'TIS once again the season for schools football and defending BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) champions St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive will kick off the East Zone from 3 p.m. tomorrow against Toco Composite at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
North Zone 2006 winners Mucurapo will take on the "Tigers" of St Anthony's College at 3 p.m., before Malick lock horns with last year's beaten InterCol finalists Fatima College, both at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
With no major changes in the League last year, the most unusual thing about the new season might be the absence of St Mary's College team. The "Saints" were relegated last year for only the second time in the League's history, and the first in more than two decades.
In the South Zone, Vessigny Antilles Government Secondary will take on Princes Town at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella at 3 p.m., before an interesting clash between San Fernando arch-rivals Naparima College and Presentation College at the same venue two hours later.
Action is also scheduled to begin in the Girls competition in the North and East zones on September 16.
Yesterday, the 2007 SSFL campaign was officially launched in the BG T&T Corporate Box at the Queen's Park Oval, St Clair.
At the launch, which marked BG T&T's fifth consecutive year of sponsorship of Secondary Schools football, a cheque for $362,000 was presented to the league by BG T&T head of public affairs and community relations, Aleem Hosein.
That amount will cover both the boys and girls SSFL, as well as the girls InterCol.
SSFL president Ewing Davis urged the young footballers and their supporters to be disciplined and observe the spirit in which the game should be played.
"...At no time," Davis indicated, "we must feel that we must win at all costs."
He said that could only make the game become "a battle, and the competition a war".
And Ministry of Education representative, Physical Education and Sport Curriculum officer Audith Bravo, stressed the need for young footballers to develop all-round skills, not just football, but also academic, and time and financial management skills in order to enjoy their success.
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