BASSETERRE, St. Kitts —The 2025/2026 SKNFA Final Four Playoffs got off to an exciting start, as MFCR Old Road United Jets and Azul Cayon Rockets each secured narrow 1-0 victories in their opening matches at the National Bank Group Technical Centre.
In the first match of the doubleheader, Azul Cayon Rockets edged Honda Newtown United 1-0, thanks to a 20th-minute strike from Mervin Lewis.
Speaking after the match, Assistant Coach Anthony “Nets” Isaac emphasised the importance of maintaining focus as the team pushes toward a place in the finals. “The guys are in camp right now, so there’s a real sense of togetherness… ” It’s all about football at all times,” he said. He also highlighted the need for improvement in midfield defence ahead of their next match. “We need a bit more defensive discipline in the midfield area… we asked them to tighten up, but moving forward, we must improve defensively in the middle of the field.”
In the second encounter, regular season champions—and still unbeaten—MFCR Old Road United Jets secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a 10-man Development Bank St. Peters FC. The decisive goal came from leading scorer Tiquanny Williams.
Head Coach Alexis Morris credited his team’s mental approach as key to securing the result. “I told my team it’s no longer about fitness or the volume of work we’ve done, but about sharpness, mentality, clarity, and recovery. For most of the game, we executed about two of those areas well. There were moments of inconsistency, but we were good enough to get the winner, and that’s what I’m grateful for,” Morris said.
St. Peters Head Coach Wayne Phillip praised his players for their resilience despite being reduced to 10 men early in the match. “They played with heart and showed they really wanted the win. The red card affected us, but the guys kept fighting. Based on that performance, I am extremely proud of them. We will continue to build from strength to strength,” Phillip stated.
The Final Four Playoffs continue on Wednesday, May 6, with Azul Cayon Rockets facing Development Bank St. Peters FC at 6:30 p.m., followed by MFCR Old Road United Jets taking on Honda Newtown United at 8:30 p.m.
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