Record-smashing San Juan Jabloteh are one Under-13-win away from completing a historic "triple triple" in the (Flow) Youth Pro League.
Jabloteh, who became the first club to successfully defend all divisions in the Youth Pro League last season, completed the three-peat in the mid-division by becoming FYPL 2017 Under-15 champions a week ago, and yesterday celebrated a parallel feat in the Under-17 division after earning a valuable point in a 2-2 draw against North East Stars on the penultimate day.
First-half goals by Jodel Brown -- from the penalty spot -- and Sownde Preito in the 5th and 23rd minutes respectively, at George Boyce Recreation Ground in Arima, eventually put coach Gilbert Bateau’s side’s tally at an unassailable 40 points ahead of their final game against Defence Force next Sunday at San Juan North Secondary ground.
North East Stars were level courtesy a Jonathan Glodon strike in the 12th minute, then for a second time through Trinidad and Tobago U17 attacker, Keshawn Hackshaw, who converted from the penalty spot eight minutes from time.
However the point earned wasn't enough to keep alive the Stars’ mathematical chance at upstaging the eventual U17 champions, San Juan Jabloteh—a side that has contributed heavily to the current T&T national U17 player pool.
Instead, North East Stars (32 points), with a game in hand and left in a battle for second, slipped a spot into third, hurdled by W Connection (33 points), who had defeated Defence Force 2-0 at Trinity College East ground in Trincity.
Bateau, who serves as Jabloteh’s head coach of the club’s youth system, but more specifically the U17 team, said accomplishments of recent years are evidence of the work done by him and other coaches at the club.
He said, however, “It’s still a work in progress. It’s no secret what we are helping these kids to understand what it takes to play at a higher level abroad while trying to complement what the national setup is doing under (Trinidad and Tobago senior team head coach) Dennis Lawrence.”
Bateau, whose focus is on improving the speed of play in a holistic approach, also serves the club’s professional team as assistant coach to technical director/head coach Keith Jeffrey and had served various national men’s and women’s teams as physical trainer.
Bateau, the father of professional footballers Sheldon and Sean Bateau, said he is driven daily by his promise to try and improve the life of youths through sport.
“We don’t take away joy of playing the football at Jabloteh, to be able to play to the best of your ability,” he explained. “We don’t focus on winning first, and maybe we did it right, playing with so much intensity that it becomes an almost given that the wins will happen.”
Jabloteh had kicked off yesterday’s play with an important 5-0 win over North East Stars in the Under-13 division—a result that kept the San Juan Kings atop the division’s standings, but only ahead of Police FC on a superior goal-difference, ahead of their final game next Sunday against Defence Force and Morvant Caledonia United respectively.
Jabloteh’s goal-machine, Nathaniel James, bagged a hat-trick for the U13s, before putting his tally this term to a record-smashing 40 goals with a goal for the U15 champions in a 3-1 win over North East Stars, while U13 teammate Jaheim Faustin had a double.
Nathaniel Carrim, simultaneously, scored his 18th goal of the season in a 7-0 Police U13 win over hosts Point Fortin Civic at Mahaica Oval.
Jaheim Marshall scored a hat-trick and Josiah Wilson a double, while Jarron Pascall was also on the scoresheet in the first half as little Blues made light work of Civic to keep their alive their shot at the U13 title till the final day.
W Connection, who already secured the third-place finish in the U13s, were held to a 2-2 draw by Defence Force before defeating the hosts 4-2 and 2-0 in the U15 and U17 divisions respectively.
Connection moved two spots up the U15 standings into second, and like on the U17 ladder, the Savonetta Boys are left in a battle for runners-up behind FYPL U15 champions San Juan Jabloteh.
Results
Under-13 Division
Club Sando 0 vs Central FC 4 (Kyle Phillip 31’, Giovani Warner 45’, Caleb Boyce 59’, 69’), at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium training field;
Defence Force 2 (Joshua Mason 30', 52') vs W Connection 2 (Dantaye Gilbert 26’, 38'), at Trinity College East;
North East Stars 0 vs San Juan Jabloteh 5 (Nathaniel James 1’, 40’, 50’, Jaheim Faustin 9’, 64’), at George Boyce Recreation Ground;
Morvant Caledonia United 0 vs MIC-IT St. Ann's Rangers 3, (Rangers won by default) at Maracas Recreation Ground;
Point Fortin Civic 0 vs Police FC 7 (Jaheim Marshall 7’, 55’, 67’, Jarron Pascall 15’, Josiah Wilson 20’, 56’, Nathaniel Carrim 45’), at Mahaica Oval.
Under-15 Division
Club Sando 3 vs Central FC 0, (Sando won by default) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium training field;
Defence Force 2 (Aiden Marcano 7', Marc Wharfe 46' pen.) vs W Connection 4 (Jerel Sandiford 30’, Adica Ash 50' pen., Kern Cedeno 57’, 59’), at Trinity College East;
North East Stars 1 (Nathaniel De Silva 12') vs San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Nickell Alexander 38’, Nathaniel James 77’, Dillon King 79’), at George Boyce Recreation Ground;
Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Justin Dos Santos 68' pen.) vs MIC-IT St. Ann's Rangers 4 (Keron Manswell 43’, Darius Douglas 50’, 52’, Ronaldinho Clarke 73’), at Maracas Recreation Ground;
Point Fortin Civic 3 (Thaj Neptune 5’, Amaale Julien 50’, 64’) vs Police FC 3 (Malachai King 13’, Dantay Cooper 44', J’dhun Martin 80’), at Mahaica Oval.
Under-17 Division
Club Sando 3 vs Central FC 0, (Sando won by default) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium training field;
Defence Force 0 vs W Connection 2 (Deneilson Benjamin 4’, Zion Allen 55’), at Trinity College East;
North East Stars 2 (Jonathan Glodon 12’, Kishawn Hackshaw 82' pen.) vs San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Jodel Brown 5' pen., Sownade Prieto 23’), at George Boyce Recreation Ground;
Morvant Caledonia United 0 vs MIC-IT St. Ann's Rangers 3, (Rangers won by default) at Maracas Recreation Ground;
Point Fortin Civic 2 (Omari Cobham 35', 53') vs Police FC 2 (Ian Cowie 15’, Jelani Moore 87’), at Mahaica Oval