Naparima aiming for 7th zonal title.

[Flex]

Naparima aiming for 7th zonal title.
By: Kevin Sunich (T&T Guardian).

Defending national Big Five, South Zone and InterCol champion, Naparima College will be aiming for a seventh straight zonal Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) title, when the BG T&T-sponsored tournament kicks off in three zones today. The launch of the 2009 edition took place on Tuesday at the President’s Box, Queen’s Park Oval.

Manager of the team Richard Naguar, said his team will be at their best as usual, and he’s confident they would be able to pull it off again. “We still have a strong side, we just lost a couple of players from last year, however, we have brought in a few guys”, said Naguar. While “Naps” will be without the services of Corey Cyrus, its leading goal scorer from last year, as well as defender Keston Smith and goalkeeper Jodel Wright, it is hoping that former national Under-17 forward Shahdon Winchester will return, to boost its chances.

“We are just waiting on Shahdon to make up his mind as to whether he will be coming back, we have a pretty good all-round team”, said the Physical Education teacher. Winchester, one of “Naps” main players last season, has moved up the ranks in his club W Connection, and is now a member of the Pro League team in the Championship Division.

The six-time South zone title holder has also secured the services of former Naps and “Strike Squad” player Leonson Lewis as technical director. Naps will begin its quest against Presentation College (South) in the second match of a double-header at Guaracara Park, from 5 pm.

In the North Zone, defending champion Mucurapo (East) will start its bid for another zonal title against Woodbrook in the second match of a double- header on the Fatima ground in Mucurapo. President of the SSFL, Ewing Davis said it’s always exciting when football for the youths of the nation is on stream.

“This is the channel that treats both education and sports. I expect it to be a very hectic season, I expect to see some good football”, said Davis. Chief of Staff of BG Trinidad and Tobago, Krysta Delima, said since the company began its partnership with the league in 2002, it has grown from strength to strength. She added that part of the company’s trust is to help in the development of youth through education and sport.Hectic season predicted in SSFL.
T&T Newsday Reports.

The 2009 season of the British Gas Trinidad and Tobago (BGTT) Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will kick off oday, with matches in the Championship Division.

The launch of this year’s competition was staged yesterday at the President’s Box, Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

SSFL president Ewing Davis expressed his eagerness ahead of the season opening day, stating, “it’s always an exciting feeling when football, for the youths of our nation, is the channel that treats with both education and sport.

“I expect it to be a very hectic season,” he added. “I expect to see some very good football.”

With the growth of girls football, within the SSFL atmosphere, Davis said, “it’s been a while but we foresee that girls football will be the football in the country in a little while.

“We expect girls football to get bigger than boys football,” he added. “We definitely expect that.”

Delivering the feature address was Krysta De Lima, Chief of Staff at BGTT, who pointed out that, “BG’s involvement in the SSFL began in 2002 and, since that time, we have seen this programme grow from strength to strength.”

Stating that BGTT began its involvement in Trinidad and Tobago’s social environment in 1989, De Lima noted, “in all of these programmes, we have placed a deliberate concentration on the development of youth through sport and education.”

She continued, “our primary goal is the sustainable development of projects that contribute directly towards this country’s own development objectives. Nowhere is this more tangible than in our investment in youth.

“We have engaged in a process of participation with various groups within the country to build powerful partnerships that contribute in some way towards the development of Trinidad and Tobago.

“This, in a nutshell, is the broad context in which we sponsor Secondary Schools Football,” she said. “We recognise that there are many paths to the goal of the development of an inclusive society. One of those paths can be through the use of your talents in football to forge a career of your own making and I urge you to take full advantage of it.”

Focussing her attention on the players, she affirmed, “remember that while winning is important, the lessons that you learn on the field, that of teamwork, leadership and dedication, are much more important as they will serve you in good stead as you grow in young adults.”

Other dignitaries at the SSFL launch were Even Pellerud, national women’s Under-17 team coach; and SSFL executive members Anthony Creed (first vice-president), William Wallace (second vice-president) and Azaad Khan (general secretary/treasurer).

Today, in the North Zone, defending champs Mucurapo (now East Mucurapo Secondary) will face newcomers Woodbrook (who have replaced the relegated Malick).

Fatima will meet QRC and St Anthony’s will square off against Trinity. St Mary’s are on a bye.

In the East Zone, champs San Juan (now San Juan North) will do battle against Arima (now Arima North), El Dorado (now El Dorado East) will meet St Augustine and debutants Sangre Grande (replacing the relegated Hillview) will face Trinity East. Toco are on a bye.

And in the South Zone Naparima, the 2008 winners, will open against arch-rivals Presentation San Fernando, Vessigny oppose St Benedict’s and Shiva Boys (in the zone at the expense of Pleasantville) meet Siparia.

Princes Town, who is on a bye, will start their challenge on Saturday. The Tobago and Central Zones of the Championship Division, will kick off on Tuesday, with Signal Hill and Carapichaima (now Carapichaima East) defending their titles.

Zonal Championship Divisions are scheduled to end by October 16, with the Big Five tournament beginning from October 19 to the final on October 27.

[acb]

ok, just got this from a very reliable source:

Please be advised that the venue for the first round of fixtures, that is St. Benedict's vs Vessigny and Presentation vs Naparima have been CHANGED to GUARACARA PARK.
The games will begin as scheduled at 3pm and 5pm respectively. Once again the games will NOT be played at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, rather they will be played at GUARACARA PARK.

[Andre]

aiming?

we doh have to aim for nothing.

naps dominating south as usual period.

the rest ah dem playing for 2nd.

[Deeks]

Any scores?

[Dumplingdinho]

I hear Naps and Pres draw 1 all, shiva rest 3 on siparia and benedicts draw with vessigny.

[swood]

Any scores?

You can get all the latest scores and highlights at www.schoolsportcentre.com

[acb]

game ended 1-1.

Here's an account of the match: http://www.presfootball.com/news/pres-come-from-behind-to-draw-opener.html

First half was an even encounter. Second half started evenly, but Naps had the lion's share of the possession, and many more opportunities. Before they had scored their questionable goal, the could have been about 2 up, if not for some excellent goalkeeping, and some dedicated defending. While Pres had less chances, they had clearer chances and could have put the game away before Naps started throwing everything at them.
Was disappointed the game was played on a hard Guaracara surface. Didn't even look like it was watered because the players were kicking up dust - and it was hot like hell yesterday. Apparently Saturday's Pres vs Benedict's encounter will also be held at Guaracara at 3pm.

Watch out for #10 from Pres, Kevin Moodie - ran all game, had good touches, no-one wanted to mark him, and when they did - he made them regret it.

One burning question from this game though. Naps has zero players of East Indian decent on their team or the bench - and while I don't know the exact percentage, the majority of that school's demographic is East Indian. What's the cost of winning these days?

Coming back to Steven Khan's article - what comes first in secondary school? Academics or Football?

[weary1969]

game ended 1-1.

Here's an account of the match: http://www.presfootball.com/news/pres-come-from-behind-to-draw-opener.html

First half was an even encounter. Second half started evenly, but Naps had the lion's share of the possession, and many more opportunities. Before they had scored their questionable goal, the could have been about 2 up, if not for some excellent goalkeeping, and some dedicated defending. While Pres had less chances, they had clearer chances and could have put the game away before Naps started throwing everything at them.
Was disappointed the game was played on a hard Guaracara surface. Didn't even look like it was watered because the players were kicking up dust - and it was hot like hell yesterday. Apparently Saturday's Pres vs Benedict's encounter will also be held at Guaracara at 3pm.

Watch out for #10 from Pres, Kevin Moodie - ran all game, had good touches, no-one wanted to mark him, and when they did - he made them regret it.

One burning question from this game though. Naps has zero players of East Indian decent on their team or the bench - and while I don't know the exact percentage, the majority of that school's demographic is East Indian. What's the cost of winning these days?

Coming back to Steven Khan's article - what comes first in secondary school? Academics or Football?

Yuh tink Leonson Lewsis d pass 4 Naps? Is donkey yrs dey findin nuff black boys 2 play 4 dem. If dem want 2 go Naps and eh use 2 academic opportunity well dat is their buziness.

[acb]

Yuh tink Leonson Lewsis d pass 4 Naps? Is donkey yrs dey findin nuff black boys 2 play 4 dem. If dem want 2 go Naps and eh use 2 academic opportunity well dat is their buziness.

There have been innumerable times on this forum that the question of East Indian involvement in football has been brought up. Well in this case you have a predominantly East Indian school that lacks a quality/ competitive starting XI from their student body, so they go out and get the best transfers available to them. The incoming tranfers and their parents should be congratulated on grabbing the academic opportunity afforded to them/ their sons ..... but then the onus falls on the administrators. Are they ensuring academic standards are maintained, is it football/ winning they really care about - and what about developing the rest of their student body?

Makes me wonder - how long, and what exactly is it going to take to get the proper authority/ Ministry to investigate what is going on in several schools with football transfers. There have been rumours for a very long time about players being paid to play for certain schools. Some players even travel ridiculous distances, or relocate from places like Tobago, to attend school in south. Hopefully these kids know that getting paid to play makes them a professional which sounds nice, but it also disqualifies them from acquiring a scholarship to play abroad. So maybe if they know that, they might shush and take their payment and play their football quietly, instead of boasting that certain schools pay them to play.

[weary1969]

Yuh tink Leonson Lewsis d pass 4 Naps? Is donkey yrs dey findin nuff black boys 2 play 4 dem. If dem want 2 go Naps and eh use 2 academic opportunity well dat is their buziness.

There have been innumerable times on this forum that the question of East Indian involvement in football has been brought up. Well in this case you have a predominantly East Indian school that lacks a quality/ competitive starting XI from their student body, so they go out and get the best transfers available to them. The incoming tranfers and their parents should be congratulated on grabbing the academic opportunity afforded to them/ their sons ..... but then the onus falls on the administrators. Are they ensuring academic standards are maintained, is it football/ winning they really care about - and what about developing the rest of their student body?

Makes me wonder - how long, and what exactly is it going to take to get the proper authority/ Ministry to investigate what is going on in several schools with football transfers. There have been rumours for a very long time about players being paid to play for certain schools. Some players even travel ridiculous distances, or relocate from places like Tobago, to attend school in south. Hopefully these kids know that getting paid to play makes them a professional which sounds nice, but it also disqualifies them from acquiring a scholarship to play abroad. So maybe if they know that, they might shush and take their payment and play their football quietly, instead of boasting that certain schools pay them to play.

D Ministry have a policy which is a guide plus dem prestige school have more freedom 2 operate. As 4 being  paid it is under d table so unless u prove it nutten eh preventin dem from gettin scholarship. KJ from south and went Anthony's. It goin on forever.

When Pantin was Min of E he stop d 1001 repeatin so dem boi gettin 1 repeat if dey cyah reach 6 form standard.

[Andre]

KJ from south and went Anthony's. It goin on forever.

KJ from chaguanas dread. nuff man from there (including mih cousin) pass for and gone st. anthony's.

with regards to importing players - all the "big" school doing that years now. it is go on in all sports all around the world e.g. american NCAA football and even high school basketball. how you thing miami high school was a powerhouse in the 90s? with cubans from the area it was in or imports from the hood to the north of miami-dade county?

[acb]

D Ministry have a policy which is a guide plus dem prestige school have more freedom 2 operate. As 4 being  paid it is under d table so unless u prove it nutten eh preventin dem from gettin scholarship. KJ from south and went Anthony's. It goin on forever.

When Pantin was Min of E he stop d 1001 repeatin so dem boi gettin 1 repeat if dey cyah reach 6 form standard.

with regards to importing players - all the "big" school doing that years now. it is go on in all sports all around the world e.g. american NCAA football and even high school basketball. how you thing miami high school was a powerhouse in the 90s? with cubans from the area it was in or imports from the hood to the north of miami-dade county?

If this is the case locally, don't you think sooner or later someone is going to complain that players are being exploited by these prestige schools? .... and when that can of worms opens - who are we going to blame then?

[Andre]

If this is the case locally, don't you think sooner or later someone is going to complain that players are being exploited by these prestige schools? .... and when that can of worms opens - who are we going to blame then?

it goin on for 50 yrs now and nobody of note complain.

wha schools u think all them big shot in trinidad private sector and govt went to? ghetto composite and behind God back secondary?

[weary1969]

If this is the case locally, don't you think sooner or later someone is going to complain that players are being exploited by these prestige schools? .... and when that can of worms opens - who are we going to blame then?

it goin on for 50 yrs now and nobody of note complain.

wha schools u think all them big shot in trinidad private sector and govt went to? ghetto composite and behind God back secondary?

Exactly and it eh have nutten bout d govt minister everybody want dey chile go a prestige school so dey eh rockinn d boat. My bad bout KJ 4got he from central and cental peeps were bein place in d white boi jnr sec aka st anthonys

[Feliziano]

Any scores?

You can get all the latest scores and highlights at www.schoolsportcentre.com

site looking good again this year boss
keep up the good work