TRINITY/CHALLENGERS UNITED SECURE TOP SPOT IN SKNFA DIVISION 1

KFC Trinity/Challengers United have cemented their position at the summit of the SKNFA Division 1 table to close out 2025, following a dominant 4-0 victory over 607 Construction Lodge Patriots during Match Week 4 on Thursday December 18, 2025.

The league leaders wasted no time asserting their dominance in their final match before the Christmas and Carnival hiatus. N’shande Hughes opened the scoring early in the 6th minute, setting the tone for a commanding performance. Kaylon Liburd was the standout attacker, netting a brace with goals in the 21st and 84th minutes, while Amarie Hughes added a strike in the 79th minute to complete the rout. The victory ensures Challengers United enters the holiday break with significant momentum and the league lead.

Reflecting on the team’s performance after their latest victory, Coach Hughes explained that the current roster strength is built on long-standing chemistry.

“It is due to a number of returning players that would have been with me from since grassroots level. Left and went to OR, Southstars and the likes and since that they have since returned and so that has cemented and garnered some consistency in the efforts as well as the technical abilities,” Hughes said. Despite the early success, he emphasized a grounded mentality: “For us it’s one game at a time.”

With the league now paused for the festive season, the coaching staff is focused on ensuring the squad retains its sharpness for the resumption of play in the New Year. Hughes noted that the team is not getting ahead of itself, with their sights set strictly on their first opponent of 2026.

“We are not looking at how much games beyond the next encounter which would be on the 9th of January versus another good team which is Saddlers United, and so we’re just going to go back to the drawing board, prepare,” Hughes stated. “It’s the Christmas festive season and so for us it’s about maintaining what we have gained thus far.”

While the “one game at a time” mantra remains the team’s guiding principle, Hughes acknowledged that the ultimate objective is a return to top-flight football. He outlined a tactical philosophy centered on ball dominance to achieve that goal.

“Yes that’s the vision, however the vision even though it is to go back to the Premiership because we have been there twice; it is one game at a time,” he said. “It is how can we manage our games by scoring, by dominating the possession of the ball and making the other teams work towards wanting that ball.”

While Challengers secured the top spot, the most explosive performance of the weekend came from Mantab, who decimated Rivers FC with a massive 10-0 win at the Saddlers Playing Field on Friday December 19.

Forward Kirae Jarvis produced the individual performance of the season thus far, registering a double hat-trick with six goals (10’, 30’, 64’, 80’, 88’, 90’). He was supported by goals from Tyrese Jeffrey, K’Jarnie Liburd, Jermaine Carey, and Rawle Benjamin.

Other Match Week 4 Results:

• Trevor Fraites & Associates Molineux Pitbulls (4) vs. Conaree Fireballs International (1): Molineux ended the year on a high note Sunday, led by a quick-fire first-half brace from Keita Jones (25’, 26’). Ronvyl Williams and Quanieke Clarke also scored, keeping Molineux in the hunt near the top of the standings.
• Skelec Garden Hotspurs (3) vs. Fast Cash / MBT Saddlers United (0): Spurs kept a clean sheet and took all three points with goals from Jamarie James, Sean Percival, and U Carl-J Caines.
• Elco Ltd Security Forces (1) vs. CIBC Village Galaxy (1): In a tightly contested midfield battle, the teams shared the spoils. Shama Walters scored for Security Forces to cancel out an early opener from Galaxy’s Obinna Nwogbaga.

The SKNFA Division 1 is now on its official mid-season break for the Christmas and Carnival celebrations. The league will resume in January 2026 as teams look to chase down KFC Trinity/Challengers United in the race for promotion.