Senior Multimedia Reporter
nigel.simon@guardian.co.tt
Naparima College and St Benedict’s College were crowned South Zone Under-14 and Senior Division (Under-20) Secondary Schools Football League Boys’ Championship Divisions respectively in emphatic fashion at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Training Field, Marabella, on Wednesday.
In the day’s opener, the Jeremiah Daniel-captained Naparima College got a goal each from Donovan Drayton, Adasa Richardson, Zyonn Castanada and Gianluca Bailey to lift the title over their bitter-rivals Presentation College of San Fernando, and a Trinidad semifinal meeting with North Zone winners’ Queen’s Royal College while Central Zone champions Presentation College does battle with East Zone champions, Arima North Secondary, who whipped El Dorado East 4-1 in their zonal final on Saturday at Republic Bank Sports Club Ground in Barataria.
St Benedict’s was also in commanding form in the South Zone Under-20 decider, strolling to a lopsided 5-1 defeat to Naparima College with Daniel Jones helping himself to a beaver-trick, and Adam Pierre, the other while Aidan Ramnarine netted the consolation item for Naparima in the feature match of the doubleheader at Marabella.
With the win, the reigning national champions St Benedict’s advanced to the Trinidad semifinal between the winners of the East Zone final to be contested by Hillview College and St George’s College, while North champions, Fatima College, faced Central winners, Marabella South Secondary.
In the Under-16 Division, St Benedict’s are also the South Zone champions thanks to their 5-4 penalty-kick win over Presentation College of San Fernando after a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time.
For Presentation, Vaughn Clement scored both goals while Kylon Cayenne and Malik Young were on target for St Benedict’s who will now contest the Trinidad semifinal against Central Zone winners’ Chaguanas North Secondary with North title-holders Fatima College, the reigning national champions, and East Zone winners’ Arima North Secondary to clash in the other.
The Form One (13-and-Under) semifinal is already set with St Mary’s College and Queen’s Royal College (QRC) meeting in one match while champions Fatima, who advanced to the semifinal courtesy of a bye, comes up against East Zone winners Trinity College East.