The 2018 edition of the Republic National Youth Football League (RBNYL) will kick off today with two exhibition matches at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima, from 2 pm.
In the first match National Under-12 champion team Queen’s Park (Queen’s Park Cricket Club) will take on a South Under-12 team, while at 4 pm defending Under-16 champion outfit FC Santa Rosa will be up against a North Zone Under-16 squad preparing for a tour of Canada.
Zonal competition will officially begin on Saturday, March 24 in Port-of-Spain at the Queen’s Park Savannah with North Zone action. Organisers expect a bumper season with over 100 teams in three age groups challenging for supremacy and title honours. With 36 teams in all categories, the North Zone will be the biggest, but it will not take away from the quality of matches expected in the other zones.
Two zones, Tobago and Central will start after the Easter holidays. This year’s marks the 23rd edition of Republic Bank’s sponsorship of the League which will be a key component in the bank’s ‘Power to make a difference programme.’