'Zum Zum' lights up Phoenix with a hat-trick

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Roneil Kashif WalcottMy name is Roneil Walcott and I'm a sports journalist who has had several years of experience writing for publications such as Wired868.com and the Trinidad Newsday. I aim to bring readers closer to the action with expressive writing and a dab of flair.

March 7, 2026

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'Zum Zum' lights up Phoenix with a hat-trick

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Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 football team captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia lit up the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation ground with a stylish hat-trick on March 6, as his San Juan Jabloteh team crushed 1976 FC Phoenix 5-0. These were the first goals of the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season for Garcia, who scored nine goals last season en route to winning the league's Rising Star award.

Garcia opened the scoring for the sixth-placed Jabloteh in the 26th minute after being sprung on the counter by Malachi Webb, as he checked back on his right foot before curling a beautiful shot past goalkeeper Duvaughn Daniel. Just past the hour mark, Garcia got his and Jabloteh's second when he slammed a shot off the base of the post and in, after being teed up by lanky striker Dwight Jordan.

Jabloteh then put the game beyond all doubt with a quick three-goal burst in a 12-minute span, as flankers Jaheim Faustin and Andell Fraser both scored, before Zum Zum wrapped up the scoring with his hat-trick in the 74th minute.

Blue Minimalist Man Of The Match Instagram Post.jpg — Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia cut 1976 FC Phoenix's flight with a TTPFL hat-trick on March 6.

Jordan, Faustin, and Fraser were all involved in the build-up, which led to Garcia's hat-trick goal, with Fraser eventually being clipped in the area by Daniel. Calm as ever, Garcia made no mistake from the spot as he rolled his penalty into the bottom corner to seal Jabloteh's five-star showing.

Jabloteh moved up to 27 points, with Phoenix (15 points) slipping to ninth on the 12-team table.

In the second game of the La Horquetta double-header, Caledonia AIA (16 points) moved up to eighth as they thumped the seventh-placed Central FC Reboot (24 points) 5-1. "Cale" took a 3-0 lead to the half after goals from Vynicius Dutra Sousa, Shaquan Nelson, and Jesse Williams, with flanker Jadiel Joseph putting the icing on the cake with a second-half brace.

The TTPFL action continues today with games at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella and at the St James Police Barracks. From 8 pm at the barracks, the fifth-placed AC Port of Spain (31 points) will play the third-placed Miscellaneous Police FC (36 points).

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