Smaller SSFL gets going tomorrow.
By: Kern De Freitas (Express)[/size]
The 2005 BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League will kick off with a significantly smaller sponsorship figure than what was offered to the League last year for the tournament, and youth football development.
The sponsors, who have supported the schools football league since 2002, gave the league a cheque worth $154,000 at yesterday's SSFL launch at the Marriott Hotel in Mucurapo. But last year, the SSFL got $220,000 at the beginning of the season.
Yesterday, SSFL president Ewing Davis told the Express he assumed the total amount of sponsorship this year would be the same as last year, as the two parties had not negotiated any new sum for the League. Davis also explained that the cheque would get proceedings started, and as the League progressed, he expected they would receive the rest.
The League will also see a reduction in the number of teams seeking zonal and national glory, as each zone will now contain a maximum of seven teams, one less than 2004, when the cellar-placed teams in the North, South and East Zones, were automatically relegated. And only one Division One team has earned promotion. Malabar Composite will make their debut on schools football's biggest stage this season. During the launch, Davis gave the reasons behind the reduction in the number of teams in the Championship Division.
"Well over the years," he explained, "the pundits in football felt strongly that playing football three days a week was physiologically wrong for school children. We looked at it and we felt it was important to reduce it. It also helps in improving the quality in the League and we are hoping to get to six (teams per zone), where we will really be able to see the best set of players for talent at that level.
"However we recognise that every young man would like to play for his school. There are other divisions, which would really enhance the senior division football. We should see better football at the Championship level," Davis said.
As premier speaker at the launch, Minister of Education Hazel Manning urged the players not to think of winning as the only factor in playing in the competition.
"As we approach the new season, I challenge the administrators, players and all stakeholders to be mindful of the rightful place of competition, in the overall development of our students,"Manning said. "A 'win at all cost' attitude must not be the guiding principle that governs your involvement. We must inculcate a feeling of modesty during times of euphoria and accept winning and losing in the game of life. We must also never close the channels of communication and socialization when things do not go our way," she stressed.
This year, the SSFL kicks off with an East Zone double header tomorrow. San Juan Secondary Senior Comprehensive and Hillview College will do battle at the Larry Gomes Stadium from 3.30 pm, before defending East Zone and national League champs, the "Green Machine" of St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive open their account against the "Blue Thunder" of El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive from 5.30 p.m.
Spencer leads ‘Green Machine’ against ‘Thunder’
By Rachael Thompson-King.
St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive will start its defence of the the BG T&T Secondary School Football League East Zone title against El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar from 5 pm.
The 2005 season was launched on Monday at the Marriott Hotel in Mucurapo and announced a reduced number teams — each zone will have a maximum of seven teams, one less than last year.
Also reduced was the sponsorship amount from $220,000 to 154,000.
However, those changes will not affect the “Green Machine” as they strive to hold on the East title.
To do this, the Big Five and East InterCol champion, St Augustine will be equipped with four returning players.
They are forward Shastri Spencer, midfielders Elton John and Lorenzo King and defender Jesse Martinez.
Spencer, who was nicknamed “Two-goal Spencer” having netted four double last season, was the topscorer in the East Zone last year and his team will be looking to him to do the same this season.
New to the St Augustine roster are midfielders Emmanuel Alexander and Stephan Chang and striker Gyasi Joyce.
Chang recently represented T&T in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-15 competition where the national junior team finished fourth. Both Chang and Joyce were members of St Augustine U-16 team last year.
Keeping for the “Green Machine” is Jonathan Chance and Christopher Newallo-Singh, who was also promoted from the U-20 team, will support him in the goal.
The “Blue Thunder” enters today’s match looking to pull-off an upset win over the defending champion.
El Dorado was unable to beat St Augustine in last year’s competition, finishing the league in fourth place, winning six matches, losing two and drawing six from 14 matches. Preceding that affair, San Juan Secondary and Hillview College will kick-off the season at 3.30 pm. San Juan and Hillview were the other top two competitors last season.
However, it was San Juan prevailing over the Hillview boys, securing the second spot in the league three-points ahead. San Juan (27) won eight matches, lose three and drew three from its 14 matches while Hillview (24) won seven, lost three and drew four.
Tomorrow, St George’s College hosts former East Zone champions Arima Senior Comprehensive from 4 pm.
Also tomorrow, the North Zone opens with league defending champion Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive taking on St Anthony’s College at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 3 pm. Following Malick Senior Comprehensive will play Queen’s Royal College at 5 pm. On Friday, the South Zone begins while action in the Tobago and Central start Tuesday and next Friday respectively.
Today’s matches
San Juan Sec vs Hillview College, 3.30 pm
St Augustine Sec Comp vs El Dorado Sec Comp, 5.30 pm.
Green Machine ready to roll.
By: Kern De Freitas & Mark Pouchet.
Action in the 2005 British Gas T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) kicks off today in the East Zone at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, with few changes, except for the maximum number of teams in each zone for the Championship Division, which has been trimmed to seven.
That alteration, according to the SSFL officials, will serve two purposes: reduce the number of games the youngsters are required to play, as well as improve the quality of the football being played. Today, the Express takes a look at a few of the major teams that will contest the honours:
East Zone-St Augustine Secondary Senior Comprehensive
"We're looking to take it one step further this year," said St Augustine Secondary past student and player Reginald Francis, who helps out with the Green Machine team.
After claiming the East Zone League and knockout and national "Big Five" titles last year, St Augustine are looking to grab possession of the title that signals schools football supremacy-the National Inter Col title.
They were booted out at the semifinal stage of the national knockout competition at the feet of eventual winners St Anthony's College.
"We won everything else last year, so this year we definitely want to go all the way," stated Francis.
"Gustine" will have to do so without the experience of sturdy defenders Jesse Martinez, Lorenzo King and Elton John, as well as potent strikers Shastri Spencer and Shane "German" Calderon, who were instrumental in bringing back the Big Five title to an East Zone team for the first time in 15 years.
They were also mainly responsible for ending the nine-year zonal title drought for the Warren Street school.
Instead, the Green Machine will be counting on the services of captain Matthew Ramirez and defender John Stewart, as well as the introduction of three national under-15 players-Ryan O'Neil, Stephen Chang and Daniel Jospeh-to fill the huge void left by the departed stars.
North Zone-Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive
The North almost always has a team in the melee for national honours and 2004 North Zone League and Inter Col winners Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive will definitely fancy their chances in the coming weeks.
Perhaps the best team last year not to win a national title in the Championship Division, they will be highly favoured in the North and their opening fixture tomorrow against national Inter Col champions, the "Tigers" of St Anthony's College, will be a fair indicator as to the level of competition in the zone for 2005.
Effectively being a two-year school, Mucurapo are currently rebuilding their team, with strikers Richard Roy and Akeem Armstrong, as well as Kevon Piper, Jamil Adams and Kirby Ollivierre.
They will, however, be without influential midfielder Atullah Guerra, as well as Keshawne Hunte and Nigel Arthur.
But the technical staff, according to manager Derek Phillip, is "quietly optimistic" 'Compre' can cause a stir this year, athough he stressed that Mucurapo continue to be one of the few teams without a playing field after 29 years of existence.
In their corner is former Mucurapo player, Ian "Dread Dribbler" Clauzel, who is assisting coach Selris Figaro with preparations.
They will also utilise some players from last year's North League and national knockout winning Under-16 team. With many of the other schools fielding impressive squads last year, the North Zone promises exciting football when it kicks off tomorrow.
South Zone-Naparima College
Naparima College are another team in the process of rebuilding, but they will still be the name everyone is looking out for as they begin the defence of their South Zone League title.
No surprise, as they reached as far as the "Big Five" national league final, being stopped at the final hurdle by East Zone giants St Augustine Secondary Senior Comprehensive in a thrilling match as they let go of a 1-0 half-time advantage, to end up on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline.
In recent seasons, beginning in the late '90s to present, "Naps" have consistently been South favourites, and never far from the top in national League and Intercol competition.
Returning to the squad are goalkeeper Leston Shade, as well as 2004 teammates Javed Mohammed, who skippered the national Under-17 team last year, Renato Ramlochan, Cion Samuel and Kevin De Verteuil.
But they will play without manager Roy Jagroopsingh, who retired after the 2004 season.
However, Naps seem to have an able replacement in former student Richard Nagaur, who took over from Jagroopsingh, having joined the school last year. And Nagaur has some experience under his belt with Princes Town Junior Secondary. Should make for an interesting South Zone season.
Tobago Zone-Scarborough Secondary
The core of their team will return this year. And like St Augustine, Scarborough Secondary will be looking to build on last year's success.
Skipper Antonio Balfour heads the list of returnees that includes Trevin Caesar, Sherlan Scott, Corey Carrington, Norel Osmond and national Under-17 player Jeremy Williams, who are aiming to add a national title to Scarborough's trophy shelf this year.
Not content with their league and Inter Col zonal titles, manager Alan James said: "We are aiming to win Tobago again, of course, but we are aiming a little higher for a national title. We fell short last year but we are going for one better this year, hopefully, a national Big Five title."
Youngsters in national Under-15 footballer Andel Noray and brothers Jeron and Jereen Quashie are set to bolster the squad, but preparations have not been up to the desired level.
"We are not that satisfied with how training has gone, not everyone has turned up for practice but the core group has been there," James stated. "Our first game is against Signal Hill on Saturday and we are hoping that we can put things in place by then." "We are looking for a much better season this year" he ended.
