Having missed out on a fourth straight sweep of the Youth Pro League last season – by a league final day defeat to Club Sando in the Under-18 division – and failure to secure an inaugural Cup after reaching all three title matches, San Juan Jabloteh wants to redeem themselves by reigning supreme in the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 divisions of the new 2019 season which kicks off this weekend.
Jabloteh opens their YPL 2019 league campaign against Central FC at Edinburg 500 Recreation Ground in Chaguanas on Sunday, while long-time rivals W Connection host Morvant Caledonia United at Union Recreation Ground in St. Margaret’s.
Elsewhere, Terminix La Horquetta Rangers welcome Club Sando at Larry Gomes Stadium.
The 2019 YPL league championship which boasts the best youth players across the country will run March 17 to May 19, followed by the YPL Cup competition from May 26 to June 16. All matches will be contested on Sundays with the exception of the Easter weekend break and Mother’s Day. Matches will be played on Saturday 11 May instead of Mother’s Day (May 12).
All matches are contested 10am, 2pm and 4pm in the U13, U15 and U17 divisions respectively.
Jabloteh, league champions of the U14 and U16 divisions last season, missed out on a fourth straight sweep of the league titles but set a new record by reaching all three finals of the inaugural YPL 2018 Cup. The young San Juan Kings however finished Cup runners-up to W Connection in the U14 and 18 divisions and Club Sando in the U16 division.
Last season Point Fortin Civic captured the U18 league title, and like Sando’s U16’s, made history by celebrating their respective clubs first ever trophy at all levels in the Pro League era.
“We took foot off the pedal [near the end],” explained Jabloteh technical director and first team head coach Keith Jeffrey. “But we intend to rectify that this season. We are hungrier for the knockout titles (Cups) knowing we lost all three last season. So that’s also a priority for us. We want everything, league and knockout.”
Jeffrey says last season’s failure to win every title puts a fresh challenge on Jabloteh's coaches after three successive years as champions in all three divisions prior to last season.
“Our reputation as a top club at the youth level will make it difficult for other teams when they face us,” Jeffrey said. “We are the benchmark for every youth team but we also understand every game will come as a final.
“We have history being one of the more successful clubs in the youth league and we look to continue in that vein against Central on Sunday and then when we host W Connection [a week later] in San Juan. Connection are always a challenge for us and we will be happy to put them out of the way early and set ourselves in a good position for the rest of the season because the ambition is to win everything [in all three divisions].”
Jeffrey, though overseeing all divisions as technical director, will take a hands on approach, joining champion youth coach Dave Weekes as coaches of Jabloteh’s U13 team which will also represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 2019 CONCACAF Under-13 Champions League in Costa Rica from August 10-17.
Other champion youth coaches Andre “Andy” Morales and Steve Neptune are in charge of the U15 and U17 teams respectively. Morales will be assisted by Joseph Noel and first team assistant coach Joshua Lamb will assist Neptune.
Jabloteh again stands a huge contributor of the national youth teams with the likes of U15 players Jahiem Faustin, Daeshawn Brown and Josiah Shade and U17 standouts Jerry Morris, Trent Weekes, Jarique Williams, Randy Antoine, Jordan Britto, Khalil Oliver and Tyrique Sutherland.
Jeffrey added that while he supports the national efforts at all levels, players must be available to represent their respective clubs outside of national fixtures.
“I am okay with the national teams having our players Monday to Saturday,” said the Jabloteh coach. “But [our players] must be free to represent our club on Sundays. I am sure all the clubs will support this until the national teams leave for whatever tournament.”
Youth Pro League 2019
League Championship
Match Day One (March 17, 2019)
W Connection vs Morvant Caledonia United
Central FC vs San Juan Jabloteh
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Club Sando
Defence Force FC vs Police FC
North East Stars vs Point Fortin Civic
Match Day Two (March 24, 2019)
Morvant Caledonia United vs North East Stars
Defence Force FC vs Point Fortin Civic
Police FC vs Club Sando
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Central FC
San Juan Jabloteh vs W Connection
Match Day Three (March 31, 2019)
Morvant Caledonia United vs San Juan Jabloteh
W Connection vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers
Police FC vs Central FC
Club Sando vs Point Fortin Civic
North East Stars vs Defence Force FC
Match Day Four (April 7, 2019)
Morvant Caledonia United vs Defence Force FC
Club Sando vs North East Stars
Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC
W Connection vs Police FC
San Juan Jabloteh vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers
Match Day Five (April 14, 2019)
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Morvant Caledonia United
Police FC vs San Juan Jabloteh
W Connection vs Point Fortin Civic
North East Stars vs Central FC
Defence Force FC vs Club Sando
Match Day Six (April 28, 2019)
Club Sando vs Morvant Caledonia United
Defence Force FC vs Central FC
W Connection vs North East Stars
San Juan Jabloteh vs Point Fortin Civic
Police FC vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers
Match Day Seven (May 5, 2019)
Police FC vs Morvant Caledonia United
Point Fortin Civic vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers
San Juan Jabloteh vs North East Stars
W Connection vs Defence Force FC
Central FC vs Club Sando
Match Day Eight (May 11, 2019)
Central FC vs Morvant Caledonia United
Club Sando vs W Connection
San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force FC
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs North East Stars
Point Fortin Civic vs Police FC
Match Day Nine (May 19, 2019)
Point Fortin Civic vs Morvant Caledonia United
North East Stars vs Police FC
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Defence Force FC
Club Sando vs San Juan Jabloteh
Central FC vs W Connection
YPL Cup 2019 (Knockout)
Qualifier Round (May 26, 2019)
Quarterfinal Round (June 2, 2019)
Semi-final Round (June 9, 2019)
Final (June 16, 2019)