The Trinidad and Tobago football community is grappling with profound grief and urgent questions following the fatal shooting of former national youth footballer Tekay Hoyce. The 27-year-old was killed on December 27th in a brazen daylight attack at the intersection of Charlotte Street and Independence Square in Port of Spain, marking another tragic loss in a disturbing pattern of violence affecting young athletes.
Hoyce, who represented Trinidad and Tobago in the 2014 Concacaf Under-17 World Cup qualifying campaign, was found with multiple gunshot wounds near the Chinastown entrance dragon statue. The incident also left three other victims injured, including a female bystander struck by stray bullets.
The killing has sparked intense scrutiny about the societal pressures and systemic failures that lead promising athletes away from sports and into dangerous lifestyles. Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle, who grew up with Hoyce, described him as having possessed ‘potential to be one of TT’s most outstanding footballers’ but noted how he ultimately ‘strayed away from his dreams and entered a world which cost him a violent end.’
Former teammates and coaches remembered Hoyce as a joyful presence who brought laughter to the locker room while demonstrating fierce competitiveness on the field. Chris Govia, his former under-17 team manager, emphasized that Hoyce never displayed violent tendencies or disrespectful behavior during his youth football career.
This tragedy represents the fourth known instance of a national youth program player meeting a violent death, raising alarming concerns about the protection mechanisms for young athletes from vulnerable communities. The year 2025 has been particularly devastating, with several teenage footballers falling victim to gun violence, including 17-year-olds Kimani Dyer, Zwade Alleyne, and Ezekiel Ramdialsingh.
Govia highlighted the残酷 reality facing many talented young players: ‘Just because they play sport, it doesn’t mean they’re not exposed to the bad things that exist in their communities.’ He criticized the professional football system for creating ‘false hope’ by expecting athletes to train extensively without providing financial support or viable career pathways.
The shooting has also traumatized Charlotte Street vendors, with one eyewitness describing the incident as ‘the first time I see it so close in my face.’ Many remain fearful despite the area’s reputation for frequent criminal activity.
Hoyce’s football legacy includes his crucial penalty conversion that secured Trinidad and Tobago’s 3-0 victory over Barbados in the 2014 Caribbean under-17 World Cup qualifier final, as well as his championship-winning goal for Mucurapo East Secondary in the national Intercol final that same year.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has officially acknowledged Hoyce’s contributions to youth international football while extending condolences to his family, friends, and former teammates.