KFC Goodwill tournament: Chase, St Benedict’s head into semis unbeaten

Another thrilling day of school football action unfolded at the Queen’s College and Ministry of Education (MoE) Grounds on Wednesday, signalling the end of the KFC Goodwill International Group stage.
Defending Champions Chase’s Academic Foundation and 2024 runner-up St Benedict’s College pulled off contrasting wins to ensure they maintain an unblemished record, while Suriname’s Technical School of Nickerie played their hearts out to secure a semi-final spot, and Guyana’s West Ruimveldt salvaged their pride with a massive win, exiting the competition on a high note.
Wednesday’s proceedings started with a 9-3 victory for Suriname over Annai Secondary to finish second in Group B. Annai’s Darius Wilson broke the ice in the 12th minute, but Suriname were quick to respond through Darien Dors, who netted a brace in the 15th and 19th to claim the lead.
Shaheen Nabebux’s (23rd) and Sennery Mac-Intosh’s (34th) solitary strikes and the first two of Jizzreel Sedoc’s (25th, 30th) hat trick put Suriname in control before the end of the first half, which expired 6-1.
Jermaine Jobe and Sunil Moses found the back of the net in the 50th and 78th minutes, attempting a comeback for Annai, but Sedoc’s third strike in the 63rd minute, alongside one each off the boots of Reuel Mesarch (75th) and Johathan Gomes (80th), sealed the massive win for Suriname.
Next, West Ruimveldt whipped Anglican Central Education Authority (ACEA) of the Bahamas 15-1 as both teams bowed out of the competition. Two helmet tricks were witnessed in that encounter, coming from Jeremiah Griffith (23rd, 24th, 33rd, 38th) and Donovan Welcome (19th, 20th, 21st, 79th), while Domonic Lesprance secured a hattrick in the 71st, 72nd and 91st minutes. Marvin Sealey added a brace in the 17th and 29th, and Joel Griffith (75th) a solitary strike, in addition to an own goal to sum up West Ruimveldt’s 15.
ACEA’s consolation was netted by Malik Tucker in just the second minute of the clash.

Over at the MoE ground later that evening, a 76th-minute strike from Josiah Barrow made the difference between St Benedict’s College of Trinidad and Brazil’s Jose Viera De Salles Guerra school.
A battle for the top of Group A saw Kingston College cruising to victory just after half-time, on the backs of a successful penalty from Shaquon Elliot and an open goal from Riley Kevwaroo in the 16th and 57th minutes, respectively.
On the other side of the pitch, Chase’s Academic Foundation were reduced to 10 men in just the 10th minute after a red card was issued to their captain.
However, a comeback fit for the record books was staged by the 10-man defending champions as Nyron Barrow pulled the first goal back in the 60th minute, followed by Mark Glasgow’s slip into the left corner of the goal for the equaliser in the 80th. Stand-in Captain Shaquan David finally sealed their redemption in the 90th.
The tournament’s semi-finals are scheduled for today, Friday, December 19, at the MoE Ground, Carifesta Avenue.
At 18:00h, semi-final 1 will take centre stage, pitting Trinidad and Tobago’s St Benedict’s College against Jamaica’s Kingston College, while at 20:00h, defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation will take on Suriname’s Technical School of Nickerie, both for spots in Sunday’s final.