Republic Bank National Youth Football League Thread.

[Tallman]

Jaric Titans move into U-13, U-15 finals
By Narissa Fraser (T&T Newsday)

THE Republic Cup National Youth Football League, which began on June 1, continued yesterday with its semi-final matches at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.

A total of 12 teams faced off in the Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 categories to secure their spots in next week’s finals.

The Under-11 games were 50 minutes each with nine-a-side teams. The first match between SKHY FC and Pro Series began with some excitement as Kai Williams of SKHY FC found the back of the net in the seventh minute. SKHY FC were on their way to victory but a 40th minute equaliser from Jasai Theophilous, who was the MVP of the match, took the teams to penalty kicks where it ended in heartbreak for SKHY as Pro Series won 5-4.

Trendsetter Hawks I cruised past Queen’s Park Football Academy 2-0 in the second Under-11 semi; both goals scored by Ishan Miller.

Jaric Titans faced Trendsetter Hawks II in an Under-13 semi. The matches in this category were 60 minutes long but the coaches seemed tense as they were pacing and shouting on the sidelines.

The Titans supporters were also at the edge of their seats until Denton Alleyne copped a late goal, leading the Titans to a 1-0 victory. Alleyne said the match was easy for him and that he is looking forward to scoring more goals in the final.

Trendsetter Hawks I defeated the Point Fortin Youth FA 1-0 with a late goal from Mordecai Ford.

Following in the footsteps of their younger counterparts, the Jaric Titans Under-15 squad earned a 2-0 victory over Santa Cruz United, with Orlando Jones finding the back of the net in the 36th and 50th minute.

The day ended the same way it began - with penalties. FC Ginga faced off with Trincity Nationals where it remained goalless at the end of regulation time. Trincity Nationals went on to win 4-2 on penalties.

The finals will be held on July 6 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 10 am.

[Rastaman]

It started in early April....

[Tallman]

Republic Youth Cup to provide scholarship opportunities for players
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)

REPUBLIC Bank’s partnership with Gateway Athletics International for the 2022 Republic Youth Cup will provide players with the opportunity to secure scholarships at local, regional and international colleges and universities.

This was announced by Gateway managing director Shem Alexander at the tournament’s launch last Friday at Republic Bank’s head office in Port of Spain.

After a two-year absence owing to covid19, the long-standing youth competition returns in June and will provide avenues of academic and sporting growth for young players.

Registration is open to all schools, football academies and clubs. Interested participants can register by logging on to www.gatewayathletics.com.

Hosts Republic Bank have been involved in this popular tournament, which promotes the advancement of youth football, for over two decades.

At the launch, Alexander, a former Republic Youth Cup participant, expressed enthusiasm for the competition’s return and was eager to see T&T’s up-and-coming talent on show.

“We have come on board to act as the conduit to ensure the student-athletes with the local schools, football academies and clubs are given the opportunity to chart their football career through football scholarships to colleges and universities, locally, regionally and internationally.

“The vision was birthed as a result of a need to assist and provide a bridge of opportunity to local and regional student-athletes.

“Through strong established relationships with various universities, colleges and clubs throughout the US and UK, Gateway stands proud on its record of having fostered over 100 scholarships for both male and female student-athletes,” he said.

This year’s Republic Youth Cup features male and female Under-14, Under-16 and 17-19 divisions.

Additionally, organisers revised the previous format and reverted to the original format which is seven versus seven.

Alexander added, “We expect to grasp the spirit of the community as we host a weekend of play for each of the various zones throughout TT. This provides good opportunities for participants through the All-Star weekend while engaging US-based colleges and institutions.”

Also present at the launch were Republic Bank’s senior manager group marketing and communications Kwame Blanchfield, Gateway Athletics director of operations Adrian Romain, YMCA CEO T&T Odetta Alexander, director of SporTT Hayden Mitchell, chairman of Tunapuna Regional Corporation Kwesi Robinson and tournament ambassador/international footballer Robert Primus.

[Tallman]

Republic Cup makes return...71 clubs set to compete in National Youth Football League
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

YOUTH FOOTBALL development is key to returning football in Trinidad and Tobago to a high standard.

So stated Anton Corneal, technical director of T&T football, yesterday, when delivering the feature address at the launch of the Republic Cup National Youth Football League.

With the T&T Premier League set to restart local professional football, from next Friday, Corneal felt that Saturday’s start of the National Youth Football League was also key to the development of young footballers.

The 2023 Republic Cup National Youth Football League runs from March 4-May 27 and is being organised by Gateway Athletics, sponsored by Republic Bank and endorsed by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Shem Alexander of Gateway Athletics, detailed the structure of the tournament as having six divisions; Boys Under-13, -15, -17 & -20, along with Girls Under-16 & -20. Seventy-one clubs have registered to compete nationwide. Preliminary competition will be contested on a zonal basis, after which the top two teams from each zone will contest national playoffs.

Corneal lauded the full resumption of the Republic Cup, which had a shortened version in 2022, following a two-year absence due to the Covid- 19 pandemic.

“We have been advised that if one programme must exist it must be football. There must be a league in your country. It has been advised by Arsčne Wenge (FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development) who has actually spoken to all the MA’s, (FIFA Member Associations) asking, ‘could you get football playing in your country’. From the grassroots level to the elite level,” Corneal stated.

He further added that developing football at youth level was now key to improving football in T&T.

“We have to allow young players the chance to be part of a club,” Corneal declared. “Players need to learn from each other. They need to understand winning and losing. That’s how we grow as persons. It allows us to socialise with friends... That belonging to something...” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Reena Gopaul, manager group brand management at Republic Bank, added: “Our Republic Cup National Youth Football can be used as a stepping stone to what may one day be promising career in football.”

One of the highlights of the 2023 Republic League is the All-Star weekend and College Fair, to be held from March 30-April 2 and will feature games from the league’s boys and girls top performers, allowing the international coaches to see the players in a game-setting. Already coaches from the USA and Germany have committed to having a look at the best performers.

“Our high-performing players will also have the opportunity of demonstrating their talent to international coaches in our showcase matches and our skills camp. Additionally, the College Fair is another avenue for further development, giving the young players with talent the chance to translate it into real opportunities for further education abroad,” Gopaul explained.

[Tallman]

Anton Wolfe: Republic Cup a platform for youths
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)

ANTON Wolfe is urging youngsters to view the Republic Cup National Youth Football League as a stepping stone in their football careers as he once played in the league which was instrumental in his development and it eventually led him to the 2006 World Cup.

The 2006 World Cup in Germany was the only time TT qualified for the tournament after narrowly missing out on qualification for the 1974 and 1990 editions.

Wolfe was one of the speakers at the 2023 Republic Cup launch at Republic Bank’s Sports Club, Barataria on Tuesday. Gateway Athletics International and the TT Football Association (TTFA) are supporting the league.

Wolfe said, “I think this tournament helped me to unearth my talent that helped me to continue playing the football and knowing that I could reach far if I put in my dedication, sacrifices and hard work which I did. I played for numerous clubs in TT and also abroad.”

The league will run from March 4 to May 27 featuring 71 clubs which will field over 150 teams. Six divisions will compete in the league including four boys divisions and two girls divisions. The boys will play in the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 age groups and in the girls division the Under-16 and Under-20 age groups will be contested.

Over 3,000 footballers are expected to compete in the league. At the end of the league, the best players will be chosen to play in an all-star match. The match will give players the opportunity to be seen by scouts who may offer the players university scholarships overseas. A college fair will also be held where league participants will have the chance to interact with administrators from universities in the US.

Wolfe said many thought he would not have been selected for the 2006 World Cup, but his work ethic paid off.

“I was a surprise selection on the 2006 World Cup team to some people, but I believe hard work does not go unrecognised.”

He urged the footballers to keep believing in themselves.

“I would like to say to the young players who want to make football or another sport part of their life…failure is part of life, failure is part of success. Anyone that has not failed has not tried. Even if you fail once keep going, if you fail twice keep going.” Wolfe encouraged the upcoming players to trust in God.

Technical director of the TTFA Anton Corneal said the league is beneficial. “They need this platform. They cannot get to their true potential without this platform. We need players to play.”

"If youngsters can play schools and club football they will be active for the majority of the year, said Corneal.

Reena Gopaul, manager group brand management, group marketing and communications at Republic Bank, said, “We believe that this competition can be the impetus for the continued development of quality football at a national level. By having a pool of young talent from which to pull we can start now to hone their skills, foster training discipline…character development and develop their talents as well to cultivate a new generation of Soca Warriors.”

Managing director at Gateaway Athletics Shem Alexander is excited that the competition provides an avenue for players to showcase their potential for foreign coaches.

[Trini _2026]

Republic Cup makes return...71 clubs set to compete in National Youth Football League
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)


The 2023 Republic Cup National Youth Football League runs from March 4-May 27 and is being organised by Gateway Athletics, sponsored by Republic Bank and endorsed by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Wow almost  3 months   

[asylumseeker]

Republic Cup makes return...71 clubs set to compete in National Youth Football League
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)


The 2023 Republic Cup National Youth Football League runs from March 4-May 27 and is being organised by Gateway Athletics, sponsored by Republic Bank and endorsed by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Wow almost  3 months   

Astute observation. 

[Tallman]

TTFA stages goalkeeper coaching course for Republic Cup teams
TTFA Media

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association Coach Education Department as part of its collaboration efforts with Republic Bank Limited, will stage be a Goalkeeper Coaching Workshop offered (free of charge) to all teams/clubs registered in the Republic Cup National Youth League 2023.

The Goalkeeper Coaching workshops will be done at three (3) different Levels ( Basic; Intermediate; Advance) as sanctioned by TTFA Technical Director Anton Corneal.

The head of TTFA Coach Education Rajesh Latchoo further added that the workshops will be part of the “TTFA On-Demand courses” for further education of coaches and will be the first of a series of workshops conducted by the TTFA’s Coach Education department.

This Goalkeeper Coaching workshop will be at the BASIC level and delivered by former Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Mr. Earl “Spiderman” Carter.

Latchoo explained that it the FA is that coaches will be engaged with their teams during the opening phase of the Republic Cup NYL,and therefore the FA have is offering multiple days in which teams/clubs can attend. The department’s aim will be to continue to support the RCNYL’s teams/clubs with the development of their coaches, staff and players by providing workshops to the clubs/teams throughout the RCNYL.

Workshop Dates

Open to coaches of all Teams/Clubs registered in Republic Cup National Youth League (TRINIDAD) – BASIC GoalKeeping Coach workshops Saturday 11th March, 2023 from 9.00am to 12.30pm at TTFA Technical centre (9am-10.30am) and Ato Boldon Training Field (11am – 12.30pm)

Open to coaches of all Teams/Clubs registered in Republic Cup National Youth League (TRINIDAD) – BASIC GoalKeeper Coach workshops Sunday 12th March 2023 from 9.30am to 1pm at TTFA Technical centre (9.30am-11am) and Ato Boldon Training Field (11.30am – 1pm)

Open to coaches of all Clubs registered in Republic Cup National Youth League (TOBAGO) – BASIC Goalkeeper Coach workshop Tuesday 14th March 2023  from 5pm to 8pm at Dwight Yorke Stadium.

Please note the following:

1) Certificates of attendance will be given (post course).

2) Attendance is limited to 1 member per club/ team and we ask attendees to register using the following link:  https://forms.gle/2am8N1xpaHv7naPa8

Persons with further questions or for anyone encountering difficulty with the registration link, please feel free to call or message Rajesh Latchoo, TTFA Head of Coach Education at 1 868 296 8790.

[Trini _2026]

Republic Cup makes return...71 clubs set to compete in National Youth Football League
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)


The 2023 Republic Cup National Youth Football League runs from March 4-May 27 and is being organised by Gateway Athletics, sponsored by Republic Bank and endorsed by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Wow almost  3 months   

Astute observation. 

On a serious note how does benefit our overall development .  2 month competion here a 3 month competiton with  cramped up  fixtures     what  is next for the summer the   commisoner cup ?

[Bianconeri]

Fingers crossed this could be the start of actual GK Coaching licenses being offered.

This is a good start of info. sharing at a grassroots lvl