2022 SSFL Thread

[Tallman]

In anticipation of 2022 SSFL season
By Shaun Fuentes (T&T Guardian)

With another Secondary school Football League season on the horizon in September, the first return to play since 2019, the various members of the competing schools will no doubt be anticipating a competition that provides exciting opportunities to showcase abilities and are important learning opportunities for the young student-athletes in our country.

Every player who ends up on the final roster of his school team should be ready to give his all for so many reasons. The young player’s responsibilities relate to doing what is necessary to maximise the opportunities that will come their way this season. These responsibilities include giving their best effort, being responsible and disciplined, listening to coaches, being good at sports, being prepared, being respectful, and, importantly, being grateful for the opportunity to play and represent their schools and communities.

To each player, some other practical responsibilities will include participating in all training sessions, getting the most out of coaching, being cooperative and expressing appreciation to your parents, school staff, team coaches, and everyone else that will help you strive toward your goals.

But while players and coaches will be anxious to take the field, they should also be prepared to expect the unexpected. Things never go exactly as planned. Something unexpected or unusual will inevitably happen. Players, coaches and managers need to maintain a sense of humour or achieve a level of perspective when things out of the ordinary occur. At these times it will be useful to utilise preplanned refocusing strategies. Further, some crises or setbacks could also arise. During those times, it will be important to problem solve and find alternate ways to push through the issue. Open communication between the League and teams will be important at this point. Lessons need to be drawn and adjustments made to maintain and regain mental readiness and optimal focus.

The total experience for me means having fun, developing essential life skills and achieving their goals. This is what the main benefits of the SSFL will be for everyone taking part.

Practical responsibilities of management teams include ensuring that your players have the necessary equipment, proper coaching, and transportation, among other logistical concerns. Psychological and emotional support includes providing love, guidance, encouragement, and perspective in their efforts must also be on the cards

To parents, coaches, managers and school staff who will be involved, it may be necessary to make a listing of what you, in your particular roles, can do to help your players succeed. Ask your players what you can do to help them and what you should avoid doing. Next, have the player also make a list of what their responsibilities should be. If you feel your players have missed some important responsibilities, suggest them. Then, identify other individuals who will have responsibilities within the team and list what responsibilities they should have.

There should also be consequences for not fulfilling responsibilities. The best consequences are those that remove something of importance to the players and give them the control to get it back by acting appropriately, for instance, reaching late to practice or not showing at all. Find a way to make the player not want to make this mistake again for the rest of the season.

If those in charge along with the players are in agreement on their respective responsibilities, all should run quite smoothly. On the other hand, if there is conflict related to each of your responsibilities, trouble likely lies ahead. To prevent problems from arising once the new season arrives, you’ll want to discuss before the season starts how you can all get on the same page about who is responsible for what.

As teams enter the final stages of preparation for the SSFL over the coming few days, it is important to adhere to the “less is more” attitude. The tendency is to want to over-prepare for the event by squeezing in a number of sessions and warm-up games as the season opener approaches, Your players need to be well rested and mentally relaxed in order to perform optimally. Small refinements may be necessary but the key is to stick with the elements that have been working. Often this minimalisation is achieved with a simple tapering plan, but it is important that both coaches and players are aware of the concept and mindful of its implementation.

There is a significant difference between having a competition “Performance” and a competition “Experience.” A competition “Performance” implies a clear focus on the task at hand and a commitment to choices that will give the best possible chance for optimal performance to occur. Conversely, a competition “Experience” implies taking in the sights and sounds of the competition without a clear goal or focus. Ultimately, it will be important to find a balance between the two and allow an opportunity to be absorbed in the league atmosphere. Remember the league has seen no action for over two years, so there will be rough areas and good quality may take time. But hey, enjoy the Season as if there’s “no tomorrow.”

[Deeks]

Spoke to my buddy Mike Grayson. He is now CIC coach. Best wishes to him. He told me that the pandemic has had a serious on the state of football. He said that players are behind the curve at this moment. Even he as a coach needs to do more physical at 66 yrs old to do 2 sessions a day. So we will see.

[Tallman]

Tiger Tanks takes over as title sponsor for SSFL
T&T Guardian

Tiger Tanks will be the main sponsor of this year’s Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), Guardian Media Sports was reliably informed yesterday.

An agreement between the parties (Tiger Tanks and the SSFL) was said to have been reached after months of negotiations. Coincidentally, a five-year agreement between the SSFL, Digicel and SportsMax was scheduled to conclude in 2020 before the intervention of the COVID-19 pandemic threw everything into a tailspin.

Under Tiger Tanks, the league is set to be well-served, inclusive of uniform provision and branding, prizes and the broadcasting of matches for all the divisions, inclusive of the Premiership, Championship and all the lower divisions.

Last week, Merere Gonzales, president of the schools league said they were hoping to negotiate for matches in all divisions in the SSFL to be broadcasted either LIVE or shown delayed on television, which is an initiative that would allow all students to use the footage for the purpose of receiving scholarships or for their personal use.

At today’s launch of the 2022 season at the T&T Football Association’s Technical Centre at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva, the executive is expected to unveil its sponsors and the league operations.

Information reaching Guardian Media Sports is that the League be called the Tiger Tanks Secondary Schools Football League and that Tiger Tanks will take over all broadcast rights from Jamaican-based sports television network - SportsMax.

Tiger Tanks were the main sponsor of a national run and organised Under-20 Football League which was played soon after the lifting of the COVID-19 restriction in January. A few years ago, Tiger Tanks found itself in a row when its sponsorship of Naparima College violated an agreement between Digicel and the SSFL.

[Tallman]

Starting from scratch - SSFL teams go into unknown for new season
By Garth Wattley (T&T Express)

A new format, new players, a few new coaches and a lot of uncertainty.

Those elements will all be in the mix when the first pandemic season of Secondary Schools Football (SSFL) gets going this week.

Covid-19 struck in 2020, wiping out two seasons of the SSFL. So when the teams return to the pitch, much will have changed for them.

Defending Premier Division champions Naparima College, for instance, will have a new coach in former national player Travis Mulraine. He replaces Angus Eve who is now in charge of the national men’s senior team.

And national women’s coach Kenwyne Jones, himself a former schoolboy standout with St Anthony’s College, will be taking up the head coach’s job at Queen’s Royal College.

There will also be a household name on the bench of promoted Fatima College, in the form of ex-”Strike Squad” national team star Hutson Charles, while St Augustine Secondary and Trinity College East will feature coaches making their top-flight débuts in Tacuma Jones and Dwayne Davis.

These men and their counterparts in the other sides that make up the 16-team competition, will also have to deal with a different format.

Teams have been divided into two groups of eight, with the top sides from each group advancing to play each other for the title.

However, making educated guesses as to which teams will emerge on top this season could be as tricky as predicting when the pandemic will eventually end.

The two years without competition have meant there has been an exodus of players from the Premier Division teams of 2019.

Naparima with be “starting from scratch,” according to manager Percy Samlalsingh. And most squads will be relying on their Under-16 players to make the transition.

“Speaking with some of the other coaches, it will be a challenge,” says Shawn Cooper, coach of InterCol champions Presentation College San Fernando. “Pres” were also second in the league in 2019.

“A lot of the boys weren’t in the game, so they had to go over a lot of technical and tactical stuff,” Cooper added. And Fatima’s Charles notes that getting his players to, “understand the way I want them to play,” has been challenging.

Some schools have managed to hold on to one or two players with Premier Division experience. St Augustine will still be able to call on 2019 skipper, defensive midfielder, Keyel Morris.

However, East Mucurapo Secondary have lost all of their squad. Coach Dale Saunders is not deterred by that reality though. While admitting to his side’s inexperience he adds:”I think we will be able to compete. Mucurapo always produces talent. We will come through.”

For some shools however, simply putting a team together has been problematic in this ongoing period of Covid.

“Players are not really into the football too much. I’m fighting to get them to come training. Parents under struggle with boots and to support them financially,” reports Malick Secondary coach Anthony Bartholomew.

Money problems have also been serious for Carapichaima East Secondary. It was only late last month that the Central school was able to confirm that it would be able take part in the competition.

“Financially we were in a position where we almost couldn’t compete this year. Only two weeks ago we landed a sponsor and then the programme started,” manager Ashbert Charles relates.

“Caps,” solid in the league over the last couple seasons, will have much catching up to do just to be competitive.

Some schools were keen for promotion and relegation be suspended this season to allow teams to settle down again.

However, despite the various difficulties they face, everyone is relieved to get the chance to get back on the field.

“For most of the players, the two years out would have been a setback in their development but they are raring and excited to go,” notes Davis of Trinity East. “It’s definitely good to have them out.”

With all teams rebuilding, the Premier Division title race should therefore be wide open this season.

Queen’s Royal College manager Joshua Peru-Ishmael sums up the thoughts of many of his counterparts.

“It’s going to be interesting because most teams are very young teams. We don’t know what is out there. It’s going to be a whole new experience throughout the SSFL. It feels like a start from scratch.”

[Tallman]

Pandemic sees fewer SSFL teams ready for new season
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)

POST-PANDEMIC challenges at some secondary schools have forced a restructuring of the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL).

This was confirmed by the league’s operations assistant secretary Laurence Seepersad at Wednesday’s welcome return and launch of the new season at the T&T Football Association’s Technical Centre, Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain, Couva.

The league kicks off next Wednesday at four venues. On Friday, at the Ato Boldon Stadium from 4.30pm, an exhibition match between south’s behemoths Presentation College, San Fernando and Naparima College serves as a pre-tournament opener.

Seepersad said the SSFL premiership division will now comprise two groups of four teams each.

“There are less teams this year as a result of the many challenges some of the schools have been faced with, financial and infrastructure, so they are not in a position to produce all the teams we are accustomed with,” he said.

Particularly, there is only one school from Tobago – Speyside High School – in the premiership this year.

On the new structure, Seepersad added, “We looked at the standings at the end of the 2019 season and took all the odd numbers and placed them in one group and the even numbers, placed in another.

“At the end of our league stage, we will have two semi-finals with the winners of group A playing the second place (team) in Group B and the winners of Group B against the Group A second place (team). The winners here will play in a grand final to determine the winners of the premiership division.”

The last place teams in each group will be relegated to the championship division. Teams finishing just above them in the groups will contest a playoff to see who stay in the top flight while the other head to the second division.

He added, “The championship division continues with five zones; six teams each. At the end of the season we will have a big five competition and the first three teams will be promoted to the premiership.

“All other division like U16, U14 and form one football are all on stream and scheduled. It’s a packed 2022 season.”

Meanwhile, Tiger Tanks joined longstanding league sponsors First Citizens and Coca Cola as main partners for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Regional manager Dennis Latiff said he was pleased to expand the company’s reach into youth development through sport.

Through Tiger Tanks’ YouTube channel and other media, matches will be broadcast live in an effort to market the talents of young players to local, regional and international scouts.

“Games will be carried live, for the first time I think, on Flow, Sportsmax, Tiger Sports YouTube channel (produced by Rodeo Communications), on radio and social media.

“The idea is to showcase as much of our talent as we can in the hope that viewing scouts an pick the best of the best and offer scholarships.

“All matches will be on Tiger Sports YouTube channels for athletes to go back and view their games and can use footage to potential connections or scouts for scholarships and other football opportunities,” Latiff said.

In related news, Minister of Education Nyan Gadsby-Dolly welcomed the return of the SSFL and will serve as its patron.

[Tallman]

At long last: ‘Naps’ and ‘Pres‘ kick off 2022 schools football season tomorrow
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) president Merere Gonzales was in an emotional state yesterday.

Gonzales expressed great relief that after two years of inactivity and “inability” to host a physical competition, secondary schools football will kick off in Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow. The resumption comes after a two-year period of inactivity brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic and Government’s subsequent restriction of sporting activity.

“At this point in time I can finally exhale,” SSFL boss Gonzales stated at yesterday’s launch of the new season at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

“I am very heartened, as the president, for a very highly-anticipated, long-awaited, highly-competitive, very much entertaining and flamboyance of the football talent that will be displayed by all student-athletes.”

The SSFL season kicks off tomorrow with the new Tiger Tanks Cup, which matches Naparima College and Presentation College, the 2019 League and InterCol winners respectively. The traditional South giants meet in the season-opening exhibition match to be played at the Ato Boldon Stadium, from 4 p.m.

The actual league competition kicks off on Wednesday in the 16-team Premier Division, which have been divided into two groups containing eight teams apiece. There will also be competition in the Championship Division, lower age groups and girls divisions.

The Premier Division season will be short. Teams will meet each other just once in their group, after which the top two teams of each group will meet in a semi-final and subsequent final to decide the league title. There will also be a Coca Cola InterCol knockout competition involving both Premier and Championship division schools from November 1.

“So many persons, local, regional and international—surprisingly but very true—are waiting with bated breath for the commencement of the 2022 SSFL season,” stated Gonzales.

Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, patron of the league, congratulated the SSFL and its sponsors for a sustained effort to aid the development of the student-athlete over the years.

“I know this season is going to be a bumper season and it is very important that it is, because we are recovering and rebounding from what was forced curtailment of all our activities by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It threw our young people into disarray almost, because it was such a time of uncertainty,” the Education minister said. “I am for one, very excited that our students are back out to school physically, challenges notwithstanding, and I am equally glad that we are able to come back to the days of InterCol and what that means to our students.”

League gets new sponsors

SSFL boss Gonzales was especially pleased with the continued investment in schools football that has been made by sponsors, among them long-serving First Citizens Bank represented yesterday by Trudy Louison and Coca Cola, represented by Anthony Lovelace, who announced that the long-serving sponsor will be bringing new initiatives to the 2022 Coca Cola InterCol competition.

The SSFL also revealed two new sponsors—The Ascension Tournament and Tigers Tanks Limited. In the absence of Ascension managing director Richard Ferguson, who was unable to attend, tournament director Kieron Edwards noted that Ascension thought it important that its first involvement in youth football be with schools football.

“We need to take it serious. We are in a time of a restart for Trinidad and Tobago football and the secondary schools league has a major part to play in that restart,” Edwards stated.

Denis Latiff, represented Tiger Tank, and disclosed that the company had sponsored several youth teams in the past. They also staged the Tiger Tanks Under-20 men’s football tournament this year and sponsored the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s Under-19 tournament.

Latiff announced that Tiger Tanks had pledged a minimum two years sponsorship to the schools league, beginning with the Tiger Tanks Cup, which will kick off the new season tomorrow. Tiger Tanks will also carry SSFL matches on its YouTube channel.

“The idea is to showcase as much of our talent as we can, in the hope that viewing scouts can pick the best of the best and offer some scholarships,” Latiff stated.

UPCOMING MATCHES:
Tomorrow
TIGER TANKS CUP:
4 p.m. - Presentation College San Fernando vs Naparima College, Ato Boldon Stadium

Wednesday
SSFL ROUND ONE:
GROUP A:
4 p.m. - St Augustine Secondary vs Naparima College, St Augustine Secondary
4 p.m. - Carapichaima East Secondary vs Speyside High School, Ato Boldon Stadium
4 p.m. - St Benedict’s College vs Fatima College, TBA
4 p.m. - Pleasantville Secondary vs St. Anthony’s College, Manny Ramjohn training ground

GROUP B:
4 p.m. - San Juan North Secondary vs Queen’s Royal College, San Juan North
4 p.m. - Chaguanas North Secondary vs Malick Secondary, Africa ground, Enterprise
4 p.m. - East Mucurapo vs Moruga, Fatima College
4 p.m. - Trinity College East vs Presentation College Sando, Trinity College East

Saturday
SSFL ROUND 2
GROUP A:
4 p.m. - St Benedict’s College vs Carapichaima East Secondary, St Benedict’s College
4 p.m. - Fatima College vs Naparima College, Fatima College
4 p.m. - Speyside High School vs St Anthony’s, Speyside
4 p.m. - St Augustine Secondary vs Pleasantville Secondary, St Augustine

GROUP B:
4 p.m. - Presentation College vs Malick Secondary, Union Hall
4 p.m. - Queen’s Royal College vs East Mucurapo, QRC
4 p.m. - San Juan North Secondary vs Chaguanas North Secondary, San Juan North
4 p.m. - Trinity College East vs Moruga Secondary, Trinity College East

[Tallman]

Pres, Naps clash in 2022 SSFL Premiership curtain raiser
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)

South Zone duo and bitter long-time rivals, Presentation College of San Fernando and Naparima College will clash in the inaugural Tiger Tank Cup on Friday, September 9 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, from 4 pm to usher in the revamped 2022 season of the Tiger Tank Secondary Schools Football League.

Tiger Tanks will be the main sponsor of this year’s SSFL, taking over from Jamaican-based sports television network, Sportsmax.

Coincidentally, a five-year agreement between the SSFL, Digicel, and SportsMax was scheduled to conclude in 2020 before the intervention of the COVID-19 pandemic threw everything into a tailspin.

Under Tiger Tanks, the league is set to be well-served, inclusive of uniform provision and branding, prizes, and the broadcasting of matches for all the divisions, inclusive of the Premiership, Championship, and all the lower divisions.

Speaking at the launch of the new season at the T&T Football Association’s Technical Centre at the Ato Boldon Stadium yesterday, SSFL president Merere Gonzales, president of the SSFL said they were hoping to negotiate for matches in all divisions in the SSFL to be broadcasted either LIVE or shown delayed on television, which is an initiative that would allow all students to use the footage to receive scholarships or for their personal use.

Gonzales reflecting on the absence of SSFL action for the past two years as well as looking ahead to the new campaign said, “In an endemic stage like that of the covid-19 I’m very mindful of the situation, and I’m very heartened as the president for the much anticipated, long-awaited, highly competitive, very much entertaining and flamboyance of the football talent that will be displayed by all student-athlete of the respective schools in T&T.”

“As a responsible organisation in that of the SSFL, it is of paramount importance that we understand first and foremost that our main priority is to ensure the promotion, development, advancement, nurturing, support and guidance of our students.”

“And while they are engaged in a sporting disciplined and in this case football, we will also be responsible, and professional organisation and continue to create this platform for them to showcase their talent,” ended Gonzales.

Mulraine takes over at Naps

Naparima College won the last edition of the SSFL Premier Division crown in 2019, their fourth in six years under Angus Eve, the senior and under-20 national men’s coach, while the Shawn Cooper-coached Presentation College captured their first national Inter-Col crown in 44 years when they lifted the title in 2019 title beating San Juan North Secondary, 2-1 in the decider.

For Naparima, a lot has changed in the technical department with former national players Travis Mulraine (head coach) and Anthony Sherwood (assistant) now at the helm of the reigning SSFL Premier champions for the new campaign while Cooper, who was recently appointed national Under-17 men’s coach will be assisted, Dunstan Williams.

The new format of the 16-team Premier Division which gets going on Wednesday, September 14 will see the teams divided into two groups of eight teams for one round of round-robin competition, that’s is seven matches for each team, at the end of which the top two in each pool will advance to the crossover semifinals on Friday, October 21 ahead of the final four days later.

Both the semifinals and final are slated for either the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, or the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

This year’s SSFL season will be the first to be held since 2019 after the 2020 and 2021 seasons were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will also

The 16-participating schools will see Group A comprise Naparima College, St Augustine Secondary, Carapichaima East Secondary, Speyside High School, St Benedict’s College, Fatima College, Pleasantville Secondary, and St Anthony’s College, while Group B will feature San Juan North Secondary, Queen’s Royal College, Chaguanas North Secondary, Malick Secondary, East Mucurapo Secondary, Moruga Secondary, Trinity College East, and Presentation College (San F’do) with the opening round of matches set for Wednesday, September 14 with kickoff at 4 pm.

According to Gonzales, the 2022 SSFL season will see competition in the boys’ and girls’ championship divisions as well while due to some immediate constraints, the premiership division girls’ will unfortunately not be able to materialise this year.

However, a new aspect of the SSFL league will see for a short period the organisation of a “pilot project” sponsored by FIFA to engage more girls to be involved in football, and therefore we will be in the embryonic stages looking toward having a very short version or at least providing another platform for the Girls 13 and Under Division with the expectation that for 2023 season it will be more established as an official division with the SSFL.

Minister Gadsby-Dolly invites parents to support the players

Gonzales also noted that for the 2022 season, Minister of Education, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has been made patron of the SSFL.

With regards to the demotion of teams from the SSFL, the two bottom-placed teams will be automatically relegated and will be joined by the losers of the playoff between the two teams to finish second from bottom in their respective groups.

At the same time, the winners of the five Championship Boys Divisions which will comprise six teams team will then contest a “Big-Five” round-robin series at the end of which the top three finishers will gain promotion to the 2023 Premier Division.

Gadsby-Dolly in her address reflected on her days as a supporter of St Augustine Secondary “Green Machine” said she remembered the joy and passion and excitements of Inter-Col.

Admitting that her children were also anticipating the season and already had matches earmarked to watch Gadsby-Dolly added, “I know this season is going to be a bumper season and it’s very important that it is because we are recovering and rebounding from what was a forced curtailment of all our activities by covid-19 and the pandemic, and that experience did more than simply closed schools and stopped sporting activities.

“In many cases, it disrupted the spirit of the promise of our students and it is more than just a building closing because when a school closes it’s not juts a building but an area of release for some students, it is an area where some students are able to socialise with their friends and release the frustrations of home.

“It’s an area where they can look forward to their progress as student-athletes as persons in the cultural sector and as students who are aspiring to different careers, and it threw our young people into disarray almost because it was such a time of uncertainty.

“And I’m for one very excited about the fact that our students are back out to school firstly, challenges notwithstanding and I’m equally glad that we are able to come back to the days of Inter-Col and what that means to our students,” stated Gadsby-Dolly.

Among the other speakers at the launch were Keiron Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of the Ascension Group of Trinidad, Laurence Seepersad, SSFL Assistant Secretary of Operations, Anthony Lovelace, Senior Brand Specialist at Coca-Cola Caribbean Bottlers, and Denis Latiff, General Manager/Owner Tiger Tanks Trinidad Limited.

[Flex]

Pres beat Naps to take Tiger Tanks Cup.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).

Presentation College, San Fernando got a perfect start to their campaign in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) by clinching the opening Tiger Tank Cup, defeating arch-rival Naparima College 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva n Friday, following a 1-1 tie in regulation time.

But coach Shawn Cooper, whose men were forced to soak up periods of unrelenting Naparima pressure, would have a lot of work to do if they are to claim more titles this season.

The game for many reasons drew an expected large turnout in Couva. For some, it was a moment to feed the starvation felt by having no football for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while for others, it was the restart of a rivalry between two teams that goes back many years.

Naparima, coached by former Queen’s Royal College (QRC) midfielder Travis Mulraine, looked the better team in the early moments with Josiah Bobb, Omari Campbell, Kanye Francis leading the attack amidst two groups of nervous players, despite their eagerness to take the football field after two years.

The match was just 14 minutes old when Bobb, the creator of early problems for the Presentation defenders, took the ball down the left flank and centred for the unmarked Campbell to connect from point blank range, but goalkeeper Kanye Lazarus somehow kept it out.

Presentation College, the defending champion team, was determined to defend their title and they defended stoutly at the back while launching their attacks in spurts.

In spite of their determination, however, the ‘Pres’ young men could do nothing when Campbell slipped the ball into the path of an unmarked Francis on top of the box, to calmly slot the ball beyond the onrushing Lazarus in the Presentation goal in the 23rd minute.

Nine minutes later, the generosity of Naparima custodian Dejon Collingwood proved costly for his team, as it earned Presentation the equalising item in the 32nd minute.

‘Pres’ defender Cody Cooper launched a long ball high in search of captain Caleb Boyce, who had been surrounded by some three ‘Naps’ defenders. However, with the ball seemingly heading into the comfortable arms of Collingwood, the custodian hesitated to hold on to the ball, allowing Boyce with a toe in to push the ball past him and into the goal for the equalising item before the half-time interval.

On the resumption, the teams could not break the deadlock.

Naparima, who enjoyed more of the chances, thought they could have won it when Josiah Cooper picked out substitute Israel Joseph with a left-side cross, but Joseph’s header crashed off the crossbar before bouncing to safety in the 79th minute.

At the end of regulation time, the teams went into an immediate penalty shoot-out to decide on the winner. Following four missed penalties at the start, ‘Pres’ got goals from Levi Jones, Cooper and Adah Barclay, while ‘Naps’ got goals from captain Omari Archer and Giovanni Mc Knight.

Tyrell Rajoon, who had the opportunity to level the scores at the shootout for Naparima, fired his effort against the upright before going out for the Presentation win.

Action in the SSFL will continue on Wednesday.

RELATED NEWS

Pres S'do defeat Naps for Tiger Tanks Cup.
T&T Newsday Reports.

AFTER two years without school football, Presentation College (San Fernando) kicked off the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season with silverware, winning the Tiger Tanks Cup 3-2 via kicks from the penalty mark against rivals, Naparima College, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Friday.

‘Pres’ dethroned the defending champions as Naparima last won the trophy in 2019.

Naparima College opened the scoring in the 24th minute through Kanye Francis. The Naps number 10 slotted the ball past goalkeeper Kanye Lazarus into the bottom left corner after receiving a defence-splitting through-ball from midfield.

But Presentation fought back and grabbed an equaliser eight minutes later, thanks to Caleb Boyce. From the top of the penalty area, the ‘Pres’ captain lobbed Naparima goalkeeper, Dajon Collingwood, who hesitated to make a challenge after coming off his line.

The game was then plagued by injuries and several players were forced to be replaced.

At the end of regular time, the score remained at 1-1 and the game had to be decided by kicks from the penalty mark.

After missing their first two penalties, the ‘Pres Lions’ dramatically recovered to win 3-2.

Speaking with Newsday after the game, Presentation coach Shawn Cooper expressed his delight for the victory and the bragging rights against the school’s bitter rivals.

“Even though this trophy is just for bragging rights, I am elated for the guys who put in the work to achieve this,” he stated.

“We put on a show for the spectators to open the 2022 season, but I think we still have a lot of work to do in terms of our physicality.”

Cooper continued, “We showed that we can play against the best. Naparima has a very strong unit but I think our boys wanted it more, and at the end of the game, we imposed ourselves.”

With school football being absent for two years, Cooper added that the technical staff had to educate the new players about the significance of the Pres-Naps rivalry and that they are the flag-bearers of top-level football in Trinidad and Tobago.

He also highlighted the number of high-quality coaches in the league, mentioning Naparima’s Travis Mulraine, Queens Royal College’s Kenwyne Jones, and stated that the league will be competitive this season.

Cooper also expressed that, of all his title wins, this one was most special to him as his son was now a part of his team’s success. “Since I started coaching, all of my victories were dedicated to my son, Cody Cooper,” he said. “In this game, he played, he made me proud and he was on a winning team.”

He also gave credit to Caleb Boyce, who was named Man of the Match, stating, “He really led the team by effort and performance”.

Cooper also expressed that he was pleased with the full-time result, and the victory from the penalty shootout was a bonus, having been less prepared than their opponents, physically and tactically.

Presentation will open their Premiership campaign against Trinity College East on September 14 while Naparima begin their SSFL title defence against St Augustine Secondary on the same day.

[Flex]

Mulraine focuses on philosophy.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Shawn Cooper, the coach of Presentation College, San Fernando, and Travis Mulraine, coach of Naparima College were both pleased with the displays of their respective teams in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Tiger Tank Cup match at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva on Friday.

The fixture which pitted the four-time SSFL Premier Division winners and defending champion Naparima College and reigning Coca-Cola Inter-Col title-holders Presentation College against each other ended 1-1 at the end of the 90-minutes regulation time before the latter prevailed 3-2 on penalty-kicks.

Earlier on in regulation time, Naparima went ahead after only 23 minutes through Kanye Francis before Caleb Boyce drew Presentation level in the 32nd.

Following four missed penalties at the start, ‘Pres’ got goals from Levi Jones, Cody Cooper, and Adah Barclay, while ‘Naps’ got goals from captain Omari Archer and Giovanni Mc Knight.

Speaking after the loss, former national midfielder, Mulraine, the first-year coach of Naparima College after senior men’s national team coach Angus Eve stepped down from the role following four Premier Division crowns in six years said he was pleased with the overall effort of his team and both teams overall.

“I have to give them justice, I think both teams performed well, and I think that going forward we will see more quality from the guys on the field. “

With regards to his team’s preparations for the season after the league was on a pause for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mulraine said, “Well the preparations was the Tiger Tanks Under-20 League because most of these guys represented Club Sando.

“So my job was a bit easy just polishing them up and trying to give my philosophy, and feed them certain things, and I think we will be good in the end.”

“The guys tried to execute our game plan and of course, we have a few things to iron out, but I think by and large I was happy with the performance,” stated Mulraine.

Looking towards the start of the Premier Division campaign in which four-time champions Naparima travels to St Augustine Secondary in their opener on Wednesday, Mulraine, a former Queen’s Royal College player said he was pleased that some of the guys showed a lot of confidence on the ball.

“Of course, we have some kinks to iron out as I said, so it’s back to the drawing board and Wednesday the ball starts rolling again,” ended Mulraine.

Cooper aiming for title honours

Cooper, coach of the victorious Presentation College of San Fernando and former title-winning coach with Naparima as well said his team performed beyond expectations and fought like young lions.

“We were outmatched in the physical aspect of the game but second half we made a few tactical changes and we started pressing them and we got into the game and I think we had a very good second half and topped it off with the penalties.”

Coming into the match, Cooper who was recently appointed the men’s national Under-17 coach admitted that his players had a lot of nerves ahead of their first match of the season, and the first in the competition since 2019 due to the pandemic.

He added, “Especially my son, today was his first official game, and to be playing in a magnitude of a game like this I had to settle him down because we did a team talk with them lunchtime, and they all said that they were nervous.”

“So first-half you saw in the first 15 to 20 minutes we had a lot of problems in settling down and the nerves got the better of them but coming down in the dregs of the match you saw that we could have played football and got a couple of opportunities, and I am pleased with the performance.”

Being the first match of the season, Cooper said from the match that they saw today I think football was in good hands, because I think it was a very entertaining game and what we have been missing.

“The boys even though they were out for two years I thought the standard was pretty good.

Looking ahead to the SSFL season Cooper said his team is well on its way to achieving its targets.

He boasted, “I told the principal I was not too concerned about this match today (Friday) as we are building and by late October or early November you will see the best out of this team.”

New season, new format, new sponsor

For this year’s SSFL season, the first to be held since 2019 after the 2020 and 2021 seasons were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tiger Tanks will be the official title sponsor of this year’s SSFL, taking over from Jamaican-based sports television network, Sportsmax.

Coincidentally, a five-year agreement between the SSFL, Digicel, and SportsMax was scheduled to conclude in 2020 before the intervention of the COVID-19 pandemic threw everything into a tailspin.

Under Tiger Tanks, the league is set to be well-served, inclusive of uniform provision and branding, prizes, and the broadcasting of matches for all the divisions, inclusive of the Premiership, Championship, and all the lower divisions.

The new format of the 16-team Premier Division sees the teams divided into two groups of eight teams for one round of round-robin competition, that’s seven matches for each team, at the end of which the top two in each pool will advance to the crossover semifinals on Friday, October 21 ahead of the final four days later.

Both the semifinals and final are slated for either the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo or the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

The 16-participating schools will see Group A comprise Naparima College, St Augustine Secondary, Carapichaima East Secondary, Speyside High School, St Benedict’s College, Fatima College, Pleasantville Secondary, and St Anthony’s College, while Group B will feature San Juan North Secondary, Queen’s Royal College, Chaguanas North Secondary, Malick Secondary, East Mucurapo Secondary, Moruga Secondary, Trinity College East, and Presentation College (San F’do) with the opening round of matches set for Wednesday, September 14 with kickoff at 4 pm.

With regards to the demotion of teams from the SSFL, the two bottom-placed teams will be automatically relegated and will be joined by the losers of the playoff between the two teams to finish second from bottom in their respective groups.

At the same time, the winners of the five Championship Boys Divisions which will comprise six teams team will then contest a “Big-Five” round-robin series at the end of which the top three finishers will gain promotion to the 2023 Premier Division.

[Flex]

Naps 'ironing out kinks' ahead of new SSFL season.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)

Newly appointed Naparima College head coach Travis Mulraine said his team still has some minor flaws to correct ahead of the new Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season, which kicks off on Wednesday.

Mulraine’s troops lost the Tiger Tanks Cup – an exhibition match – on Friday, 3-2 via penalty shootout against rivals Presentation College, San Fernando, following a 1-1 result after regulation time.

Naparima forward Kanye Francis opened the scoring in the 24th minute but Presentation striker Caleb Boyce equalised eight minutes later.

The exhibition match was the SSFL’s curtain raiser ahead of this week’s round one matches.

Naps are defending league champions and open their campaign against St Augustine Secondary. Presentation College are the Coca Cola Intercol title holders and begin their league quest against Trinity College East on Wednesday.

On his team’s display, Mulraine said, “They tried to execute our game plan; of course we have a few things to iron out, but I think, by and large, I was happy with the performance.

“I think some of the guys showed some confidence on the board but as I said, we still have some kinks to iron out. (We go) back to the drawing board and from Wednesday, the ball starts rolling.”

Mulraine said the majority of his squad plays for Club Sando and used the Tiger Tanks Under-20 Invitational Tournament earlier this year, as prep for the new season.

He expressed faith in his group of players for the new season.

Mulraine’s appointment follows that of Naparima’s trophy-laden coach of eight years, Angus Eve, who was appointed as national men’s and Under-20 head coach last year. Eve departed with his entire team staff.

Alongside Mulraine, Naps recently appointed Anthony Sherwood as assistant coach, ex-Naps custodian Rondell Renwick (goalkeeping coach), Devon Wilson (trainer) and Sue-Ann Lammy (physio) as team staff.

[Tallman]

SSFL coaches eager to return to play
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)

Fifteen teams will challenge reigning champions and winners of four of the past six editions of the competition, Naparima College for title honours when the 2022 edition of the Tiger Tanks Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division kicks off at several venues Wednesday afternoon across the country. The match that will hold the attention will be St Augustine Secondary dubbed the “Green Machine” which will host Naparima College at Warner Street, St Augustine from 4 pm.

Guardian Media Sports spoke to the coaches of the various teams about their preparations following the two-year with no competition because of the COVID-19 pandemic which affected all sports across the world.

GROUP A

Tacuma Jones (St Augustine Secondary): “For me as a first-time coach of the team at this level it will be a challenge as we have lost a lot of players due to the two years of non-activity because of the pandemic. So we are really in a rebuilding stage, and my aim for this season is to make sure that we stay up in the Premier Division and have some continuity with the program for the next season.”

Shivaurn Harding (Carapichaima East Secondary): “The team preparations have only been for the past six to seven weeks, but the players are all hyped and ready for the first game as well as the season ahead. We are also hoping to have some additional players by our second match as they finalise their paperwork following their CXC and GCE examination results.”

Kerry Lynch (Speyside High): “Our preparations for this season only really intensified over the last two weeks. We have a really young team with most of the guys getting some exposure to competition during the Tiger Tanks Under-20 Tournament, and Next Level Consulting Limited Under-19 Community Cup and we are expecting a decent season, despite being a totally inexperienced team at this level.”

Hutson Charles (Fatima College): “Fatima’s preparations started well as the nucleus of the team has come through from the under-14s and under-15s, so we have a nice foundation from those teams of two years ago, and the guys are looking forward to the first game of the season, and what lies ahead as well.”

Kyle Small (Pleasantville Secondary): “Our preparations for the season were pretty okay, but we don’t have a lot of the players from the last time we competed at this level. So it will be a challenge for us and I expect for most of the teams, but we are confident that we have a squad that can compete as we expect to finish at least mid-table to maintain our premiership status.”

Ronald “Hustler” Daniel (St Anthony’s College): “For each team, I expect that preparations for the season were a bit of a challenge and difficult with the new blood of talent.

“At the same time our boys are very excited, but we are in a rebuilding stage line all teams and it’s going to take a lot of hard work, focus, and determination for us to achieve our targets.”

“One thing for certain is that all teams know that St Anthony’s will also come out to play and win, and we intend to be that way once again in every match.”

Randolph Boyce (St Benedict’s College): “Pre-season went well as we had a great turnout of players for our sessions. But at the same time, we also had some challenges with the inclement weather that made it difficult for us to use our field at times, but physically and mentally the guys are ready and now it’s like an exam, they now have to go and perform.”

Travis Mulraine (Naparima College): “Our performance against Presentation College in the Tiger Tanks Cup was not a bad one, and I was very satisfied with how we prepared for the match and how we performed, but the result did not go our way.”

“So from that game we know we have a few things that we still need to work on especially our play in the final third of the game with regards to our attacking play and support as well.

GROUP B

Dwayne Davis (Trinity East College): “We have put in some work, but it’s also a start of a new program with new players after the two-year stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic. We have not really set any real targets for the season in terms of table finish as we don’t really know much about any of the opposing teams.

Dale Saunders (East Mucurapo): “Our pre-season was a good one with a lot of young players from the Form 1 to Form 3 groupings and they have really developed well during our time together so far. But, at the same time with youth players you need time and while we have not set any real expectations, we do expect to compete well and play good consistent football.”

Jaeel Jeffrey (Chaguanas North): Preparation for us was not at the level as well as we expected as we had a few hiccups with players who we were expected to be part of the team not doing so after they weren’t successful with getting repeats or admittance to Form Six, after their examination results.

“So we basically have a young team, with only one player surviving from the team that actually gained promotion from the Championship Division promotion playoffs and we are just looking forward to seeing the players compete to the best of their ability.”

Kenwyne Jones (QRC): “Preparations have gone pretty well and we were really delighted to get the players back out on the field of play after the two-year absence of football due to the pandemic. The youngsters have been starved of football for the past two years, so with competition set to resume they are all hyped and looking forward to representing their school with the aim of doing well.”

Anthony “Chun” Bartholomew (Malick Secondary): “Our preparations were really hit by the coronavirus as parents were reluctant to send their children out to training, and overall we haven’t really trained much as a team.

“Despite those setbacks, I expect that the guys will go out and give off their best as they are talented individuals, but lack the experience and exposure at this level, and hopefully it will be good enough for us to stay in the division for the next season.”

Kempton Duval (Moruga Secondary): “I’m very optimistic about our chances in the competition as our main aim is to maintain our status in the Premier Division, this being our first time back at this level in a few years.”

“Along with fellow promoted teams Fatima College, and Chaguanas North, we will be coming against a core of teams who have the experienced at being at this level for a number of years, so we just want to compete well, represent our school Moruga as well as our community proudly.”

Shawn Cooper (Presentation College of San Fernando): Coming off the win over bitter rival and reigning Premier Division champions Naparima College in the Tiger Tanks Cup, we will be hoping to build on that win as the season goes on.

“In saying that, our preseason was good one despite the persistent inclement weather which forced us to do lots of our work indoors.

“And against Naps, it showed that we still have a lot of fo work to put in to be major contenders, and as a young group of players they will improve as the season goes on.”

Stephen Clarke (San Juan North Secondary manager): “Preparations for the season was a bit stunted as we would have lost a lot of the players from the 2019 team over the past two years of the coronavirus pandemic who have now finished school.

“So like most teams, we will be featuring a lot of new and young players who would have come up from Forms 2 and 3 but at the same time would have also missed out on competitive matches for the past two years which surely hampered their development.”

“So our first order of business in this year’s competition is trying to avoid finishing in the relegation positions, and by doing so we will be able to develop a team for next year.”

2022 SSFL TEAMS

Group A

St Augustine Secondary, Carapichaima East Secondary, Naparima College, Speyside High School, St Benedict’s College, Fatima College, Pleasantville Secondary, and St Anthony’s College.

Group B

San Juan North Secondary, Queen’s Royal College, Chaguanas North Secondary, Malick Secondary, East Mucurapo Secondary, Moruga Secondary, Trinity College East, Presentation College (San F’do)

[Flex]

Naparima tramples ‘Green Machine’ 9-1 to begin defence.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Omari Campbell and Nathaniel O’Garro scored two goals each to lead four-time winners and defending champions Naparima College to an emphatic 9-1 come-from-behind win over St Augustine Secondary to kick off the defence of their title in the Tiger Tanks Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division at Warner Street, St Augustine, on Wednesday.

Coming on the heels of their 3-2 penalty-kick loss to long-time rival and current Coca-Cola Inter-Col holders Presentation College of San Fernando in the SSFL Tiger Tanks Cup season opener on Friday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, first-year coach Travis Mulraine, a former national player was keen for his Naparima players to bounce back in their Group A opener.

However, against the run of play, it was the “Green Machine” of St Augustine, under the guidance of another first-year coach Tacuma Jones, who took a surprise lead within six minutes of the start after some clumsy defending by the visitors.

But that turned out to be the lone bright spot for St Augustine on the afternoon as Campbell and O’Garro got braces while Kanye Francis, Andres France, Israel Joseph, and Terrell Rajoon were all on target along with an own goal to cap off the win.

Speaking after the lopsided contest Mulraine said it was nice to see that his players were able to rebound and get the win away from home after the disappointment of losing the Tiger Tank Cup clash.

“The defeat against Presentation came like a blessing in disguise to us and young players have a tendency to become complacent and tasting defeat early in the season was a good wake-up call.

“Even today in the win, it was evident that again we saw some complacency in our game with players wanting to run too much with the ball, and that is something we have to curb, going forward,” said Mulraine.

In the other matches in Group A, Speyside High School got a double from Jarlon Toppin in the 13th and 77th while Reyes Gray, Lenox Eastman, and Milz Johnson added one each in 5-0 beating of hosts Carapichaima East Secondary at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva; St Anthony’s College got first-half strikes from Joshua Millette and Mordicai Forde to blank Pleasantville Secondary 2-0 at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Training Field, Marabella, and St Benedict’s College got a second-half strike from Ephraim Brown to earn a 1-1 draw with travelling Fatima College who had taken the lead via Khiba Romany at the Moruga Multipurpose Sport and Youth Facility.

Yesterday’s results

Naparima College 9 (Omari Campbell 2, Nathaniel O’Garro 2, Kanye Francis, Andres France, Israel Joseph, Terrell Rajoon, own goal) vs St Augustine Sec 1 (Jordan Ferdinand)

Speyside High 5 (Reyes Gray 3rd, Jarlon Toppin 13th, 77th, Lenox Eastman 84th, Milz Johnson 90th) vs

Carapichaima East Sec. 0

Fatima College 1 (Khiba Romany) vs St Benedict’s College 1 (Ephraim Brown)

St Anthony’s College 2 (Joshua Millette, Mordacia Forde) vs Pleasantville Sec 0

SATURDAY’S MATCHES

Group A

St Benedict’s College vs Carapichaima East Sec @ Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva

Fatima College vs Naparima College @ Fatima Grounds, Mucurapo Road

Speyside High School vs St Anthony’s College @ Speyside

St Augustine Secondary vs P)leasantville Secondary @ St Augustine Ground, Warner Street



Naparima College striker Isreal Joseph, left, shoots and scores while under pressure from a St Augustine Secondary defender during the Secondary Schools Football League match at the St Augustine Secondary School yesterday in St Augustine. Naparima College won 9-1. (Photo by Daniel Prentice)

[Flex]

Noel’s beaver leads San Juan past QRC 5-1.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).

A beaver-trick from striker Larry Noel led San Juan North Secondary School to a more-than-convincing 5-1 victory over Queen’s Royal College (QRC) in Group B of the Premier Division of the Tiger Tanks Secondary Schools Football League at the San Juan School Ground on Wednesday afternoon.

The Royalians sought to put up a fight in the early moments of the match, but Noel proved to be too much on the day. His enormous talent became QRC’s concern from as early as the second minute when a one-two with Elizsha Rogers enabled him to exploit an open QRC defence on the left side and with the goal at his mercy, Noel hit low and hard into the vacant far post for the 1-0 advantage.

However, the San Juan celebrations were muted less than a minute later. Tau Lamsee benefitted from a blunder in the centre of the field and he rifled his effort past goalkeeper Xavion Haynes for the equaliser in the 3rd minute.

The goal, however, failed to prevent the dominance that followed, courtesy of the brilliance of Noel. The prolific striker sent his team 2-1 up in the 18th minute before he galloped on to a through ball in the 41st minute, and despite the challenge by QRC’s Micah Nelson, Noel kept his composure to beat Shemuel Cassidy in the QRC goal for a 3-1 lead which they took to the half-time interval.

At the resumption, it was all San Juan North with attempts that went abegging. But they would not be denied as Kedell Jones was gifted a through ball and he tucked it beyond the dive of Cassidy to send his team 4-1 up in the 49th minute.

Noel later completed his rout from another ball down the left side and from an acute angle, he beat Cassidy at his near post with a thunderous left-footed drive that sealed maximum points for his team in the group.

Yesterday’s results:

San Juan North 5 (Larry Noel 2nd, 18th, 41st, 67th, Kedell Jones 49th) vs QRC- 1 (Tau Lamsee)

Chaguanas North 1 vs Malick Sec 4

East Mucurapo 5 vs Moruga Sec 1 (Santana Smith)

Trinity College East 0 vs Presentation, San F’do 1 (Caleb Boyce 70th)

SATURDAY’S MATCH UPS

Group B

Presentation College vs Malick Secondary @ Union Hall Ground

QRC vs East Mucurapo Secondary @ QRC Ground, St Clair

San Juan North Secondary vs Chaguanas North Secondary @ Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan

Trinity College East vs Moruga Secondary, Trinity College East, Trincity


Larry Noel, right, of San Juan Secondary shoots while under pressure from Queens Royal College defender Nathan Quashie, no 8, during the Secondary Schools Football League match between San Juan North Secondary and Queens Royal College at the San Juan North Secondary School on Wednesday in San Juan. Noel scored four goals in the match. (Photo by Daniel Prentice)

[Tallman]

‘Pres’ win again, Fatima stop ‘Naps’, Noel scores six for San Juan North
T&T Express

Presentation College San Fernando got a second victory of the Tigers Tanks Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season when rallying from a goal down to beat Malick Secondary 3-1 in a Group B match yesterday at the Ato Boldon stadium, Couva.

Following a first half which saw Malick lead and Pres pull level through a fortuitous penalty, the South giants took over as Malick waned in the second half
Having won 1-0 over Carapichaima East Secondary in mid-week, “Pres” conceded their first goal, with Malick skipper Lendelle Baptiste shooting from distance and finding the far corner with a bouncing, deflected shot in the opening minute.

Malick employed a full press which successfully disrupted most of Presentation’s effort to go forward, and it was only from the penalty spot that the boys were able to pull level. Adah Barclay converted in the 30th minute after referee Cecile Hinds pointed to the penalty spot - a decision which seemed hard given the defender was hit at point -blank range and high up on the arm.

Presentation grew stronger in the second half, as Malick grew tired and could no longer keep up their intensity. Hard-running skipper Caleb Boyce scored twice for Presentation to put the game to bed.

Boyce put Pres ahead at 2-1 with a solo run, when cutting inside the penalty area before beating the Malick goalkeeper Mandell Huskerson with a low shot. Boyce was also first to the rebound which he put in from close-up, after Huskerson parried Isaiah Jacob’s initial shot into his path.

Having beaten Chaguanas North Secondary 4-1 on Wednesday, Malick will reboot and prepare for their next match.

Malick coach Anthony Bartholomew admitted his players were not yet fully fit but was still unconvinced about the legitimacy of the penalty awarded by Hinds.

“It’s not the ball hit him there. It’s the player feet which hit him there. That caused this penalty and made a big change in the game,” Bartholomew insisted.

“Presentation coach Shawn Cooper was far more contented.

“I’m pleased with the three points but not with the performance. What I have learned is we can come back from an early setback.”

In the second match at the Ato Boldon, St Benedict’s College were rampant, winning 8-0 to get their first win of the season, with Tarik Lee and Jaden Brown scoring doubles.

On Wednesday, Benedict’s drew 1-1 with Fatima College, and yesterday, Fatima also got an important win at home, Khiba Romany, clinching an injury-time winner as the home side squeezed past defending champions Naparima College 2-1.

In Group B, San Juan North Secondary captain Larry Noel scored six, to go with his four from the opening day, as San Juan swamped Chaguanas North secondary 13-0.

Yesterday’s scores:
GROUP A:
Fatima 2 (Chaim Williams, Khiba Romany) Naparima 1 (Christan Bailey o.g.)
St Benedict’s 8 (Derrel Garcia, Josiah Ochoa, Jeremiah Niles, Ephraim Brown, Tarik Lee 2, Jaden Grant 2) Carapichaima East 0
Speyside High 2 (Milz Johnson, Tyrel Moore) St Anthony’s 1 (Aalon Wilson-Wright)
St Augustine Secondary vs Pleasantville Secondary (Postponed)

GROUP B:
San Juan North 13 (Larry Noel 6, Kedell Jones 2, Lindell Sween, Jardiel Joseph, Rondell Harewood, Kent Guy, Elizsha Rogers) Chaguanas North 0
Presentation Sando 3 (Caleb Boyce 2, Adah Barclay) Malick 1 (Lendelle Baptiste)
QRC 5 (Zakari King, Teshaun Frankyn, Tau Lamsee, Mussadiq Mohammed, Aydon Caruth) East Mucurapo 0
Trinity College East 3 (Jaheim Faustin 2, Khaleem Prince) Moruga 0

[Tallman]

Fatima stun Naps 2-1 in SSFL Premiership
By David Scarlett (T&T Newsday)

NEWLY-PROMOTED Fatima College, against all odds, overcame defending Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership champions, Naparima College, 2-1 in an intense affair at Fatima College Ground, Mucurapo on Saturday.

It was a stunning result as the boys from the north pulled off a remarkable comeback victory against Travis Mulraine's unit, especially given that the champions mauled St Augustine 9-1 in midweek and looked in good form.

Fatima, who were promoted from the SSFL Championship in 2019, are the first team to beat Naparima in the league since they themselves won with the same score-line, at the same ground, on September 16, 2017. Naparima’s unbeaten run lasted exactly five years (two and three-quarter seasons), achieving more than 30 games without loss.

The champions took the lead in the 29th minute via an own-goal from Fatima’s Christian Bailey. The rushing defender attempted to prevent Naparima’s Nathaniel O’Garro from scoring after beating the goalkeeper, but he bundled the ball into his own net.

However, the home side found an equaliser in the 67th minute when Chaim Williams slotted the ball past Naparima goalkeeper, Dejon Collingwood, and into the bottom right corner after receiving a well-timed through-ball.

Naparima struggled to create chances on the waterlogged pitch, which proved to work in Fatima’s favour. Fatima continued to press the champions and scored the winner with the last kick of the game, in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Khiba Romany created space for himself inside of the crowded penalty area and blasted the ball home as the home crowd erupted in ecstasy to celebrate Fatima’s first win of the season.

At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva in the first game of a double-header, Presentation San Fernando recovered from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1 against Malick. A double from Caleb Boyce and one from Adah Barclay led the ‘Pres Lions’ to claim their maiden three points.

The second game provided a spectacle for neutrals and St Benedict’s fans as the La Romain-based school hammered Carapichaima East 8-0.

San Juan North added to the goal rush on the day by thrashing the third of the three newly-promoted teams, Chaguanas North, 13-0. QRC recovered from their opening-day loss to beat East Mucurapo 5-0, Speyside got past St Anthony’s 2-1 and Trinity East overcame East Mucurapo 3-0.

St Augustine’s home fixture with Pleasantville was postponed due to the field being unsatisfactory for play. That fixture will be played on October 1 at 4 pm.

Matchday Three Fixtures (September 21)

GROUP A – St Anthony’s vs St Augustine (Hasely Crawford Stadium), 4 pm; Fatima vs Carapichaima East (Fatima College Ground), 4 pm; Naparima vs Pleasantville (Naparima College Ground), 4 pm; Speyside vs St Benedict’s (Speyside High School Ground), 3.30 pm.

GROUP B – Moruga Secondary vs San Juan North (Hasely Crawford Stadium), 2 pm; East Mucurapo vs Presentation (Venue TBA), 4 pm; Malick Secondary vs Trinity East (Malick Secondary School Ground), 4 pm; QRC vs Chaguanas North (QRC Ground), 4 pm.

[chelsealife]

It's possible San Juan could score 20+ against Moruga 🤦🏾

[asylumseeker]

It's possible San Juan could score 20+ against Moruga 🤦🏾

Great! That, in the opinion of some, is sufficient to earn a NT call-up.

[chelsealife]

It's possible San Juan could score 20+ against Moruga 🤦🏾

Great! That, in the opinion of some, is sufficient to earn a NT call-up.

Lol who's of international standard on San Juan team? Or on any of these U20 school teams?

[Deeks]

It is unfortunate that we have these lopsided scores. But it is what it is.  Most of these students are behind in every aspects of the game at this moment. 2 yrs of no supervised football is what we are witnessing this season. I saw QRC beat E. Mucurapo 5-0. I can tell you that score line is a bit deceiving.  While QRC went all out to score goals, I would say 3 of those goals were poor goal keeping by Mucurapo keeper. I would say QRC and Mucurapo are at the same level. But all teams need some serious improvement.  It is hard to say at this moment which players are at international standard. Saw one or two players from both teams with potential.  That’s about it. 

[Tallman]

San Juan North Secondary 5-1 Queen's Royal College 5-1

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/dIckTYw7HbU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/dIckTYw7HbU</a>

Presentation College 3-1 Malick Secondary

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/mhLioLHrM4g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/mhLioLHrM4g</a>

St. Benedict's College 8-0 Carapichaima East

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Oz4YQRC1Xxw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Oz4YQRC1Xxw</a>

[Deeks]

St. Anthony's vs At. Augustine

https://youtu.be/ZlpWx7BTBGk

[Deeks]

I can see it on my cellphone.

[asylumseeker]

St. Anthony's vs At. Augustine

https://youtu.be/ZlpWx7BTBGk

Caught the 2nd half. Not a waste of time, but not spectacular. Definitely was schoolboy football with schoolboy errors.

Losses of possession were cheap, collective play was not a big emphasis, set pieces and dead ball situations need work and intention, managing/varying the tempo of play doesn't seem to be a desired thing ... anyhow still a decent view in terms of moderate expectations.

The more enterprising team won and it being 3-2 with not many minutes left, made it a lil entertaining.

Green Machine will grow into their own.

[Deeks]

Did not see the rest of the second half. Asylum, like I said before, we are seeing the results 2 years of no football. Your descriptions are on point.  Any scores from the other games?

[Tallman]

Malick hit with 3-point deduction
ssfltt.com

Malick Secondary School have been docked three points in the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division competition after registering for the season late.

The SSFL disciplinary committee met on Tuesday night and decided on action.

A letter dated September 21 to the media by SSFL general secretary Azaad Mohammed-Khan, said, “Malick Secondary was in breach of Article #16 of the constitution by failing to submit players registration 72 hours before their first game. Malick’s registration came in on Tuesday 13 September 2022 by email at 10.23 am.”

Malick did not meet the deadline as their round one match against Chaguanas North Secondary kicked off at 4 pm, on September 14.

Malick defeated Chaguanas North Secondary 4-1, but that result will be changed.

“As a result, the disciplinary committee’s decision was that the game be awarded to Chaguanas North Secondary with three points and three goals,” the letter said.

Malick and Chaguanas North are playing in Group B of the SSFL premier division competition.

[asylumseeker]

Malick hit with 3-point deduction
ssfltt.com

Malick Secondary School have been docked three points in the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division competition after registering for the season late.

The SSFL disciplinary committee met on Tuesday night and decided on action.

A letter dated September 21 to the media by SSFL general secretary Azaad Mohammed-Khan, said, “Malick Secondary was in breach of Article #16 of the constitution by failing to submit players registration 72 hours before their first game. Malick’s registration came in on Tuesday 13 September 2022 by email at 10.23 am.”

Malick did not meet the deadline as their round one match against Chaguanas North Secondary kicked off at 4 pm, on September 14.

Malick defeated Chaguanas North Secondary 4-1, but that result will be changed.

“As a result, the disciplinary committee’s decision was that the game be awarded to Chaguanas North Secondary with three points and three goals,” the letter said.

Malick and Chaguanas North are playing in Group B of the SSFL premier division competition.

Was it within the discretion of the disciplinary body to conclude other than on a points deduction?

[Flex]

Benedict’s, San Juan North take charge in SSFL Premiership.
T&T Guardian Reports.

THROUGHOUT a stormy match day three, on Wednesday evening, the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) was showered with goals at every ground played on the day.

The rainy weather failed to hinder all but one fixture in the league as the teams at the top of both groups thrived in the wet conditions.

Early pace-setters, St. Benedict’s College, climbed to the top of Group A after dominating Speyside High School, who have been impressive so far this season. The La Romaine outfit cruised to a 3-0 victory, and they overthrew the Tobagonians from the summit of the group standings.

In the north, after being the first team to beat Naparima in three seasons last weekend, Fatima College produced another jaw-dropping performance against Carapichaima East, hammering the central side 10-0. Fatima, who are a newly-promoted team in the league, remain unbeaten in their first three games of the season.

Elsewhere, St Anthony’s College edged St. Augustine 3-2 and the fixture between Naparima and Pleasantville was abandoned due to inclement weather. The defending champions led 2-0 at the moment the match was postponed.

In Group B, San Juan North continued their charge towards claiming top spot by beating Moruga Secondary 3-0. They now stand on nine points with a goal-difference of +20. This season’s Tiger Tanks Cup champions, Presentation College (San Fernando) lurk behind them following a slender 2-1 victory against East Mucurapo. Both teams march on with a 100 per cent record.

The other fixtures in the group saw Malick Secondary scrape a 1-0 win against Trinity East while Queen’s Royal College (QRC) and Chaguanas North played to a 2-2 draw.

The next round of matches will take place on September 26. The Group A matches will be Pleasantville vs Fatima (2pm), Naparima vs Speyside (4pm), Carapichaima East vs St Augustine (4pm) and St Anthony's vs St Benedict's (4pm).

The Group B fixtures will be played on September 28, showcasing Trinity East vs San Juan North (2pm), Chaguanas North vs East Mucurapo (4pm), Malick Secondary vs QRC (4pm) and Presentation vs Moruga Secondary.

[Tallman]

‘Blue Thunder’ plans to roar again
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)

‘The Blue Thunder’ of El Dorado East Secondary School is planning to roar once again in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL).

The school, once known for being a top contender in the top-flight competition and boasted of players such as Stern John, Walt Noreiga, David Grimes and Sean Rosales, among many others, has been on a slow but steady climb that is expected to lead to a football team that they have been known to produce.

The school’s desire to become a force in the sphere of education, sports and all other areas of student development has led to the return of former coach Trevor Spicer, who joined a hard-working team that is being led by Joel Warrick.

The school is competing in the Championship Division, which means that promotion to the coveted Premiership Division will require them to win the East Zone first, and then battle for one of three top spots in a playoff at the end.

Today, the school will be up against Five Rivers Secondary at home from 3.40 pm, hoping to record its first win of the season, following their opening 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Arima North Secondary, as well as a 3-3 tie with Valencia Secondary at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.  

Spicer said from what he has seen in his team so far, it looks as though “they’ve got something”.  

The Valencia lads were also on the losing end in their opening game to Holy Cross College 2-3 and will be hoping to make amends this afternoon.

Holy Cross will be at home to Arima North in a clash of the two unbeaten teams in the zone thus far. Last week, the men from Calvary Hills got the better of Manzanilla Secondary 2-1 away and also defeated Valencia.

Arima North, known popularly as the ‘Dial Dynamos’ will could face its toughest test to date, following wins over El Dorado and Valencia.

All matches today begin at 3.40 pm.

[Tallman]

Bishop's High register 10-nil win in SSFL Girls' Division
By Dexter Edwards (T&T Newsday)

BISHOP'S HIGH made light work of Pentecostal Light and Life, on day one of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Tobago Zone Girls' Division on Thursday.

The 10-nil result was highlighted by supreme domination from Bishop's at the Plymouth Recreation Ground. Ty’Kaiya Dennis headlined the attack with four of her team's five goals, in the first half.

Kimonique Spencer netted a second half double, while there were a goal apiece from Tamia Peterkin, Gyasi Lewis, Kipnah Joseph and Lesley-Ann Joseph.

Signal Hill were 3-1 winners over Mason Hall, at the Moriah Recreation Field.

Signal Hill, took a 2-1 lead at half time, following goals by Niya Yeates and Aaliyah Baptiste in the sixth and 11th minute respectively.

Mason Hall reduced the deficit in the 28th minute, as Jada Graham converted a penalty.

Mason Hall's ploy to increase the tempo in the second half, did not pay dividends, as Lei-Marie Balfour's goal for Signal Hill, three minutes after the resumption, foiled Mason Hall ambitions.

Scarborough trounced Goodwood Secondary 6-0 at Shaw Park.

Kaleah Duke scored twice in the first half, and added two more in the second half. Also getting their names on the scoresheet were Kellecia Taylor and Shakira Charles.

In the SSFL Tobago Zone Boys' Division, Bishop's High are the early leaders. Their defence have conceded one goal, while their prolific attack has breached the defensive line of the opposition on eight occasions.

In their first match versus Goodwood Secondary School, Bishop's romped to a 4-1 win, with Malik Wilson scoring twice, while there was a goal apiece from Kaieem Lewis and Giovanni Burke. Goodwood had a consolation item from Kaylon James.

In their second game, Bishop's registered goals from Malik Wilson, Khaleel Job, Johan Elliott and Kieran Wright in a 4-0 rout over Pentecostal Light and Life.

Despite the boys' team positive start, Bishop's assistant coach Bernard Allum is remaining cautious. He said, “We are taking things one game at a time. We had a solid start to the season, but we have not played the bigger teams as yet. “Hopefully by the time we get to the bigger teams, we will be pretty well fine-tuned."

Allum added, “We have to improve on our goal scoring. We have scored eight goals, but we have missed more than we scored.”

Bishops last won the title in 2017.

In another encounter, Scarborough thrashed Goodwood 8-0.

Antonio Hopkins and Kyle James each notched a hat-trick, with Thiery John added two.

Roxborough, Signal Hill and Mason Hall Secondary Schools have drawn their opening matches.

[Flex]

Fatima, St Benedict's keep marching on.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Fatima College and St Benedict's College stayed in pole position to secure the semifinal spots from Group A with comfortable away wins when Round Four matches in the Tiger Tanks Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division resumed with four matches, yesterday.

Playing in one of two early matches on schedule, the Hutson Charles-coached Fatima College got a goal each from Chaim Williams, Joshua Mason, Alijah Nunes, Christian Bailey, and Michael Chaves to blank host Pleasantville Secondary, 5-0, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium training field, Marabella.

The win was the third on the trot for Fatima to remain unbeaten after four matches with ten points, the same as St Benedict's College who secured an important road win at Morne Coco Road, Westmoorings over the St Anthony's College "Westmooring Tigers", 3-0, led by a first-half double from Tarik Lee in the 18th and 24th, and a second-half penalty from Nishon Alexander in the 62nd while the host also missed a penalty in the 82nd minute.

Defending champion Naparima College kept its hopes of a top two group finish alive with a 7-0 trashing of Speyside in ther early match at Lewis Street, San Fernando led by braces from Kanye Francis, and Nathaniel O'Garro with Jabari Forbes, Omari Campbell, and Israel Joseph also on target for the hosts.

In the day's other match, Carapichaima East Secondary blasted St Augustine East Secondary 5-2 in a clash of teams looking for their first points with Ethan Troman scoring a pair of goals for the winner and Kirziah Myers, Tyrese David and Josiah Hypolite with a later penalty also on target.

For St Augustine, Alex Piper and Isaiah Nicholas got a goal each before Juburili Williams sent off in the 89th minute.

Group B will resume tomorrow with joint leaders, San Juan North and Presentation College, both with a maximum of nine points from three matches each, hoping to remain the lone two teams with 100 percent winning records.

San Juan North will travel to Trinity College East at Trincity while Presentation hosts Moruga Secondary at Union Hall.

In the two other Group B matches on Wednesday, Malick Secondary entertains Queen's Royal College at St Mary's College Ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair, while Chaguanas North Secondary is at home to East Mucurapo Secondary at African Grounds, Enterprise.

The new format of the 16-team Premier Division sees the teams divided into two groups of eight teams for one round of round-robin competition, that’s seven matches for each team, at the end of which the top two in each pool will advance to the crossover semifinals on October 21 ahead of the final four days later.

Both the semifinals and final are slated for either the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo or the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

The bottom-placed team in each pool will be automatically relegated and will be joined by the losers of the playoff between the two teams to finish second from the bottom in their respective groups.

At the same time, the winners of the five Championship Boys Divisions which will comprise six teams team will then contest a “Big-Five” round-robin series at the end of which the top three finishers will gain promotion to the 2023 Premier Division.

Yesterday's results:

Group A:

Fatima College 5 (Chaim Williams, Joshua Mason, Alijah Nunes, Christian Bailey, Michael Chaves) vs Pleasantville Sec 0

Naparima College 7 (Kanye Francis 2, Nathaniel O'Garro 2, Jabari Forbes, Omari Campbell, Israel Joseph) vs Speyside High 0

Carapichaima East 5 (Ethan Trotman 2, Tyrese David, Kirziah Myers, Josiah Hypolite pen) vs St Augustine Sec 2 (Alexis Piper, Isaiah Nicholas)

St Benedict's College 3 (Tarik Lee 18th, 24th, Neshon Alexander 62nd pen) vs St Anthony's College 0

Current standings

Group A:

Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
Fatima*4*3*1*0*18*2*10
St Benedict’s*4*3*1*0*15*1*10
Naparima*3*2*0*1*17*3*6
Speyside Sec*4*2*0*2*7*11*6
St Anthony’s*4*2*0*2*6*7*6
Carapichaima East*4*1*0*3*5*25*3
Pleasantville*2*0*0*2*0*7*0
St Augustine*3*0*0*3*5*17*0

Group B:

Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
San Juan North*3*3*0*0*21*1*9
Presentation (San F’do)*3*3*0*0*6*2*9
QRC*3*1*1*1*8*7*4
Chaguanas North*3*1*1*1*5*15*4
East Mucurapo*3*1*0*2*8*6*3
Trinity East*3*1*0*2*3*2*3
Malick Sec*3*1*0*2*2*6*3
Moruga*3*0*0*2*1*11*0

Round Four

Kick-off is 4 pm unless otherwise stated:

Tomorrow:

Group B:

Trinity College East vs San Juan North Sec, Trinity College East, Trincity

Presentation College vs Moruga Secondary, Union Hall, San Fernando.

Malick Secondary vs QRC, St Mary's College Ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair

Chaguanas North Secondary vs East Mucurapo Secondary, African Grounds, Enterprise.

Leading scorers:

11 - Larry Noel (San Juan North)

5 - Chaim Williams (Fatima)

4 - Nathaniel O’Garro (Naparima),

3 - Caleb Boyce (Presentation), Kedell Jones (San Juan North), Omari Campbell, Kanye Francis (Naparima), Joshua Mason, Christian Bailey (Fatima)

2 - Milz Johnson, Jarlon Toppin (Speyside), Zion Harley, Maalik Jarvis (East Mucurapo), Khiba Romany (Fatima), Ephraim Brown, Tarik Lee, Jaden Grant (St Benedict’s), Tau Lemsee (QRC), Jaheim Faustin (Trinity East), Joshua Miller, Theo Crovador (St Anthony's), Lindell Sween (San Juan North), Israel Joseph (Naparima), Alex Piper (St Augustine), Ethan Trotman (Carapichaima East)

1 - Jabari Forbes, Andres France, Terrell Rajoon, Josiah Cooper (Naparima), Jameel Cooper, Isaiah Nicholas, Marcel Valentine (St Augustine), Reyes Gray, Lenox Eastman, Tyrell Moore (Speyside), Mordacia Forde, Aadon Wilson-Wright (St Anthony’s), J'Lon Matthews, Oba Samuel (Malick), Mikel Toussaint, Al-Kalipha Henry (East Mucurapo), Santana Smith (Moruga), Josiah Ochoa, Jeremiah Nile, Derrell Garcia, Nicholas Bobcombe, Tyrique Lucas (St Benedict’s), Alijah Nunes, Michael Chaves, Nathan Achin, Luke Correia, Aidan De Gannes (Fatima), Adah Barclay, Micah Braithwaite, Levi Jones (Presentation), Teshaun Franklyn, Aydon Caruth, Zakari King, Musaddiq Mohammed, Stephon Jones, Micah Nelson (QRC), Khaleem Prince (Trinity East), Elizsha Rogers, Rondell Harewood, Jardiel Joseph, Kent Guy (San Juan North), Hezekiah John, Justin Lewis (Chaguanas North), Josiah Hypolite, Kirziah Myers, Tyrese David (Carapichaima East)