Smaller SSFL gets going tomorrow
By Kern De Freitas (Trinidad Express)
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.
