DUANVALE, SOUTHBOROUGH AND BALMAGIE LEAD CHARGE FOR YFL JUNIOR CUP

The curtains will come down on the 2026 Youth Football League (YFL) under-11 Junior Cup tournament at the UWI Mona Bowl on Saturday October 24th, where twelve teams will battle for the coveted All-Island trophy. A new champion will be crowned as the 2025 winners St Peter and Paul Preparatory School did not enter this year’s competition. Regional champions Duanvale from Trelawny, Southborough from St Catherine and Balmagie from Kingston are front-runners for the title.

The twelve participating teams earned a trip to the all-island final after three weeks of regional competition. Action started in Trelawny on October 3rd on the grounds of William Knibb High School, the place that fostered the talent of the legend that is Usain Bolt.

Trelawny region brought out ten participating schools, the most across the three regions. Hauge Primary, Kinloss Primary, Clark’s Town Primary and regional champions Duanvale Primary made automatic progress to the all-island championship. But it was Duanvale who reigned supreme earning the right to be called regional champions after beating Clark’s Town Primary in the final.

Coach Jamar Jarrett is expecting his team to play a better brand of football come the all-island championship.

Ferdie Neita Park, the home of Jamaica Premier League Champions Portmore United was the stage for the St Catherine leg on October 17th. Southborough Primary was too good for their competitors, capturing the regional title, beating back the challenge of Bridgeport Primary in the final. They were joined in the all-island championship by the other semi-finalist Independence City and Naggo Head Primary.

Balmagie Primary were in a dominant mood capturing the last regional title beating Iris Gelly in the Kingston Regional final at the UWI Mona Bowl. Mona Heights Primary and Spanish Town Primary are the other two schools from the region into the all-island final.

The twelve participating schools have been placed in three groups of four; Zone A will feature Trelawny champion Duanvale Primary alongside Iris Gelly Primary, Mona Heights Primary and Independence City Primary. Zone B consists of St Catherine champion Southborough Primary, they will have for company Hague Primary, Spanish Town Primary and Naggo Head Primary.

Kingston champion Balmagie Primary will headline Zone C alongside Bridgeport Primary, Clark’s Town Primary and Kinloss Primary. Top two teams and two best third place teams will make progress to the quarter finals.

Paula Pinnock, Managing Director, Youth Football League says “Saturday marks the culmination of three exciting weeks of football. We’re thrilled to have returned to our three-region format this year, bringing more football, more teams and a wider reach, including two new locations. We’re looking forward to some thrilling competition at the All-Island Finals, made even more exciting by the introduction of our U14 exhibition matches featuring four of Jamaica’s top high schools. It’s all part of our commitment to creating more opportunities for young footballers across Jamaica.”