivia ranked at 76th. Bolivia placed seventh in CONMEBOL's World Cup qualifying. The match comes at a contrasting time for the two teams as Bolivia are preparing for a Fifa 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoff with Suriname on March 26, while TT will be involved in the Fifa Series in Uzbekistan, having missed out on a spot in this year's World Cup. The winner of the playoff match between Bolivia and Suriname will take on Iraq for a place at the World Cup. 

The TTFA release said details regarding squad announcements and match coverage will be communicated via its official platforms in due course. 

Six-hitting Windies crush Zimbabwe by 107 runs

West Indies opened their Super 8s campaign at the 2026 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's T20 World Cup with a storming 107-run win over Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 23. 

Both teams started the day with unbeaten records from the group stage, but Zimbabwe proved no match for the powerful Windies, who smashed 19 sixes in their innings en route to posting 254 for six – the second-highest total in the history of the Men's T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe were never in the hunt in the chase, as they were bowled out for just 147, with the left-arm spin pair of Gudakesh Motie (four for 28) and Akeal Hosein (three for 28) doing the bulk of the damage. 

After captain Sikandar Raza called correctly at the toss, the Zimbabweans had a good start to the power play as pacers Richard Ngarava (two for 47) and Brad Evans (one for 46) accounted for the pair of Brandon King (nine) and Shai Hope (14), respectively. In the fourth over, though, Zimbabwe missed a big trick when Tashinga Musekiwa dropped Shimron Hetmyer on the backward square leg boundary with the Windies score on 26 for one. Hetmyer was on nine at the time, and the left-hander went on to take Raza (0 for 52) and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (one for 38) to the cleaners in a game-changing innings of 85 from 34 balls.

West Indies star batsman Shimron Hetmyer. Photo courtesy ICC

Dropped by Musekiwa for a second time when on 70, Hetmyer crashed seven sixes and seven fours and shared in a 122-run partnership for the third wicket with former captain Rovman Powell (59 off 35). It was Hetmyer's highest score in T20 Internationals, with his belligerent knock pushing him to 219 runs in the tourney, just a run shy of the tournament's leading run scorer, Sahibzada Farhan. 

It was also a nice return to form for Powell, who had scored 47 runs in his three previous innings in this year's tourney. With some lusty blows from Sherfane Rutherford (31 not out off 13), Jason Holder (13 off four), and the returning Romario Shepherd (21 off ten), the West Indies didn't let up at the back end and hammered 75 runs off the last five overs to get the highest score at this year's World Cup. 

Facing a near-impossible task, the Zimbabweans slipped to 20 for three by the third over as Hosein joined the party by dismissing Brian Bennett (five) and Ryan Burl (duck) in quick succession. Dion Meyers got to 28 off 15 before he was cleaned up by Motie in the seventh over, while Raza made 27 off 20 and shared in a 42-run partnership with Tony Munyonga (14) before both batsmen were outdone by the guile of Motie in the middle overs. 

With Zimbabwe reeling at 103 for nine, Evans (43 off 21) brought some respectability to his team's total by smashing massive sixes off Holder (one for 25) and Shamar Joseph (0 for 35) in consecutive overs. The match result was never in doubt, though, as Matthew Forde (two for 27) returned in the 18th over to get the scalp of Evans with a slower ball to seal West Indies' commanding victory. 

The Windies will return to action on February 26 with a matchup against South Africa, while Zimbabwe will face co-hosts and tournament holders India later that same day. 

The top two teams in the two Super 8 groups will progress to the semis. 

Summarised Scores: 

WEST INDIES – 254/6 from 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 85, Rovman Powell 59, Sherfane Rutherford 31 not out; Blessing Muzarabani 2/42, Richard Ngarava 2/47) vs ZIMBABWE – 147 from 17.4 overs (Brad Evans 43, Dion Myers 28, Sikandar Raza 27; Gudakesh Motie 4/28, Akeal Hosein 3/28). West Indies win by 107 runs. 

Hope wants more ruthless approach from Windies batsmen

West Indies skipper Shai Hope would like to see a more purposeful approach from his batsmen as they move into the Super 8 phase of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup from February 23. 

The Windies finished atop group C with a perfect record after defeating newcomers Italy by 42 runs in their final group match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on February 19. Speaking at the post-match ceremony after the victory over the Italians, Hope said the bowlers have got their execution down to a T thus far in the tourney, but reckoned there’s still room for improvement in the batting department. 

“It's a fine margin. Yes, we know we have batting depth, but batting smarts still need to be applied, especially when you're coming up against opposition – it's international cricket – that can get you on any day,” Hope said, when asked about the team’s ability to recover from the loss of early wickets. 

“You've still got to be clinical and ruthless with the way you go about your strokeplay. As much depth as we have, we still have to make sure we capitalise on those deliveries. Regardless of who's out there in the middle, we've got to make sure we do it for the team.” 

The Windies captain top-scored with a typically fluent 75 off 46 balls against Italy. However, the rest of the batsmen weren’t flowing as smoothly against the Europeans as the West Indies eventually got to a modest score of 165 for six after being asked to bat first. Both Roston Chase and Sherfane Rutherford made 24, while Matthew Forde chipped in at the back end with 16 not out off eight balls. 

West Indies captain Shai Hope (L) and Roston Chase run between the wickets at the 2026 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's T20 World Cup. Photo courtesy ICC

Hope spoke to his team’s unfamiliarity with the majority of Italy’s bowlers, but said his charges must improve if they are faced with similar challenges going forward. 

“I felt we could have put a little more impetus into the innings, especially in the middle. But again, all learnings to take from it,” he said. “If we're ever faced with that situation again, we have to find ways to be a bit more enforceful, especially when you've got better opposition to play. Not putting anything against Italy, but when crunch time comes, you've got to ensure you're capitalising on more deliveries.” 

For the third time in four matches, the Windies bowled out their opponents as the Italians only got up to 123 from 18 overs. Shamar Joseph cleaned up the tail and finished with career-best T20 figures of four for 30, while Forde set the tone again in the power play and took three for 19 in his four overs. Left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie (two for 24) and Akeal Hosein (one for 25) were also among the wickets. 

“I'm very proud of the bowling group. They're just executing really well. And not only from this tour, but even from a few series ago. We're just hitting the straps where we need to. I just feel as though the confidence and clarity we find in our bowlers gives us a lot clearer execution,” he said. 

“In this situation, it's about doing it over and over and doing it all the way through until we can get as far in the competition as we can get.” 

The Men in Maroon face surprise package and group B winners Zimbabwe in their first Super 8 match in Mumbai on February 23, before playing group D winners South Africa on February 26 and reigning champs India on March 1. The top two teams in each of the Super 8 groups will advance to the semis which will be played on March 4 and 5, respectively. The final will be played on March 8. 

Windies stay winning, enter Super 8s with perfect record

West Indies continued their winning ways at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup when they got a 42-run win over newcomers Italy at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on February 19 to finish group C play with a perfect record. 

Sent to bat first, the Windies made a modest score of 165 for six on the back of a brilliant fifty from skipper Shai Hope (75 off 46 balls). With ball in hand, West Indies showed their quality again as they bowled out Italy for 123, with pacers Shamar Joseph (four for 30) and Matthew Forde (three for 19) leading the way in another clinical performance. It was a unique effort in the field for Joseph, who complemented a career-best T20 haul by taking four catches. 

For the Windies, it wasn’t the most fluent display with the bat by any stretch, with Hope pointing to a mixture of good bowling from the Italians and a general unfamiliarity with their bowling weapons. The Windies were rocked twice early on, as opening batsman Brandon King (four) was dismissed in the second over, while Shimron Hetmyer (one) was spectacularly caught at short third man off pacer Thomas Draca in the fifth over of the match. 

From L-R: Shimron Hetmyer, Matthew Forde, and Shamar Joseph celebrate a wicket against Scotland. Photo courtesy Windies Cricket

With Hope leading from the front with six fours and four sixes, he stitched together a 64-run partnership for the third wicket with countryman Roston Chase (24 off 25) to take the West Indies to 95 for three. Hope and former captain Rovman Powell (nine) fell in quick succession as West Indies slipped to 115 for five, but timely cameos from Sherfane Rutherford (24 not out off 15) and Forde (16 not out off eight) saw the regional team score 50 runs in the last five overs. 

After a solid bowling display, Italy were trying to land a big scalp before hitting the World Cup exit door. However, their power play struggles continued as they slipped to 37 for three by the sixth over with Forde grabbing two early scalps. The speedy Joseph joined the party in his first over when he removed Italy captain Harry Manenti (eight), with Gudakesh Motie striking soon after as the Europeans slipped to 78 for five at the end of the 12th over. 

The writing was on the wall thereafter as the last five Italian wickets fell for just 45 runs, with Joseph wrapping up the tail with the scalps of Thomas Draca (five) and last man Ali Hasan (duck) in the 18th over. 

With a flawless record to show from their group stage exploits, West Indies will now start the Super 8s phase against Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on February 23. West Indies’ remaining Super 8 matches will be played against 2024 T20 World Cup finalists South Africa and India on February 26 and March 1, respectively. India defeated the South Africans by seven runs to lift the 2024 title at Kensington Oval, Barbados. 

Summarised Scores: 

WEST INDIES: 165/6 from 20 overs (Shai Hope 75, Sherfane Rutherford 24 not out, Roston Chase 24, Matthew Forde 16 not out; Crishan Kalugamage 2/25, Benjamin Manenti 2/37) vs ITALY: 123 from 18 overs (B Manenti 26, JJ Smuts 24, Anthony Mosca 19; Shamar Joseph 4/30, Matthew Forde 3/19). West Indies won by 42 runs. 

Army whipped by Philadelphia in Concacaf Champions Cup

On a night when they would have been hoping for some Ash Wednesday blessings to fall their way, Defence Force had a terrible return to the Concacaf Champions Cup as they were whipped 5-0 by Philadelphia Union at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on February 18. 

The first leg could not have possibly gone worse for the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) reigning champions, as their Major League Soccer (MLS) guests dominated from start to finish, while the hosts lost playmaker Joevin Jones to a sending-off in second-half stoppage-time. Not for the first time on this Concacaf journey, coach Devorn Jorsling will have to try to lift his team’s spirits after a heavy defeat on home soil. On this occasion, though, the campaign looks destined for an inauspicious end. 

It was a relatively cautious start to the game by both teams, as the Army tried to sit back and strike on the break through makeshift lone striker Kathon St Hillaire, while Philadelphia tried to work neat, swift combinations through the midfield and up to their giant strikers Ezekiel Alladoh and Stas Korzeniowski. Defence Force fashioned a pair of half-chances in the opening 20 minutes, as St Hillaire fired wildly over the bar after being freed on the counter by Justin Sadoo, while Jones slammed an ambitious long-range volley over the bar as well. 

Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan (L) and Bruno Damiani (R) celebrate a goal against Defence Force in their Concacaf Champions Cup clash at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on February 18. Photo courtesy Concacaf 

By the end of the first half, though, Philadelphia clearly had the measure of their hosts. They opened up a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals from Alladoh and Man of the Match Milan Iloski, who opened the scoring with a peach of a free kick past goalie Isaiah Williams in the 29th minute. With captain and playmaker Kevin “Nash” Molino often hounded by two and three markers in the midfield, Defence Force offered very little by way of an attacking threat and mustered just four shots in the game, one of which was on target. 

Asserting their dominance ahead of the return leg in Pennsylvania on February 26, Philadelphia went 3-0 up in the 64th minute when towering defender Olwethu Makhanya headed in from a right-side Iloski corner. In the 69th minute, Williams was picking the ball out of his net again as substitute Bruno Damiani scored via a deflection with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. 

Almost to rub salt in the wounds, Defence Force conceded again in the 81st minute after Grenadian referee Reon Radix consulted VAR to award a penalty to Philadelphia. Damiani made no mistake from the spot and got his team’s fifth goal – and his brace – despite a touch from the sprawling Williams. 

Before the 1,300-strong crowd in the second minute of stoppage-time, Jones, arguably his team’s most lively player on the night, was sent for an early shower when he received his second yellow card of the match. 

Defence Force still have a second leg to look forward to, but it looks like their Champions Cup run will end abruptly in round one.