2023 SSFL Thread

[Tallman]

SSFL kicks off with St Benedict’s, Fatima clash
T&T Guardian

The thought of a Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and even a Neymar Jr being among us in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) is not too far-fetched, said Lisa Morris-Julien, Junior Minister in the Ministry of Education.

Morris-Julien’s comment came at the launch of the SSFL season at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain on Thursday before a large appreciative crowd that comprised members of the SSFL executive, sponsors and several other dignitaries.

The league is set to kick off on September 8 with a clash of last year’s Coca-Cola and Premiership finalists St Benedict’s College and Fatima College at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 4 pm.

And to ensure that all get the opportunity to see the matches this season, either via television or via an App, SportsMax, the regional sports cable network announced through its chief executive officer (CEO) Nicholas Matthews that it has renewed its three-year contract with the schools’ league.

SportsMax is one of two sponsors renewing its contract with the SSFL, with the other being Coca-Cola, the title sponsor of the league InterCol play-offs.

This year the league will also boast of retaining longstanding sponsors Shell as well as the National Gas Company (NGC) who through its head of Communication and Brand Nicola Ghouralal, said they want to invest in human energy.

Ghouralal said her company’s sponsorship of the league is an indication that they believe in the youth.

In 2022, St Benedict’s defeated Fatima 3-1 to claim the Premier Division title, but the Fatima boys returned to gain sweet revenge in the National Coca-Cola InterCol final by winning 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The league represented the future of T&T on and off the field. Yesterday, Morris-Julien said, as a former footballer herself she knows of the efforts and benefits of the league and didn’t doubt the fact that a future star footballer can be in the league.

“The Secondary School Football League has a legacy of fierce competition and friendly rivalry. I grew up in a time with the Blue Thunder (El Dorado East) and the Green Machine (St Augustine Senior) and it has maintained a strong following from not only the students but also from the communities of these schools. To this day, everyone can say their favourite football team,” Morris-Julien said.

“In all areas of youth development, you know the African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. The Secondary Schools Football League is indeed a village that the Ministry of Education is proud to be part of.”

Following on the heels of the Commonwealth Youth Games, which Morris-Julien said provided an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talent, she noted also that the SSFL presents yet another opportunity for our young athletes to shine and show their skills in sports.

“I grew up with Stern John, Dwight Yorke, Jason Scotland, Kenwyne Jones, and it’s not impossible that one day, Messi, Ronaldo, and or Neymar could be among us today,” Morris Julien said.

“Sports as we know it, is not merely a physical activity but it’s a powerful tool for character building and discipline. It’s a platform that fosters lifelong skills that extends far beyond the playing field. Through sports, we learn the importance of dedication, we learn discipline, time management, and the pursuit of excellence.”

This year the league will feature some 6,000 players from 100 registered schools in 398 teams. And among these figures will be 10 teams from a new 13 and Under girls’ division that will come on stream, come September.

[Tallman]

SSFL kicks off: Benedict's, Fatima clash in NGC Cup
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

The 2023 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season is starting in the same manner the 2022 edition ended, as St Benedict's College and Fatima College will meet in the NGC Cup match from 4 pm today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The NGC Cup sees the winners of the league and intercol tournaments from the previous season meeting to kick-start the new campaign. Last season, St Benedict's and Fatima traded heavy punches, as Benedict's won the premier division with a 3-1 win over Fatima in the "Big 4" final, while the latter got their revenge by edging their southern counterparts 1-0 in the intercol final.

Both schools were also impressive in the other age groups, as Fatima won the national under-14 and under-16 titles, with St Benedict's getting the under-20 crown.

St Benedict's, who are also referred to as the "Golden Lions" or "La Romaine Lions," captured their first national league title since 1967 with their "Big 4" win last year. This season, coach Randolph Boyce hopes his team can bring the right "ingredients" to find the winning formula once more.

"Yes, we have our expectations. Repeating anything is a hard task to achieve but I still think it's achievable," Boyce told Newsday. "The way the school football is set up, you may not be able to have the ingredients all the time because it's a system where students always leave and you have to develop more students and bring more students."

"You might be able to achieve the task, but you may not have the same students to do the job."

In the 2022 season, Benedict's enjoyed an unbeaten run during the campaign, before being undone by a Joshua Mason goal in the intercol final. Then, Boyce's team boasted of national youth players such as Derrel Garcia, Jeremiah Niles, Josiah Ochoa and captain Tarik Lee, who won the 2022 SSFL Player of the Year award. For the upcoming season though, Boyce is staying tight-lipped on his squad composition.

"I don't want to say who left (the school) nah. I want to keep the fear in some of those schools," Boyce said. "Let the players and them run out and let the players see for themselves."

This season, the 16-team premier division reverts to its original format, with each team in the league playing each other for a total of 15 league matches.

"Last year, there was a shortened format and we just had two groups with about seven games each before you could reach a final," Boyce said. "Now, this format will be testing your consistency. Everybody is preparing and wants to do well, so you can't go into this tournament overconfident."

With their national intercol win in 2022, Fatima put their hands on the coveted knockout trophy for the first time in 17 years. Fatima's 2022 team also had good talent, with captain Christian Bailey, goalkeeper Tristan Edwards and defender Jaden Williams all representing TT at youth level.

For 2023, coach Hutson "Baba" Charles will have the aforementioned trio within the ranks, although the impressive full back pair of Jesse Hospedales and Alijah Nunes have left the school. "The season ahead is a long season," said Fatima manager Stephen Williams. "The (NGC Cup) is not the be-all and end-all. Of course, we want to be competitive, but it will be a feel-out game for how the season will be."

Both camps have downplayed the NGC Cup as being "just another game," but neither St Benedict's or Fatima will want to give an inch to their rival before the quest for league supremacy begins next week.

[Tallman]

Derrel Garcia's hat trick leads St Benedict's to NGC Super Cup
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)

Three goals from Derrel Garcia and another from Daniel Jones handed St Benedict's College, the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division champion, the opening National Gas Company (NGC) Super Cup title by beating arch-rivals Fatima College 4-3 on Satuerday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.

"The La Romain Lions" as St Benedict's is popularly called by their fans, missed out on the Coca-Cola InterCol title last year when Fatima edged them 1-0.

But despite leading 3-0 at the halfway stage yesterday, the St Benedict's team got a major scare from the Mucurapo Road boys, who battled back desperately to reduce the scoreline to within a goal and even could have won it at the death.

Garcia, with just seven minutes gone on the clock, tested the Fatima goalkeeper from some 20 yards out with a thunderous shot that goalkeeper Tristan Edwards could only tip over the crossbar.

Then Fatima led in attack by their influential striker Michael Chaves, also went close to the opener after a through-ball put him on a one-on-one with the defence in the centre of the park. But Chaves, one of the Fatima marksmen from the previous year, could not get his effort on target in the 11th minute.

Jones, then fed a ball inside the Fatima penalty area, turned quickly away from his marker in the 14th minute before being steamrolled by defender Yohance Atherton, a challenge that referee Krystal Sobers could only point to the penalty spot for.

Garcia then stepped up and sent Edwards the wrong way for a 1-0 advantage.

Despite losing a couple of key players from their line-up last year, the La Romain Lions still roared ferociously with Garcia and Jones now leading the way with a number of talented players in their fold. And it showed with their second goal that pushed them ahead 2-0. Jones fed a lifted ball outside the box, produced a breathless first touch that only Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp was known for, and with the goal in front of him, the lanky striker unleashed a powerful shot that beat Edwards to his first post in the 45th minute.

A minute later, Garcia got his second item of the match in a similar fashion.

Again from a build-up on the right, Garcia was picked out with a through-ball that he raced on to, before hitting hard past Edwards for a 3-0 lead at the halfway stage.

Fatima appeared done and dusted as they walked off the field for the break, but upon their return, they were a different team. Christian Bailey robbed Daniel Hope of the ball on the right side and drove to the byline before pulling it back for Chaves to fire home for a 3-1 scoreline in the 50th minute.

Chaves then turned provider in the 68th minute, releasing Bailey down the right flank, to then quickly centre for Josiah Gobin to reduce the margin to one with a 3-2 lead.

The goal seemed to have tilted the match in Fatima's favour somewhat until Garcia scored his third goal to restore a two-goal cushion. The talented St Benedict's attacker was picked out in the midfield and he shook off a couple of players on his way to goal before unleashing a powerful grounder to beat Edwards in the 79th minute for a 4-3 margin.

His goal sparked wild celebrations among their fans in the stands but it was shortlived. Fatima College, in its very next raid on St Benedict's goal, reduced the score again.

This time substitute Luke Correia found himself at the end of a neat Fatima build-up and he hit the ball hard past goalkeeper Samuel Glasgow for a 4-3 result at the end.

After the match, Garcia was voted "Man of the Match", but more so, St Benedict's has now signalled a warning to their competitors in the Premier Division of the SSFL.


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[asylumseeker]

The player who piques my attention here is Daniel Jones. Garcia is now a known commodity.

[Trini _2026]

Daniel Jones goal was well taken. I wonder how old is he?   This would be   Garcia's  break out season ..

[Flex]

St Benedict’s travel to San Juan in opener.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Boosted by their 4-3 win over Fatima College in the 2023 Secondary Schools Football League 16-team Premier Division NGC Super Cup clash between the Premier Division ‘Big-Four’ champions and the National Inter-Col winners, St Benedict’s College will aim to kick start their title defence with a win away to another key rival, San Juan North Secondary from 3.30 pm on Wednesday.

In Saturday’s win over Fatima, Derrel Garcia scored a hat-trick for St Benedict’s who lifted their first National League crown last year since 1967 via a 3-1 win over Fatima led by a treble from former team captain Tarik Lee.

Last year in the league competition, which was contested via two groups, the Randolph Boyce-coached St Benedict’s College topped the eight-team Group A standings ahead of Fatima on goal difference after both teams finished with 19 points before they defeated Presentation College of San Fernando 5-3 in their ‘Big-Four’ semifinal. San Juan North Secondary, meanwhile, led by former striker Larry Noel emerged as Group B winners with six wins from seven matches for 19 points as well, before they narrowly lost out to Fatima College 1-0, the Group A runner-up in the semifinals, and will be keen to star the campaign on a positive note as well.

The Hutson “Barber” Charles-coached Fatima College who ended their 17-year-old National Inter-Col drought last year with a 1-0 win over St Benedict’s in the final and also won the North Zone Inter-Col will also face a stern test to kick off the season as they welcome zonal rivals St Anthony’s College for what is expected to be an equally as entertaining encounter at Fatima College Ground, Mucurapo Road.

In other eye-catching matches, perennial champions and four-time winners Naparima College begins their quest to reclaim their title at home to Chaguanas North Secondary at Lewis Street, San Fernando while East Inter-Col champions Trinity East College entertains promoted former national champions East Mucurapo Secondary at Trinity, and another former national champion Arima North Secondary ‘Dial Dynamos’ welcome Presentation College of San Fernando to the Arima Municipal Stadium while Malick Secondary and Queen’s Royal College square off in a battle of former powerhouses at St Mary’s College (CIC) Ground, Serpentine Road.

Elsewhere, Pleasantville Secondary hosts St Mary’s College at Yolande Pompey Recreational Ground, Naparima Mayaro Road, and Speyside High and Bishop’s High meet in an all-Tobago match-up at Speyside Recreation Ground.

Wednesday (September 13) matches:

Fatima College vs St Anthony’s College, Fatima Ground, 3.30pm

Malick Secondary vs QRC, CI Ground, Serpentine Road, 3.30pm;

Arima North vs Presentation College (San F’do), Arima Municipal Stadium, 3.30pm;

Naparima College vs Chaguanas North, Lewis Street, 3.30pm;

Pleasantville vs St Mary’s College, Yolande Pompey Rec. Ground, Naparima Mayaro Road 3.30pm;

San Juan North vs St Benedict’s College, Bourg Mulatresse, 3.30pm;

Speyside High vs Bishop’s High, Speyside Rec. Ground, 3.30pm;

Trinity College East vs East Mucurapo Secondary, Trincity, 3.30pm.

RELATED NEWS

SSFL champs Benedict’s wary of San Juan threat
By Ronel Walcott (T&T Newsday).

REIGNING Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division champions St Benedict’s College will begin their title defence today, when they travel to San Juan North Secondary in Bourg Mulatresse, Santa Cruz, to kickstart the 2023 SSFL campaign.

On Saturday, Benedict’s started the season on a triumphant note as they defeated last season’s national intercol winners, Fatima College, in a 4-3 thriller at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, to lift the NGC Cup.

Looking towards the league season, Benedict’s coach Randolph Boyce says “nothing is guaranteed,” and he is expecting a tough matchup from San Juan, who won four straight east zone intercol titles from 2016 to 2019.

“You have to go and take whatever you want from this league,” Boyce told Newsday. “Any time you have to depend on another team for a result, you will go back home empty-handed.

“We want to win, of course. We hope that the football gods will be with us and we’ll have a nice run and be successful and try to win, if God sees it fit that way. Everything is in His hands.”

All 16 teams in the league will be in action today, with eight games scheduled for a 3.30 pm kick-off time in varying venues across TT.

San Juan’s clash with Benedict’s is arguably the most interesting game on paper, and San Juan coach Jerry Moe is expecting a stern test.

“It’s a tall order for the first game of the season to be against St Benedict’s, but we have to be up for it,” Moe said.

“We know St Benedict’s is a good team. We saw a bit of the game against Fatima on the weekend.

“We know they’re very dynamic and explosive going forward. They are a well-coached team so we expect a very tough game from them.”

In 2022, San Juan saw their winning streak (minus two years lost to covid19) in the east intercol come to an end, as Trinity College East (TCE) got a 1-0 win in their zonal final. On his goals for this campaign, Moe says he is looking to stay clear of the relegation zone after enduring a rough pre-season.

“Our objective this season, like most teams, will be to stay up in the premier division. And then whatever we get after, we will take it from there.”

Moe will be without his 2022 top-scorer Larry Noel, who has taken up a scholarship abroad.

However, TT under-17 attacker Lindell Sween has just entered form five at San Juan North, and his powerful left foot could be his school’s most dangerous weapon this season.

“We have a few new players who will be playing in front of that (Bourg Mulatresse) crowd for the first time,” Moe said. “I don’t know what to expect from them.”

Boyce also remains uncertain about the capabilities of his team’s first opponents this season.

“To me, that game is like a blind game because we haven’t seen San Juan for the season,” Boyce said.

“(San Juan) have got a glimpse of us and it will be a cagey affair because we have to go in and kinda feel them out.

“They have a history of being a team which always contests and reaches a final or wins a final. They are a team we cannot take lightly.”

At Fatima Grounds in Mucurapo, Fatima will be aiming to bounce back from their NGC Cup loss when they entertain fellow north powerhouse St Anthony’s College.

In addition to last year’s national intercol win, Fatima also copped the national under-14 and under-16 crowns and will fancy themselves as one of the title contenders.

In another north zone tussle, Malick Secondary will host Queen’s Royal College at St Mary’s Grounds in St Clair, with Malick seeking to avenge last season’s 2-1 north zone semi-final loss to the “Royalians.”

Four-time premier division champions Naparima College will try to get back to winning ways after going without a title last season, and they will begin their 2023 campaign by hosting reigning central zone intercol winners, Chaguanas North Secondary, at their Lewis Street, San Fernando home.

TCE copped their first east intercol title in 2022, and they will start their new season by hosting East Mucurapo Secondary at the school grounds in Trincity.

The trio of Arima North Secondary, St Mary’s College and Bishop’s High School (Tobago) have all returned to the premier division this season and will want to make their own impact.

Arima host Presentation College (San Fernando), St Mary’s travel to Pleasantville Secondary and Bishop’s meet Speyside Secondary in an all-Tobago affair.

Speyside football director Kerry Lynch has sounded a warning to Bishop’s ahead of their clash in Speyside, and he says his team will be working towards a top-five finish this season.

“I believe that we should have a very good showing (today) and for the season ahead,” Lynch said.

“I believe that we can make a top-five finish in the league this year. This year could be our best showing ever. I honestly believe so.

“We have the experience because this is our sixth year. This is just Bishop’s second season after five years out of the league. We have been in the league constantly so we have the experience. I believe we can put down a marker.”

[Flex]

San Juan North upsets St Benedict’s upset 4-3
3 hat-tricks to kick off SSFL season
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

National Under-20 player Lindell Sween scored one and made two others as San Juan North Secondary stunned defending Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division ‘Big-Four’ champions St Benedict’s College 4-3 at San Juan North's Bourg Mulatresse Ground, San Juan, on Wednesday.

The Randolph Boyce-coach St Benedict’s went into the contest brimming with confidence following a 4-3 win over reigning National Inter-Col title-holder Fatima College in the 2023 SSFL NGC Super Cup clash at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain on Saturday.

However, it was the host San Juan North who took the lead as early as the fourth minute through Jaheem Danclair, via a tap-in from less than six yards out past goalkeeper Thane Devenish after being picked out by a right-sided centre from QRC-transfer Nathan James.

Against the run of play, St Benedict’s would get on level terms from the in-form Derrel Garcia, the scorer of a hat-trick on Saturday, when his right-footed grounder from just atop the 18-yard box off a rebound sneaked past the outstretched dive of goalkeeper Stephon Langaigne low to his right.

Nine minutes before the interval, Garcia then picked out Jaden Grant with a left-sided cross for an easy-headed finish past Langaigne for a 2-1 lead for the visitors.

However, two minutes before the interval, San Juan North would tie up the scores when Quashie ran onto a through ball from Sween for a lob finish over the advancing Devenish.

In the second half, Sween was again the architect of another San Juan North goal when his left-sided corner was met with a clever first-post header from Jadiel Joseph to restore his team's lead at 3-2 before the former scored a contender for the goal of the season, connecting with a strike on his weaker right foot which whisked past the desperate dive of Devenish, and into the top left-hand corner of the net to cap off a stellar display.

At the other end, St Benedict’s still harboured hopes of pulling out a point from the contest and managed to reduce the deficit in the 81st minute when substitute Daniel Jones glanced home a header off a free kick but in the end, San Juan North held on for the deserved win against the 'La Romaine Lions'.

Down at Fatima College Ground, Mucurapo Road, the Hutson “Barber” Charles-coached Fatima College, who ended their 17-year-old National Inter-Col drought last year with a 1-0 win over St Benedict’s in the final and also won the North Zone Inter-Col shrugged off their loss from Saturday with an emphatic 7-0 trashing of zonal rivals St Anthony’s College inspired by a hat-trick from Michael Chaves, while four-time league winners Naparima College mauled Chaguanas North Secondary 10-0 led by a hat-trick from Kanye Francis, the second of three on the day to kick start this year’s competition at Lewis Street, San Fernando.

At the Yolande Pompey Recreation Ground, Ryan Radellant scored the other hat-trick on the day as visitors St Mary’s College promoted as Championship Division winners, clobbered Pleasantville Secondary 8–0.

In the other matches, East Mucurapo Secondary got two goals from Clint Lutchman to edge past East Inter-Col champion Trinity East College 2-1 at Trincity, Malick Secondary whipped Queen’s Royal College 3-1 in a battle of former powerhouses at St Mary’s College (CIC) Ground, Serpentine Road.

Another former national champion Arima North Secondary ‘Dial Dynamos’ and Presentation College of San Fernando drew goalless at the Arima Municipal Stadium.

And in the late match over in Tobago at the Speyside Recreation Ground, Speyside High got the better of Bishop’s High 3-1 in an all-Tobago match-up with goals from N'Kosi Quashie twice from the penalty spot in the 40th, and 90+6, and Shyon George in the 56th cancelling out Damario Henry's 65th-minute reply. The second round of matches takes place on Saturday (September 16) nationwide.

Wednesday's results

Fatima College 7 (Michael Chaves 3, Aiden De Gannes, Kade Collier, Jaden Williams, Johnny Mason) vs St Anthony’s College 0

Malick Sec 3 (Oba Samuel 36th, Isaiah David 39th, Jordan Ferdinand 83rd) vs Queen's Royal College 1 (Micah Nelson 60th)

Arima North Sec 0 vs Presentation College 0

Naparima College 10 (Kanye Francis 3, Jabari Forbes, Akiel Vesprey, Tevin Pantor, Josiah Cooper, Jkwon Bailey, Xarion France, Nathaniel O’Garro pen) vs Chaguanas North Sec 0

St Mary’s College 8 (Ryan Radellant 3, Kyle Phillip 2, Elijah Wong 2, Alejandro Harper) vs Pleasantville Sec 0

San Juan North Sec 4 (Jaheem Danclair 4th, Nathan Quashie 43rd, Jadiel Joseph 65, Lindell Sween 74th) vs St Benedict’s College 3 (Derrel Garcia 19th, Jaden Grant 36th , Daniel Jones 81st)

East Mucurapo 2 (Clint Lutchman 2) vs Trinity East 1 (Khaleem Prince)

Speyside 3 (N'Kosi Quashie 40th pen, 90+6 pen, Shyon George 56th) vs Bishop’s High 1 (Damario Henry 65th)

[Tallman]

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: San Juan North Secondary 4-3 St. Benedict's College
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MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Naparima College 10-0 Chaguanas North Secondary
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[Tallman]

Carapichaima schools win big in SSFL championship
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)

BOTH Carapichaima West and Carapichaima East Secondary Schools made strong starts in the Central Zone of the Boys Championship Division of the Secondary Schools Football League on Friday.

Carapichaima West defeated Couva East Secondary 3-0 in round one. Jaden Bartholemew scored twice and Matthais Quintin scored the other goal for Carapichaima West.

The other Carapichaima school stormed to victory as Carapichaima East romped to a 9-0 win over ASJA Boys, Charlieville.

Miracle Ministries also won in the Central zone getting past Presentation College, Chaguanas 3-1 at the latter's school ground.

The matches in the East zone were more competitive. St Augustine Secondary were 2-0 winners over El Dorado West Secondary and El Dorado East Secondary also recorded a 2-0 victory over Valencia Secondary. The contest between Five Rivers Secondary and Holy Cross College ended in a goalless draw.

In the South zone, Siparia West Secondary and Pt Fortin Secondary played to a 4-4 draw, St Madeleine Secondary were comfortable 4-1 winners over Moruga Secondary and the match between Princes Town West Secondary and ASJA Boys College, San Fernando was not played because of issues with the field at Princes Town West Secondary.

Scores from the North and Tobago zones were unavailable up to press time on Friday.

[Tallman]

Naps edge St Mary’s to stay perfect
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

NAPARIMA College completed their second consecutive victory of the 2023 Secondary Schools Football League season, when defeating St Mary’s College 3-2, but had to fight all the way under a scorching sun on a bumpy surface on Serpentine Road.

Naparima now join San Juan North Secondary, Fatima College and East Mucurapo Secondary as the only teams that have won their opening two matches in the new Premier Division season.

Yesterday’s action began slowly but heated up appreciably as the first half wore on. Naparima had early dominance, but it was St Mary’s having the best two opportunities, with captain Kyle Phillip not taking good opportunities on the break.

Having survived the early pressure, St Mary’s spectacularly took the lead in the 38th minute, with Ryan Radellant cutting in and curling a powerful shot to the far corner of the net for a 1-0 advantage.

Naparima would respond, and emphatically so, by scoring twice within the final five minutes of the opening half. Jaron Pascal matched Radellant for style and produced a similar quality goal when finding the far corner to level at 1-1, and soon after, Akiel Vesprey showed some good footwork and poked a low shot past goalkeeper Jabali Doyle, giving the visitors a 2-1 half-time lead.

St Mary’s came close early in the second half with Dusan Cooper planting his shot onto a post, following a good flank run and cross by Elijah Wong. Naparima took advantage of the reprieve by further extending their lead to 3-1 in the 57th minute. A hat-trick scorer against Chaguanas North, Kanye Francis came on as a substitute and scored by finishing off a one-two combination with team-mate Jabari Forbes.

And Francis could have gotten another from the penalty spot, after he was brought down in the 80th minute while in the act of shooting. But he hit straight at goalkeeper Jabali Doyle. Francis’ miss gave St Mary’s the chance to rally when Phillip blasted in the ball from Darius Humphrey’s long free-kick for 3-2 in the 84th minute, thus setting up a tense final stage.

“I though a draw might have been a better result, but we played pretty well,” stated CIC coach Michael Grayson afterwards.

“You have to give credit to CIC, they battled to the end,” stated victorious Naparima coach Travis Mulrain, who explained that overcoming complacency is one of his greatest challenges with Naparima.

“I think that this result is a blessing in disguise, because coming off a 10-0 victory, guys can get complacent. And I think this is my biggest challenge this year, to battle that complacency.”

Yesterday’s scores:

• St Benedict’s College 0 East Mucurapo Secondary 1 (Gerome Gulston)

• St Mary’s College 2 (Ryan Radellant, Kyle Phillip) Naparima College 3 (Jaron Pascal, Akiel Vesprey, Kanye Francis)

• San Juan North Secondary  5 (Jaheem Danclair, Lindell Sween, Nathan Quashie, Joshua Lewis (pen), o.g) Pleasantville Secondary 0

• Speyside Secondary 0 Fatima College 1 (Aidan De Gannes)

• Queen’s Royal College 1 (Stephan James) St Anthony’s 0

• Presentation College 1 (Adah Barclay) Malick Secondary 0

• Bishop’s High School 0 Chaguanas North Secondary 1 (Nekayse Moore)

• Arima North 1 (Jemaul Ashing) Trinity East 1 (Deisean Plaza)

[Flex]

East Mucurapo keeps champs St Benedict’s winless.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Jemon Gulston scored the lone goal as East Mucurapo Secondary kept defending Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division ‘Big-Four’ champions St Benedict’s College without a point after two matches, going down 1-0 in their clash at the Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin on Saturday.

Gulston got the decisive item in the 84th minute as the Dale Saunders-coached East Mucurapo Secondary School improved to a maximum of six points after two matches.

East Mucurapo Secondary School defeated Trinity Collge East 2-1 in their season opener, while St Benedict’s College which is coached by Randolph Boyce and beaten 4-3 at San Juan North Secondary to start the season remained without a point.

Over in Tobago at the Speyside Recreation, Fatima College kept pace with its Mucurapo Road neighbours ahead of their clash on Wednesday, with a 1-0 win over host Speyside Secondary thanks to a second-half strike from Aiden De Gannes, his second goal in as many matches.

At Bourg Mulatresse Ground, San Juan, the quartet of Jaheem Danclair, Lindell Sween, captain Joshua Lewis (penalty), and Nathan Quashie were all on target as San Juan North Secondary won for the second straight match as well 5-0 over visiting Pleasantville Secondary, who also conceded an own goal.

At St Mary’s College Ground in St Clair, the host was made to pay for squandering several early chances in a 3-2 loss to former champions Naparima College, who now lead the 16-team standings on goal difference from San Juan North, Fatima, and East Mucurapo respectively.

The ‘Saints’ were almost gifted the lead in the seventh minute when Naparima goalkeeper Tyrece Romain mis-controlled a back pass from left back which ‘Saints’ striker Kyle Phillip was alert to, but as soon as he was about to fire on goal, Romain made a timely intervention on his attempt to redirect the effort for a corner.

However, in the 36th minute, the ‘Saints’ finally broke the deadlock when winger Ryan Radellant retrieved a right-sided cross on the far left of the 18-yard box before he wrong-footed two defenders and blasted a right-footed effort past Romain into the left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

That lead was short-lived though as defender Jaron Pascal drew the visitors level in the 42nd minute when he eluded two players outside the ‘D’ and skillfully placed a right-footed effort into the bottom left corner of the goal to tie up the score at 1-1.

And a minute into time added-on at the end of the half, Akiel Vesprey fired Naparima ahead for the first time in the contest weaving his way past his marker inside the 18-yard box and cleverly stabbing a right-footed shot past a flat-footed Jabali Doyle in goal for St Mary’s College.

Six minutes into the second half, the Saints almost drew level when Elijah Wong connected with a right-sided cross, but his one-time right-footed shot cannoned off the left post and back into play.

And Wong was made to rue that missed chance six minutes later when substitute Kanye Francis, the scorer of a hat-trick in his team’s opening day 10-0 trashing of Pleasantville Secondary, extended Naparima’s lead to 3-1 by finishing off a one-two move with Jabari Forbes.

Francis then won Naparima a penalty in the 78th minute when he was hacked down in the area leaving referee Crystal Sobers with no choice but to point to the spot, but with a chance to put the game beyond the ‘Saints’, the Naparima striker tried an ill-advised ‘panenka penalty’ which was easily collected by Doyle.

With seven minutes left in the match “Saints’ captain Phillip pulled his team to within one goal when he pounced on a failed headed clearance from a free kick with a one-time volley to beat Romain to set up an interesting final seven minutes of regulation.

At the other end of the field, Francis almost made amends for his missed effort, but his long-range effort was tipped over the bar by Doyle to keep his team in the contest, in the end, the Travis Mulraine-coached Naparima held on for the win, to add to its 10-0 trashing of Pleasantville.

In other matches, there were similar 1-0 wins for Queen’s Royal College, Chaguanas North Secondary, and Presentation College of San Fernando over St Anthony’s College, Bishop’s High School, and Malick Secondary respectively.

And in the late match at the University of T&T Ground, O’Meara Road, Arima, East Zone rivals, Arima North Secondary and reigning zonal Inter-Col champions Trinity College East battled to a 1-1 draw.

Saturday's Premier Division results:

CHAGUANAS NORTH 1 (Nekayse Moore 88th) vs BISHOP’S HIGH 0

FATIMA COLLEGE 1 (Aidan De Gannes) vs SPEYSIDE SEC 0

PRESENTATION COLLEGE 1 (Adah Barclay 37th) vs MALICK SEC 0

QUEEN’S ROYAL COLLEGE 1 (Stephon James 86th) vs ST ANTHONY’S COLLEGE 0

SAN JUAN NORTH SEC 5 (Jaheem Danclair, Lindell Sween, Joshua Lewis pen, Nathan Quashie, own goal) vs PLEASANTVILLE SEC 0

NAPARIMA COLLEGE 3 (Jaron Pascall 42nd, Akiel Vesprey 45+1, Kanye Francis 57th) vs ST MARY’S COLLEGE (Ryan Radellant 36th, Kyle Phillip 83rd)

EAST MUCURAPO SEC 1 (Jemon Gulston 84th) vs ST BENEDICT’S COLLEGE 0

ARIMA NORTH SEC 1 (Jemaul Ashing 1st) vs TRINITY EAST COLLEGE 1 (Kadeem Plaza 7th)

Latest SSFL Boys’ Premier Division standings

Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Naparima College*2*2*0*0*13*2*6
2. Fatima College*2*2*0*0*9*0*6
3. San Juan North*2*2*0*0*9*3*6
4. East Mucurapo*2*2*0*0*3*1*6
5. Presentation*2*1*1*0*1*0*4
6. St Mary’s College*2*1*0*1*10*3*3
7. Malick*2*1*0*1*3*2*3
8. QRC*2*1*0*1*2*3*3
9. Chaguanas North*2*1*0*1*1*10*3
10. Bishop’s High*2*1*0*1*3*2*3
11. Arima North*2*0*2*0*1*1*2
12. Trinity East*2*0*1*1*2*3*1
13. St Benedict’s College*2*0*0*2*3*5*0
14. Speyside*2*0*0*2*1*4*0
15. St Anthony’s College*2*0*0*2*0*8*0
16. Pleasantville*2*0*0*2*0*13*0

[Flex]

East Mucurapo, Fatima meet in SSFL.
By Ronel Walcott (T&T Newsday).

Neighbours East Mucurapo Secondary and Fatima College (both six points) will highlight the third round of matches in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division today, when they meet in a top-four clash at Fatima College Grounds, Mucurapo Road, from 3.30 pm.

Fatima, last year's national intercol champions, registered 7-0 and 1-0 wins versus St Anthony's College and Speyside Secondary to start the league campaign in perfect fashion, after going under to St Benedict's College in the season-opening NGC Cup.

Mucurapo just escaped relegation last season as they defeated St Augustine Secondary in a playoff match to stay in the premier division. This season though, Mucurapo have looked like a different team as they defeated Trinity College East (TCE) on the opening day of the season, before managing a surprise 1-0 win over Benedict's on Saturday.

Fatima, Mucurapo, Naparima College and San Juan North Secondary are all level on points, with Naparima heading the standings with a +11 goal differential. Fatima are second with a +8 goal difference, while San Juan (+6) and Mucurapo (+2) are third and fourth respectively.

South zone powerhouse Presentation College (San Fernando) face San Juan in an intriguing matchup at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, with the "Pres Lions" looking to stop TT under-17 players Lindell Sween, Nathan Quashie and a dangerous San Juan outfit.

Four-time premier division winners Naparima will go after a third straight league win when they meet fellow south team Pleasantville Secondary at their Lewis Street, San Fernando home.

Reigning premier division champions Benedict's will try to halt their two-game losing skid to start the season when they travel to Plymouth Recreation Ground in Tobago to tackle the newly promoted Bishop's High School (Tobago). Meantime, the premier division's other Tobago representative, Speyside, will journey to Westmoorings to face a St Anthony's team that has started the season with two straight losses.

East zone intercol holders TCE and their east compatriots Arima North Secondary will go after their first wins of the season when they face the north zone pair of Queen's Royal College and St Mary's College respectively.

Malick Secondary and Chaguanas North Secondary will both be searching for their second win of the season when they round off the action with their match at Park Street, Morvant.

Starting today – owing to humid weather conditions – all premier division matches will kick off at 4 pm, barring the televised games and fixtures involving the two Tobago schools.

[Tallman]

Unbeaten Fatima thump East Mucurapo 5-0 in SSFL
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)

FATIMA College maintained their perfect start to the 2023 Secondary Schools Premier League (SSFL) premiership division after trouncing ten-man East Mucurapo 5-0 in the "Mucurapo derby" at the college grounds on Wednesday.

The 2022 Coca-Cola Intercol champions dominated with a second-half brace from substitute Justin Alcantara, and a goal each from man-of-the-match Michael Chaves, Tom Deckle and Christian Bailey.

The result also ended East Mucurapo’s two-match unbeaten run, which saw them only concede once during that period.

At the kickoff, East Mucurapo dominated the opening ten minutes. However, lightning strikes forced a temporary stoppage.

When play resumed, Chaves broke the deadlock after Aidan DeGannes wrestled the ball away from his marker and played a neat ball to Chaves, who controlled with his left foot and fired home with his right.

East Mucurapo showed composure after conceding early and had some fair chances to equalise. Fatima goalie Tristan Edwards stood firm throughout and also extended his clean sheet record to three matches.

East Mucurapo forward Jemon Gulston had the best chance for his team in the opening half as he beat his defender and tried to place his shot away from Edwards, but his effort was too tame.

Just before the end of the first period, East Mucurapo’s Clint Lutchman was red-carded for lashing out against opposing striker Bailey.

Seven minutes into the second half, Bailey presented Deckle with a timely cross inside the penalty box, and he made no mistake, shooting to the left corner past East Mucurapo’s Deshaun Alexander.

Not long after, Fatima went further ahead as De Gannes played the ball over Mucurapo’s defensive line which fell to a pressing Bailey. However, a surging Alexander tried to get it off him, didn’t make contact and Bailey fired into an open net.

In the 69th minute, substitute Alcantara hit a long-range effort from outside the penalty box which deflected off Alexander hands and went in. The replay showed the ball would have gone wide.

Into the 92nd, Alcantara got his name on the scoresheet once more, to seal an emphatic 5-0 triumph.

In other matches, reigning SSFL premier champions notched their first win with a 3-0 result over Bishop’s High in Tobago. St Anthony’s also earned their first three points with a 2-1 victory against Speyside.

Malick Secondary drubbed Chaguanas North 10-0, Naparima slammed nine past an unresponsive Pleasantville, Arima North spanked St Mary’s 8-1, San Juan North handed Presentation College San Fernando their second loss with a 2-1 win, and QRC edged past Trinity College 1-0.

[Tallman]

Naps, San Juan North, Fatima stay perfect in SSFL
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)

Former champion Naparima College, reigning National Inter-Col champion Fatima College, and San Juan North Secondary remained the teams with 100 percent winning records after Round Three matches in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division, on Wednesday.

At Lewis Street, San Fernando, the Travis Mulraine-coached three-time champions Naparima made it three wins on the trot in their quest to reclaim their title with a comfortable 9-0 win over fellow southerners Pleasantville Secondary.

For Naparima, who had to come from behind to beat St Mary's College away 3-2 in the previous round, Kevin Francois and Kanye Francis, each scored a pair of goals while Jaron Pascal, captain Tyrel Rajoon, Aaron Raymond and Israel Joseph added one apiece together with an own goal from the visitors.

At Mucurapo Road, Fatima came away with a 5-0 win against previously perfect East Mucurapo Secondary in the 'Mucurapo Road" derby with Michael Chaves, substitute Thomas Decle, Christian Bailey, and another substitute Justin Alcantara (two), all getting on the scoresheet.

Fatima opened the scoring after only eight minutes when Aidan De Gannes won a 50-50 challenge with a East Mucurapo defender and picked out an unmarked Chaves, who collected and with time and space rifled a right-footed effort into the far corner.

As the match went on, East Mucurapo came into their own, but their momentum was halted when referee Timothy Derry was forced to pause the contest for safety reasons due to lightning flashes in the 31st minute.

When the match resumed after a 20-minute break, East Mucurapo created the best chance through a counterattack with Clint Latchman picking out Jemon Gulston just inside the 18-yard box, but after eluding defender Yohance Atherton, his right-footed effort was brilliantly kept out by a save low down to his left by goalkeeper Tristan Edwards to preserve Fatima's lead.

However, East Mucurapo then suffered a blow when Latchman was issued a straight red card for violent conduct by referee Timothy Derry, leaving his team to play the remainder of the half, and the entire second 45 minutes with ten men while Fatima's Christian Dailey was shown a yellow from the same incident.

Seven minutes into the second half, Decle was picked out by a right-sided cross by Bailey, and from less than six yards out he doubled his team's advantage as they began to stamp their authority on the contest with the extra man.

Six minutes later, Bailey all but secured the three points for the home team when he slotted into an open net before Alcantara added items in the 68th and 90th minute, to put the icing on the commanding win with the scoreline not really a true reflection of the effort from the Dale Saunders-coached East Mucurapo.

Not too far away at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, the Jerry Moe-coached San Juan North also made three out of three in the win column thanks to a brace from Queen's Royal College (QRC) transfer Nathan Quashie, with a goal coming in each half against Presentation College of San Fernando.

At Park Street Recreation Ground, Morvant, former SSFL powerhouse Malick Secondary recorded the biggest win on the day, 10-0 over Chaguanas North Secondary with Ronaldinho Richards and J'Lon Matthews scoring braces while teammates Malachi Woodley, Ackeem James, Oba Samuel, Keston Richards, Zachary Joseph, and Jordan Ferdinand were also on target.

At St Mary's College ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair, visitor Arima North produced the shock result of the day when they slammed fellow promoted team and Championship Division 2022 winners St Mary's College 8-1 inspired by a hat trick from Tyrell Stapleton and a double by Darion Marfan.

The trio of captain Jamaul Ashing, Theron O'Brien and Ability Hazel also found the target against the reeling 'Saints' who got a late consolation item from their skipper Kyle Phillip, in their second straight defeat.

Over in Tobago, defending Premier Division ‘Big-Four’ champions St Benedict’s finally picked up its first points of the season in a 3-0 win over Bishop's High School with Malachi Webb, Jaden Grant and Daniel Jones at the Plymouth Recreation Ground.

In other matches yesterday, St Anthony's got its first points of the campaign in a 2-1 home win over Speyside in Westmoorings and QRC won for the second straight contest, 1-0 away to Trinity College East with Tau Lamsee on target in Trincity. Matches resume on Saturday.

Wednesday's results:

St Benedict's 3 (Malachi Webb, Jade Grant, Daniel Jones) vs Bishop's High 0

Fatima 5 (Michael Chaves 8th, Thomas Decle 52nd, Christian Bailey 58th, Justin Alcantara 68th, 90th) vs East Mucurapo 0

Malick 10 (Ronaldinho Richards 2, J'Lon Matthews 2, Malachi Woodley, Ackeem James , Oba Samuel, Keston Richards, Zachary Joseph, Jordan Ferdinand) vs Chaguanas North Sec 0

Naparima 9 (Kevin Francois 2, Kanye Francis 2, Jaron Pascal, Tyrel Rajoon, Aaron Raymond, Israel Joseph, own goal) vs Pleasantville Sec 0

San Juan North 2 (Nathan Quashie 2) vs Presentation College 0

St Anthony's College 2 (Daniel Rose, Obadiah Eyeadelrosiyhia) vs Speyside 1 (Omar Daniel)

Arima North 8 (Tyrell Stapleton 3, Darion Marfan 2, Jamaul Ashing, Theron O'Brien, Ability Hazel) vs St Mary's 1 (Kyle Phillip)

QRC 1 (Tau Lamsee) vs Trinity College East 0

Current standings:

Positions*Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts

1.Naparima College*3*3*0*0*22*2*9

2.Fatima College*3*3*0*0*14*0*9

3. San Juan North*3*3*0*0*11*3*9

4. East Mucurapo*3*2*0*1*3*6*6

5. Malick*3*2*0*1*13*2*6

6. QRC*3*2*0*1*3*3*6

7. Arima North*3*1*2*0*9*2*5

8. Presentation*3*1*1*1*1*2*4

9. St Benedict's College*3*1*0*2*6*5*3

10. Speyside Sec*3*1*0*2*4*4*3

11. St Mary's College*3*1*0*2*11*11*3

12. St Anthony's College*3*1*0*2*2*9*3

13. Chaguanas North*3*1*0*2*1*20*3

14. Trinity East*3*0*1*2*2*4*1

15. Bishop's High*3*0*0*3*1*7*0

16. Pleasantville*3*0*0*3*0*22*0

[Flex]

Speyside upsets Malick 2-1.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).

Defending Coca-Cola National InterCol champion Fatima College, Naparima and San Juan North remained unbeaten, but Malick Secondary tasted defeat and dropped points again as the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League continued Saturday afternoon.

Entering as the firm favourites to win, the Malick players have only themselves to blame as they thoroughly outplayed their opponents but countless woeful and wasteful efforts in front of the opponent's goal – including a penalty in the 83rd minute which defender Ackeem James blasted over the crossbar, saw them slip from the unbeaten ranks.

The undefeated teams took full advantage and moved three points further ahead, with Naparima hammering East Mucurapo 7-0, as expected, San Juan North edging past Queen's Royal College 2-1 courtesy of goals from Jaheem Danclair in the 39th minute and Lindell Sween in the 75th, while Fatima got double strikes from Aidan De Gannes and Jonathan Mason in crushing Pleasantville Secondary 5-0 at their Mucurapo Road home ground.

At their Serpentine Road facility, Malick, who returned to top-flight SSFL football just last year, entered as heavy three or four-goal favourites and this prediction seemed on track when they opened the scoring after just seven minutes from Oba Samuel.

The expected rout seemed on as Malick dominated the proceeding for the remainder of the half, creating chances in abundance, but just could not convert to add to their lead and were stunned when it was the Tobago-based school who was next on the score sheet to level the game at 1-1, with Nkosi Quashie sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in converting from the spot after Omar Daniel was bundled over in the area.

Malick responded well and continued to create opportunities and it was only outstanding work by the Speyside custodian Makaya Taylor, who kept them at bay, with one particularly spectacular play seeing him high to his right to keep out a dipping left-side cross that seemed destined for goal. Their wastefulness was highlighted as even when the ball fell invitingly to Josante Duncan on top of the area, he flashed his shot well over the crossbar.

After the break, the Malick boys again created chances in bunches but were again wasteful as they all came to nothing with Samuel, the scorer of the opening goal, being especially guilty and squandering a golden chance midway in the half when the ball rolled nicely for him from a wonderful build-up, but he dragged his attempt wide of an open goal.

They were then given a massive lifeline in their quest for maximum points and to remain unbeaten when in the 83rd minute Samuel was brought down in the six-yard box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. James caught the missing bug and blasted high over the bar.

Malick was made to pay dearly for several missed chances, with James who now appeared unsettled after the penalty miss, fumbled the ball into his own net from a Speyside attack in the 92nd minute, when a share of the points seemed on the cards.

Speyside manageress, Kristal Griffith, said her charges came with a plan to move up the standing by getting maximum points and was elated that they did it.

Saturday's Results

Malick 1 (Oba Samuel 7th) vs Speyside 2 (Nkosi Quashie 25th pen, own goal (90+2)

San Juan North 2 (Jaheem Danclair 39th, Lindell Sween 75th) vs QRC 1 (Micagh Nelson 83rd)

Presentation College 3 (own goal 61st, Vaughn Clement 83rd, 90th) vs Chaguanas North 0

Naparima 7 (own goal, akiel Vasprey 27th, 51st, Jabari Forbes 52nd, Tevin Pantor 62nd, Xarion France 79th, Nathaniel O'Garro 80th) vs East Mucurapo 0

Fatima College 5 (Aidan De Gannes 2, Jonathan Mason 2, Christian Bailey) vs Pleasantville 0

St Anthony's College 3 (Andell Fraser 2, Theo Cravador 1) vs CIC 0

St Benedict's College 1 vs Arima North 1

Current Standings:

Positions*Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1*Naparima College*4*4*0*0*29*2*12
2*Fatima College*4*4*0*0*18*0*12
3*San Juan North*4*4*0*0*13*4*12
4*Presentation*4*2*1*1*4*2*7
5*Malick*4*2*0*2*14*4*6
6*Arima North*4*1*3*0*10*2*6
7*Speyside Sec*4*2*0*2*6*5*6
8*QRC*4*2*0*2*4*5*6
9*St Anthony’s College*4*2*0*2*5*9*6
10*East Mucurapo*4*2*0*2*3*13*6
11*St Benedict’s College*4*1*1*2*7*6*4
12*St Mary’s College*4*1*0*3*11*14*3
13*Chaguanas North*4*1*0*3*1*23*3
14*Trinity East*3*0*1*2*2*4*1
15*Bishop’s High*3*0*0*3*1*7*0
16*Pleasantville*4*0*0*4*0*27*0

[Flex]

Mason Hall files protest after losing to Scarborough.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).

Unbeaten Scarborough Secondary dropped two valuable points in a 1-1 tie with Signal Hills Secondary on Saturday at the Bertille St. Clair Playing Field when action in the Boys Championship Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) continued on Saturday afternoon.

The result though, did not prevent them from taking the top spot on the six-team standings after three rounds of matches.

Scarborough got their goal from Daviel Thomas, while Jermaine Morgan got the lone item for Signal Hill Secondary.

Scarborough is now on seven points after two wins and a drawn match. Signal Hill is in the second position after just a victory and two draws on five points. Meanwhile, Pentecostal Light and Life has secured the third-place position despite playing to a 1-1 tie with Roxborough Secondary at the Mt. Gomery Recreation. Ground.

Samuel Solomon was the scorer for Pentecostal Light and Light, but his goal was cancelled out by an item from Yohan Beckles. And at the Shaw Park Complex, which was carded to be the venue for the Mason Hall Secondary and Goodwood Secondary encounter, but it was not utilized, as the match was called off.

Mason Hall team manager Anthony Williams said the Disciplinary Committee will have to decide on the outcome of the match after Goodwood Secondary breached the rules by requesting a postponement on the day of the game.

The rule, Williams said, gives school teams 48 hours or two days before a request for a postponement of a game. Williams said his team was actually on the field of play when he got the news that Goodwood Secondary would not be able to play the match.

Mason Hall was scheduled to play just two matches to date, but both are before the SSFL disciplinary committee for final results.

According to Williams, in his team’s first match against Scarborough at the Moriah Rec Grounds, there was not a full complement of officials. Only the referee turned up and both schools agreed to provide a linesman each.

Williams, said, however, that because there were not sufficient officials at the match, his team decided to play under protest.

He also claimed in the match, his team got an equalizing goal late to tie the scores at 3-3, but the linesman ruled it offside.

Williams made it clear he is willing to provide video evidence that the goal scored was a good one.

“I am prepared to use both, the case of having insufficient officials or the goal that was ruled off-side to fight his case. If the SSFL is desirous of improving the standard of the League, then things must be done right,” Williams said.

[Flex]

SSFL’s top three Naps, Fatima, San Juan remain perfect.
By Rondel Walcott (T&T Newsday).

THE Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division’s top three teams Naparima College, Fatima College and San Juan North Secondary maintained their perfect records on Saturday, as they all recorded their fourth consecutive wins to start the 2023 season.

Naparima, the four-time premier division winners, continued their impressive scoring run as they hammered East Mucurapo Secondary by a 7-nil margin in Moka, Maraval. Naparima got a double from Akiel Vesprey, with Jabari Forbes, Tevin Pantor, Xarion France and Nathaniel O’Garro scoring a goal apiece. Naparima head the 16-team table with a +27 goal differential. Fatima College are in second spot with a goal differential of +18. San Juan are third and have a goal differential of +9.

Fatima got their fourth straight shutout win as they thumped Pleasantville Secondary by a 5-0 margin at their Mucurapo Road compound in Mucurapo. Aidan DeGannes and 14-year-old Jonathan Mason scored two each and TT youth player Christian Bailey scored the other.

San Juan had a tougher matchup versus QRC at the latter school’s grounds on Serpentine Road in St Clair, but they were able to come away with a key 2-1 win.

Jaheem Danclar and TT under-17 standout Lindell Sween scored the goals for San Juan who have also defeated both Presentation College (San Fernando) and defending premier division champions St Benedict’s College in the young season.

Also on Serpentine Road, Tobago’s Speyside Secondary escaped from St Clair with their own 2-1 triumph, as they edged Malick Secondary via a late stoppage-time goal. Malick took the lead in only the seventh minute with a thumping right-footed blast by Oba Samuel, who pounced on some loose defending by Speyside captain Nkosi Quashie.

The lanky Quashie made amends for the visitors from the penalty spot, as he slotted past Omarion Worrel in the 25th minute. It was a scrappy affair that saw Malick creating better opportunities.

The north zone team had the chance to secure the three points in the 84th minute, as their lively attacker J’Lon Matthews was fouled in the area. However, their captain Ackeem James blazed his penalty over the bar and into the pavilion on Serpentine Road.

In the 90th minute, Speyside goalkeeper Makaya Taylor then made a brilliant save to stop opposing attacker Ronaldinho Richards from point-blank range.

Taylor’s save turned out to be as good as three points, as the Tobago school eked out a win in added time – albeit in fortuitous fashion.

Speyside’s Lenox Eastman swung a right-sided free-kick into the area and two Malick defenders got into each other’s way as they conspired to bundle the ball into the net. Eastman did his utmost to claim the goal, but the important fact was that Speyside notched their second win in four games and moved level on points with Malick (six points).

Elsewhere, both St Anthony’s College (six points) and Presentation (seven points) registered 3-0 wins – defeating St Mary’s College and Chaguanas North Secondary respectively. Chaguanas had a particularly rough day at the office, as they had a defender and their goalkeeper sent off in the game which was played in Edinburgh, Chaguanas.

Newly promoted Arima North Secondary (six points) continue to be a tough opposition to crack, as they salvaged a 1-1 draw away to St Benedict’s (four points) at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella. Substitute Tony Figuera did the trick for the Wayne Sheppard-coached Arima team who are still unbeaten after four matches.

[Flex]

Virgil nets 5 in Miracle Ministries 16-0 win.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Aaqila Virgil scored a handful of goals as Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School romped to a 16-0 blow-out of Chaguanas West Secondary for their second straight win in the Secondary Schools Football League Girls Championship, Central Zone Division, on Monday.

Amiya Cumberbatch added to the goal rush with a beaver trick for Miracle Ministries in the lopsided contest which was played at Brickfield Recreation Ground, with Shre Dudley and Sydney Pollard scoring a brace each, while Kimberlyn Rampersad, Ayoka Mohammed, and Kyanna Isaac also found the back of the nets. With this win, they improved to a maximum of six points after also hammering Chaguanas North Secondary, 5-0 in their opener.

In Monday's other match, Chaguanas North Secondary rebounded from its first-day loss by edging past Carapichaima East Secondary 2-1.

Over in Tobago, national Inter-Col champions, Signal Hill Secondary, continued the goal avalanche blasting 12 unanswered goals past a helpless Speyside High School, with Serenity Charles and Naomi Waldrop both scoring beaver tricks at their Bertille St Clair ground. Leia-Marie Balfour chipped in with two goals, with the two other strikes coming off the boots of Shedea Andrews and Skye Thomas.

In the other match played on our sister isle, J’Eleisha Alexander, the reigning “Most Valuable Player”, made it eight goals in her last two matches with a double as she pushed defending national SSFL Girls Championship Division title holders, Scarborough Secondary, to a 3-1 win over Bishop's High with Kaleah Duke also being on target, Gyasi Lewis netted Bishop's High's lone reply.

Monday's results

Central Zone:

Miracle Ministries 16 (Aaqila Virgil 5, Amiya Cumberbatch 4, Shre Dudley 2, Sydney Pollard 2, Ayoka Mohammed, Kyanna Isaac, Kimberlyn Rampersad) vs Carapichaima West Sec 0

Chaguanas North Sec 2 vs Carapichaima East Sec 1

Tobago Zone:

Signal Hil Sec 12 (Naomi Waldrop 4, Serenity Charles 4, Leia-Marie Balfour 2, Shedea Andrews, Skye Thomas) vs Speyside High 0

Scarborough Sec 3 (J'Eleisha Alexander 2, Kaleah Duke) vs Bishop's High 1 (Gyasi Lewis)

[Flex]

Surging Fatima tackle stuttering Benedict's in SSFL.
By Rondel Walcott (T&T Newsday).

Last year's Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division winners St Benedict's College and national intercol winners Fatima College will resume their rivalry on Wednesday when they clash in the fifth round of the 2023 season, from 4 pm at Fatima Grounds in Mucurapo.

In the 2022 "Big 4" premier division final, Benedict's got a 3-1 victory over Fatima to get their first national league title in over 50 years. In the inercol final, Fatima got the better of the southerners via a 1-0 margin. Benedict's then got a thrilling 4-3 win over Fatima at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo in the NGC Cup on September 9 to kickstart the 2023 season.

Fatima (12 points) have started the league season much better than their southern counterparts with victories in all four of their matches thus far. They only trail table-toppers Naparima College on the 16-team standings on goal difference.

Fatima have looked assured at the back since conceding four goals in the season-opening NGC match and have kept four consecutive clean sheets.

Benedict's (four points) have had a shaky start to the season and have registered just one win in their four matches.

Fatima will look to put in another solid defensive showing and keep Benedict's at bay.

At Lewis Street in San Fernando, the free-scoring Naparima will aim to maintain their spot atop the table when they host Malick Secondary. Naparima have scored a league-high 29 goals and also boast of the competition's top-scorer, Kanye Francis (six goals).

In the televised match from 3.30 pm, this season's two other unbeaten teams Arima North Secondary (six points) and San Juan North Secondary (12 points) will meet at the Arima Velodrome. Last year, the newly promoted Arima pushed San Juan to the limit in the east zone intercol semi-final, with the latter team prevailing 7-6 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation time at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar. At the Velodrome on Wednesday, both schools will put their unbeaten 2023 runs on the line.

Also from 3.30 m, Presentation College San Fernando (seven points) will try to make good on their journey to Tobago when they face Speyside Secondary (six points) at the Speyside Recreation Ground.

The premier division's other Tobago team, Bishop's High School (Tobago), will go after their first points of the season when they take on Queen's Royal College (six points) on Serpentine Road in St Clair. Also on Serpentine Road, north schools St Mary's College and East Mucurapo Secondary will meet at the former school's ground.

Elsewhere, Chaguanas North Secondary (three points) will host St Anthony's College (six points) in Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas, and the cellar-placed Pleasantville Secondary will be seeking their first points of the season when they entertain Trinity College East (one point) at the Yolande Pompey Recreation Ground in Princes Town.

SSFL premier division standings:

Team GP*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts
1.Naparima 4*4*0*0*29*2*27*12
2.Fatima 4*4*0*0*18*0*18*12
3.San Juan North 4*4*0*0*13*4*9*12
4.Presentation Sando 4*2*1*1*4*2*2*7
5.Malick 4*2*0*2*14*4*10*6
6.Arima North 4*1*3*0*10*3*7*6
7.Speyside 4*2*0*2*6*5*1*6
8.QRC 4*2*0*2*4*5*-1*6
9.St Anthony's 4*2*0*2*5*9*-4*6
10.East Mucurapo 4*2*0*2*3*13*-10*6
11.St Benedict's 4*1*1*2*7*6*1*4
12.St Mary's 4*1*0*3*11*14*-3*3
13.Chaguanas North 4*1*0*3*1*23*-22*3
14.Trinity East 3*0*1*2*2*4*-2*1
15.Bishop's Tobago 3*0*0*3*1*7*-6*0
16.Pleasantville 4*0*0*4*0*27*-27*0

[Flex]

Naps, San Juan on five-game win-streak in SSFL
By Rondel Walcott (T&T Newsday).

Four-time Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division champions Naparima College and San Juan North Secondary maintained their perfect starts to the 2023 season, as they both got their fifth straight wins on Wednesday.

Naparima defeated Malick Secondary by a 3-0 margin to maintain their lead atop the standings on goal difference.

San Juan moved up to second spot as they eked out a 1-0 win over Arima North Secondary at the Arima Velodrome, courtesy of a goal in first-half stoppage-time time by Jaheem Danclar.

Fatima College (13 points) remained unbeaten but they slipped a place to third spot, after playing to a goalless draw against reigning champions St Benedict’s College (five points) at the former school’s ground in Mucurapo. After a cautious start, both teams fashioned good chances throughout the 90 minutes, but their finishing left a lot to be desired. Benedict’s T&T under-17 forward Malachi Webb was arguably the most dangerous player on the evening, as his bustling and direct running often troubled the Fatima defenders. Whenever Webb breached the Fatima defence though, he found a worthy nemesis between the uprights - goalkeeper Tristan Edwards.

The hosts had chances of their own in front of goal. But when last year’s national Intercol champs got past Thane Devenish in the Benedict’s goal, the defenders came to the rescue.

On at least two occasions in the match, Benedict’s players made heroic clearances in the six-yard box to keep the scores goalless.

In the first half, Benedict’s playmaker Josiah Ochoa made a timely intervention when Aidan DeGannes looked destined to give the hosts the lead from close range. Then, in the 48th minute, Joshua Demas made the best defensive play of the game as he cleared off the line after Devenish flapped at a deep free kick from Fatima captain Jaden Williams.

The draw leaves Fatima two points off the top of the table. For Benedict’s though, it leaves the defending champions ten points off the pace currently being set by the high-flying Naparima.

Elsewhere, St Anthony’s College (nine points) recorded the biggest win of the round, as they hammered Chaguanas North Secondary by a 10-1 margin in Edinburgh, Chaguanas. Midfielder Aalon Wright-Wilson scored a hat-trick to lead the charge for the Westmoorings Tigers who now climb to fourth on the table.

On Serpentine Road in St Clair, Bishop’s High School (Tobago) got their first win of the season as they defeated Queen’s Royal College 1-0. Khaieem Lewis scored the winning goal for Bishop’s. Meantime, in Tobago, Speyside Secondary moved up to seven points after getting a creditable 1-1 draw with South powerhouse Presentation College San Fernando (eight points).

[Tallman]

Alexander bags hat-trick for Scarborough in SSFL girls division
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)

National Under-20 player J'Eleisha Alexander continued her form for Scarborough Secondary in the Tobago zone of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) girls championship division with a hat-trick against Speyside High School, on Thursday.

Alexander's brilliance helped Scarborough defeat Speyside 7-1 at Speyside Recreation Ground. Also scoring for Scarborough were Kaleah Duke (two), Arianna Bacchus (one) and Toniyah Boucher (one).

At the Roxborough Secondary ground, the home team lost 8-0 to Signal Hill Secondary. Madison Campbell netted a brace for Signal Hill to lead the way, and scoring one goal each were Shadea Andrews, Leia-Marie Balfour, Dominique Scott, Kellecia Taylor, Serenity Charles and Naomi Waldrop.

In the other Tobago zone contest, Bishop's High School crushed Pentecostal Light and Life 6-0 with two goals apiece from Kimonique Spencer and Phileciah Wiltshire. Ty'Kaiya Dennis and Gyasi Lewis were also on target.

In the North zone, St Joseph's Convent, Port of Spain defeated Diego Martin Central Secondary 4-2, Bishop Anstey High School got past Malick Secondary 4-2 and Holy Name Convent hammered Tranquillity Secondary 6-0.

Pleasantville Secondary were ruthless against Princes Town West Secondary winning 28-0 in the South Zone, and Moruga Secondary edged St Joseph Convent, San Fernando 2-1.

In the East, St Augustine Secondary beat El Dorado East Secondary 1-0, Five Rivers Secondary eased past Barataria North Secondary 4-1 and Bishop's East High School edged San Juan North Secondary 2-1.

[Tallman]

Ste Madeleine, Miracle Ministries unbeaten in Championship Division
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Ste Madeleine Secondary and Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School maintained their perfect records in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) championship division to stay atop the south and central zones respectively.

In round five of the division on Friday, Ste Madeleine got a fifth straight win as they got by Siparia West Secondary by a 3-1 margin. Moruga Secondary (12 points) stayed hot on the heels of Ste Madeleine in the south, as they spanked Princes Town West Secondary by a 7-1 margin. Meantime, Point Fortin East Secondary (four points) got their first win of the 2023 campaign as they defeated ASJA Boys College (San Fernando) by a 4-2 margin. Both ASJA and Princes Town West are yet to register a point.

In the central zone, Miracle Ministries strengthened their push towards another "Big 5" championship run as they beat Couva East Secondary 5-1 to get their fifth consecutive win. Carapichaima West Secondary jumped to ten points in the central zone thanks to a massive 13-2 win over ASJA Boys Charlieville.

In the east zone, just three points separate the top three teams. St Augustine Secondary, who were relegated from the premier division last year, lead the table with 12 points from five matches. St Augustine got a valuable 3-2 win over Holy Cross College (four points) on Friday to maintain their two-point lead atop the table.

El Dorado East Secondary (ten points) and Valencia Secondary (nine) points consolidated the second and third spots on the east table with wins over Five Rivers Secondary and El Dorado West Secondary respectively.

In the north zone, Tranquility Secondary and Mucurapo West Secondary played to a 2-2 draw. Belmont Secondary got the better of Diego Martin Central 4-2. Meanwhile, Blanchisseuse Secondary were able to get a big 2-0 win on the road away to Trinity College (Moka) in Moka, Maraval.

[Tallman]

Ten-man Fatima stun San Juan North 5-2 to move to the top of the league
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)

TEN-MAN Fatima College moved to the top of the standings in the Secondary Schools Football League premiership division with a 5-2 win in round six over San Juan North Secondary School at the latter’s school ground on Saturday.

Fatima, third before Saturday’s matches, are now first with 13 points. San Juan North dropped from second to third in the table and Naparima College, the leaders before matchday six, are now second after losing to Arima North Secondary 1-0.

Fatima were down to ten men after captain Jaden Williams was sent off after receiving a red card with about 30 minutes left on the clock. The match seemed headed for a draw as with five minutes left the match was tied 2-2.

However, Fatima did not settle for a draw despite being a man down, scoring three goals in the last few minutes. Jonathan Mason found the back of the net in the 87th minute to give Fatima the lead, before he scored again in stoppage time. Rounding off the scoring for Fatima was Michael Chaves, seven minutes into added on time.

Fatima manager Stephen Williams said the plan was not to hold on for a draw after being reduced to ten men.

“We definitely went up there to get three points today and it was by any means necessary, so with ten men it just fuelled the fire even more. That definitely was not the plan (to hold on for a draw). We made some tactical changes, we did not deviate too much from our formation and we still played with our attackers.” Williams commended Mason for his late-game heroics.

“The fighting spirit was there. We went with our college song – Fearless and True. They went up there with the mindset to get three points and the red card did not set them back from the goal.”

It was heartbreak for San Juan as many players were seen crying after the match.Earlier in the contest, national youth player Lindell Sween gave San Juan the lead in the 23rd minute. Jaheem Danclar scored an own goal for San Juan in the 26th minute to make it 1-1, before Aidan De Gannes gave Fatima their first lead of the match in the 33rd minute. Nathan Quashie continued his prolific season, converting in the 45th minute as the match was all square 2-2 at half-time.

Speyside High School got past the struggling Pleasantville Secondary 3-1 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium training field. Lenox Eastman, Riquelme Phillips and Nkosi Quashie were on target for Speyside and finding his name on the score sheet for Pleasantville was Kelon Williams.

In Trincity, Trinity College East came from a goal down to defeat Malick Secondary 2-1 after a goalless first half. In a North zone match at St Mary’s College ground, the home team got past Queen’s Royal College 4-3.

In other results, East Mucurapo defeated Chaguanas North Secondary 3-0, Presentation College San Fernando crushed Bishop’s High School 4-0 and defending champions St Benedict’s College edged St Anthony’s College 1-0.

Round seven will be played on Wednesday.

[Tallman]

Gosine bangs in 11 more in Plesantville girls 20-0 triumph
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)

National Under-17 and U-15 striker Nikita Gosine made it an astonishing 25 goals in her last two matches when he scored 11 times to lead Pleasantville Secondary to a 20-0 thrashing of Palo Seco Secondary in their latest Secondary Schools Football League Girls South Zone Championship Division match on Sunday.

Winners over Princes Town Secondary 28--0 on Thursday last with Gosine scoring 14 goals, the Pleasantville girls showed little mercy on host Palo Seco with the other Gosine sister, Natalia adding a hat trick while Taye-Ann Wylie scored twice, and the quartet of Joe-nelle Jones, Amanda Nanan, Zahara Mitchell, and Giovanna Sherwood one each.

St Joseph Convent of San Fernando also enjoyed a relatively fun day as they ran out 7-0 winners over Princes Town West Secondary led by a five-goal burst from Alexis-Raye Lalchan and one each from Amara Bhagan, and Tishan Siu.

Over in the Tobago Zone, National SSFL Girls League champions Scarborough Secondary powered by reigning “Most Valuable Player’ J’Eleisha Alexander’s six goals clobbered Pentecostal Light & Life 10-0 at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex Ground.

Alexander’s fellow national teammate Talia Martin helped herself to a hat trick in the win for Scarborough with Kieneal Dillon, the other scorer.

And in the other match on the sister-isle Roxborough Secondary defeated Speyside Secondary 5-1 with Shernaiah Alfred scoring three goals, and Lory Clarke a double, while J’nya Gray got the lone reply for the losers.

In the Central Zone, Miracle Ministries continued their impressive start by blasting Chaguanas North Secondary 9-0 with Amiya Cumberbatch netting a treble.

The duo of Aaqila Virgil, and Sydney Gordon banged in two goals each for Miracle Ministries with Kimberlyn Rampersad, and Gabriella Lezama adding solitary items against the hapless Chaguanas South line-up, which was playing their first match of the season after defaulting their previous encounters.

Elsewhere in Central, Holy Faith Convent (Couva) got two goals from Zaria Cassia, and further strikes from Mercedeze Harewood, and Dana Pacheco in a 4-0 beating of Carapichaima East Secondary, while Chaguanas West Secondary got a lone item from Xandreah Ramsingh to edge Carapichaima West Secondary 1-0.

Orielle Martin was unstoppable as she netted a beaver trick to lead Bishop’s Anstey East past Barataria South Secondary 4-1 while San Juan North won by a similar margin against El Dorado East Secondary via items from Kalesia Balcon, Myeisha Cox, Taya Williams, and Afiya Jacob, and in the other clash, Five River Secondary thumped St Augustine Secondary 6-0.

In the North Zone, St Joseph Convent (PoS) got a goal each from Kaitlyn Darwent, Scarlett Cole, and Mikaela Yearwood in a 3-0 win over rivals Bishop’s Anstey (PoS); Holy Name Convent (PoS) had Calypso Ayoung (penalty), Chaya Vincent, Ava Nicholas, and Isabella Ramdeen in a 4-1 defeat of Malick Secondary who got its consolation strike from Hakeemar Goodridge, and Diego Martin Central Secondary won by default from Tranquillity Secondary.

Sunday’s results

South Zone

Pleasantville Sec 20 (Nikita Gosine 11, Natalia Gosine 3, Taye-Ann Wylie 2, Joe-nelle Jones, Amanda Nanan, Zahara Mitchell, Giovanna Sherwood) vs Palo Seco Sec 0

St Joseph Convent (San F’’do) 7 (Alexis-Raye Lalchan 5, Amara Bhagan, Tishan Siu) vs Princes Town West Sec 0

Tobago Zone

Scarborough Sec 10 ( J’Eleisha Alexander 6, Talia Martin 3, Kieneal Dillon) vs Pentecostal Light & Life 0

Roxborough Sec 5 (shernaiah Alfred 3, Lory Clarke 2) vs Speyside Sec 1 (J’nya Gray)

East Zone

Five Rivers Sec 6 vs St Augustine Sec 0

San Juan North Sec 4 (Kalesia Balcon, Myeisha Cox, Taya Williams, Afiya Jacob) vs El Dorado East Sec 1

Bishop’s Anstey East (Orielle Martin 4) vs Barataria South Sec 1

Central Zone

Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High 9 (Amiya Cumberbatch 3, Aaqila Virgil 2, Sydney Gordon 2, Kimberlyn Rampersad, Gabriella Lezama) vs Chaguanas South 0

Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 4 (Zaria Cassia 2, Mercedeze Harewood, Dana Pacheco) vs Carapichaima East Sec 0

Chaguanas West Sec 1 (Xandreah Ramsingh) vs Carapichaima West Sec 0

North Zone

St Joseph Convent (PoS) 3 (Kaitlyn Darwent, Scarlett Cole, Mikaela Yearwood) vs Bishop’s Anstey (PoS) 0

Holy Name Convent (PoS) 4 (Calypso Ayoung pen, Chaya Vincent, Ava Nicholas, Isabella Ramdeen) vs Malick Sec 1 (Hakeemar Goodridge)

Diego Martin Central Sec 3 vs Tranquillity Sec 0 - by default

[Tallman]

San Juan North takes charge...as Pres ends Fatima unbeaten start
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)

Nathan Quashie continued to win over the hearts of his new school, San Juan North Secondary, by netting another decisive item in their 2-1 win over visitors Trinity College East to move top of the 16-team Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Boys' Premier Division, on Wednesday.

With previous leader and unbeaten team Fatima College suffering a 1-0 loss at its Mucurapo Road home venue to former champions Presentation College of San Fernando to end its runs at six matches, the Jerry Moe-coached San Juan North now leads the table with 18 points from seven matches after rebounding from a 5-2 home loss to Fatima, with the latter now second on 16 points.

At the San Juan North Secondary ground in Bourg Mulatresse, Jaheem Danclair rediscovered his scoring touch by netting San Juan North's opener, his fifth goal of the season.

However, Trinity East, coming off its first win of the season, 2-1 over Malick Secondary would even things up before the half-time whistle thanks to Jonathan Emrith, his first of the season.

But in an evenly-matched second half, Quashie, who transferred from Queen's Royal College (QRC) prior to the start of the season netted the decisive item in the 63rd with his seventh item of the campaign to secure all three points.

Down at Mucurapo Road, Fatima's brief stint at the top of the standings ended after one round after a second-half goal from Levi Jones proved decisive for Presentation with the latter improving to 14 points in fourth spot, one behind four-time league winner Naparima College, who was handed a second straight loss after starting the season with five straights wins, in a 3-2 loss to defending champion, St Benedict's College who trailed 2-0 early on.

At Lewis Street, San Fernando, Naparima went ahead in the 25th minute when defender Josiah Cooper's downward header at the far post from a Jkwon Bailey free-kick beat goalkeeper Thane Devenish.

Eight minutes later, the prolific Kanye Francis latched onto a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box to fire past Devenish on his near post for a 2-0 advantage for the host.

But two minutes before the interval, St Benedict's boosted their chances of a second-half comeback when Jeremiah Niles slammed home a right-sided centre from Malacai Webb past goalkeeper Tyrece Romain.

Both teams created a few chances on the resumption, but it was the visitors who took theirs with a free-kick from Keanu Morean glancing off the head of Naparima's Tevin Pantor which eluded his own goalkeeper Romain into the far corner to tie up the score at 2-2 in the 68th.

In the 76th minute, some sloppy defending by substitute Antonio Hill, who failed to clear a long ball from Anthony Williams, saw the ball dropping at the feet of Webb, who fired into the net on the second attempt after his first shot on target was blocked by Romain.

The win, the second on the trot for the 'La Romain Lions', the defending SSFL Premier Division champions extended their unbeaten run to five matches after starting the season with two straight defeats to move to 11 points in the 11th spot, one point behind the trio of St Anthony's College, Arima North Secondary, and St Mary's College who were all in winners row, while Speyside Secondary is fifth with 13 points.

In the other matches, Speyside battled past visitor East Mucurapo 2-1; St Anthony's crushed Pleasantville Secondary 6-1; Arima North edged Malick Secondary 2-1, QRC punished Chaguanas North 6-0, and St Mary's overcame host Bishop's High, 3-2.

Wednesday's results

St Mary's 3 (Ryan Radellant 2, Elijah Wong) vs Bishop's High 2 (Malik Wilson 2)

Presentation 1 (Levi Jones 63rd) vs Fatima College 0

Arima North 2 (Tyrelle Stapleton 19th. Tyler Ayers 45th) vs Malick 1 (Keston Richards 89th)

St Benedict's College 3 (Jeremiah Niles 43rd, Keanu Morean 68th, Malacai Webb 76th ) vs Naparima 2 (Josiah Cooper 25th, Kanye Francis 33rd)

QRC 6 (Tau Lamsee 2, Tehsaun Franklyn, Stephon James, Kerry Baptiste Jr, Mussadiq Mohammed) vs Chaguanas North 0

San Juan North 2 (Jaheem Danclair, Nathan Quashie) vs Trinity East 1 (Jonathan Emrith)

Speyside 2 (Omar Daniel 25th, Riquelmen Phillips 87th) vs East Mucurapo 1 (Jaden Mc Shine 90+4)

St Anthony's 6 (Mordecai Ford 2, Jean-Marc Thomas, Theo Cravador, Russel Francois, Andell Fraser) vs Pleasantville 1 (Kelon Williams)

Current standings

Position*Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts

1*San Juan North*7*6*0*1*18*10*18

2*Fatima*7*5*1*1*23*3*16

3*Naparima*7*5*0*2*34*6*15

4*Presentation*7*4*2*1*10*3*14

5*Speyside*7*4*1*2*12*8*13

6*St Anthony’s*7*4*0*3*21*12*12

7*Arima North*7*3*3*1*13*5*12

8*St Mary’s*7*4*0*3*21*21*12

9*St Benedict’s*7*3*2*2*11*8*11

10*QRC*7*3*0*4*13*10*9

11*East Mucurapo*7*3*0*4*9*18*9

12*Malick*7*2*0*5*16*11*6

13*Trinity East*6*1*2*3*7*9*5

14*Bishop’s High*6*1*0*5*4*14*3

15*Chaguanas North*7*1*0*6*2*42*3

16*Pleasantville*7*0*1*6*4*38*1


SSFL Premier Division top scorers:

8 - Kyle Phillip (St Mary's), Ryan Radellant (St Mary's)

7 - Kanye Francis (Naparima), Nathan Quashie (San Juan North)

5 - Jonathan Mason, Aidan De Gannes, Michael Chaves (Fatima), Jaheem Danclair (San Juan North), Andell Fraser (St Anthony's), Stephon James (QRC)

4 - Akiel Vesprey (Naparima), Lindell Sween (San Juan North), Clint Latchman (East Mucurapo), Vaughn Clement (Presentation), Kelon Williams (Pleasantville), Tyrell Stapleton (Arima North), Theo Cravador (St Anthony's)

3 - Oba Samuel (Malick), N’kosi Quahsie (Speyside), Lindell Sween (San Juan North), Jonathan Mason (Fatima), Jean-Marc Thomas, Aalon Wilson-Wright, Mordecai Ford (St Anthony's), Jaron Pascall, Tevin Pantor (Naparima), Adah Barclay (Presentation), Elijah Wong (St Mary's), Tau Lamsee

2 - Justin Alcantar, Christian Bailey (Fatima), Ronaldinho Richards, J’Lon Matthews, Jordan Ferdinand, Keston Richards (Malick), Kevin Francois, Jabari Forbes, Jkwon Bailey, Xarion France, Josiah Cooper, Nathaniel O'Garro (Naparima), Darion Marfan, Jemaul Ashing (Arima North), Jaden Grant, Daniel Jones, Malacai Webb (St Benedict’s), Micah Nelson (QRC), (St Anthony's), Lenox Eastman, Omar Daniel, Riquelme Phillip (Speyside), Malik Wilson (Bishop's High), Jaden Mc Shine (East Mucurapo)

1 - Nekayse Moore, Negaste Moore (Chaguanas North), Abeyomi George (Presentation), Teshaun Franklyn, Kerry Baptiste Jr, Mussadiq Mohammed (QRC), Jeremiah Niles, Keanu Morean, Derrel Garcia, Ethan Trotman, Josiah Ochoa (St Bendict’s), Thomas Decle, Kade Collier, Jaden Williams (Fatima), Malachi Woodley, Ackeem James, Isaiah David, Zachary Joseph, Tyrese Manswell (Malick), Tyrel Rajoon, Aaron Raymond, Israel Joseph, (Naparima), Daniel Rose, Obadiah Eyeadelrosiyhia, Russel Francois (St Anthony’s), Omar Daniel, Shyon George, N'Kosi Quashie, Riquelme Phillips (Speyside), Tyler Ayers, Theron O’Brien, Ability Hazel, Tony Figuera, Stephano Christopher (Arima North), Alejandro Harper, Abdil-Junior Abdul-Hakeem (St Mary’s), Jadiel Joseph, Joshua Lewis (San Juan North), Kadeem Plaza, Khaleem Prince, Hasheem Hill, Seretse Browne, Jeremiah Frank-Williams, Josiah Figaro, Jonathan Emrith (Trinity East), Damario Henry, Khaieem Lewis (Bishop’s High), Malachi Henry, Malik Xavier, Jemon Gulston (East Mucurapo), Levi Jones (Presentation)

Own goal : 6.

[Flex]

San Juan North rise to top of SSFL, Fatima, Naps lose.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).

THE top two teams on the Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) premiership table were unseated after round seven matches on Wednesday as both Fatima College and Naparima College suffered losses, while San Juan North climbed into pole position following a 2-1 victory over Trinity College East.

Fatima (16pts), who led the standings before kickoff, were downed 1-0 by visitors Presentation College San Fernando, courtesy of a 63rd-minute Levi Jones strike.

At Lewis Street Grounds in San Fernando, defending SSFL premiership champions and tenth-placed St Benedict’s College, rallied back from a two-goal deficit to shut out second-ranked “Naps” 3-2.

After a stop-start opening few minutes, Naps went ahead in the 25th via Josiah Cooper, who headed past La Romaine Lions’ custodian Thane Devenish, to send them 1-0 up.

Five minutes later, St Benedict’s had a chance to equalise but midfielder Josiah Ochoa shot overbar.

They were punished for the missed opportunity soon after as Naps’ forward Kanye Francis’s first touch beat his defender and allowed him to turn his body and rifle a right-footed shot into the left corner, to double their lead.

However, St Benedict’s halved their deficit just before the break as Jeremiah Niles latched on to a free ball at the back post and shot past Naparima goalkeeper Tyrese Romain.

It remained 2-1 at half-time. At the resumption, St Benedict’s showed more intent as Malacai Webb and Keanu Morean continued to threaten Naps’ slim advantage.

In the 66th, the 2022 winners thought they found the equalizer when Morean pounced on a mishandled ball by Romain, and scored. However, it was ruled offside, but these near misses ignited confidence. Two minutes later, they were rewarded for their efforts, this time from a free kick. Morean’s goal-bound shot might have been saved by Romain but a slight touch of the ball in the wall shifted its trajectory a bit and beat Naps’ custodian to level the score.

From then on, Naps never looked the part and St Benedict’s continued to press for a winner. A long ball from Anthony Williams was not properly cleared by Naparima’s back line, and it fell to Webb’s feet, who shot straight to Romain.

Romain was unable to gather the ball properly and a persistent Webb pounced on the loose ball and found the back of the net. The match-winning goal silenced the home fans but the visitors erupted.

Now on the back foot, Naps tried to claw back into it but their southern counterparts would not have it. The result meant that San Juan North moved into first position with 18pts while Fatima (16pts) and Naps (15pts) round off the top three.

Pres’ victory also saw them maintain fourth (14pts) position ahead of Saturday’s “South Clasico” against rivals Naps.

In other matches, Speyside (13pts) also held on to fifth position with a 2-1 victory over East Mucurapo. The Tobago team opened the scoring in the 35th minute from Omar Daniel and added another in the 87th, courtesy of Riquelme Phillips. But, East Mucurapo pulled one back in the 94th via Jadon McShine.

Arima North kept their sixth place with a 2-1 triumph against Malick Secondary.

St Anthony’s drubbed cellar-placed Pleasantville 6-1, St Mary’s squeezed past Bishop’s Tobago 3-2 while QRC thumped Chaguanas North 6-0.

Round eight kicks off on Saturday.

[Tallman]

Naps coach upset: 'Some players feel they too big'
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)

A furious Naparima College head coach Travis Mulraine knocked his squad’s senior players for “tactical disobedience,” which he believes was a decisive factor in their 3-2 loss to southern rivals St Benedict’s at home at Lewis Street in San Fernando on Wednesday.

“Naps” gave up a two-goal lead and a chance to go top of the Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) premiership table as the La Romaine Lions roared back to notch an important away win.

Despite Naps’ Josiah Cooper and Kanye Francis putting the hosts ahead in the first half, St Benedict’s Jeremiah Niles halved their deficit before the break.

At the resumption, the Lions looked a better unit, and goals from Keanu Morean and Malachi Webb turned the game on its head.

The result saw Naps (15 points) slip to third (previously second) and helped St Benedict’s (11pts) climb one spot up to ninth after round seven. The latter are defending champions.

Additionally, Fatima College’s (16pts) 1-0 loss to Presentation College San Fernando saw them drop to second, while San Juan North’s 2-1 win over Trinity East propelled them into pole position. The new league leaders have 18 points.

After Wednesday’s match at Lewis Street, Mulraine was disappointed with the result and said he may shuffle his players for Saturday’s anticipated “southern clasico” against city rivals Presentation College.

“This game boiled down to tactical disobedience. I envy coaches who have players who are trusting in their philosophy and following instructions as best they could.

“We have guys who, some of them played in the T&T Premier Football League premiership, and I think that they think they may be too big for this level of football. I think going forward, we would have to go with the younger guys and try to teach them to play the right way,” he said in a post-match interview.

Looking ahead at Saturday’s big match, Mulraine hopes they can return to winning ways.

“We have to take it one game at a time. It wasn’t a good result. We cannot do anything about it.

"We just have to move forward, plan for the next game and see how best we can go forward.”

St Benedict’s coach Randolph Boyce was all smiles during his post-match recap.

Even though the title-holders haven’t had the best start to the 2023 season, Boyce said a second-half change made the difference on the day.

“The first half, we were a little bit cagey. We defended solid in the first half.

"But I realised we had to make a technical adjustment in the way we attacked and had to be more brave going forward. That paid off for us in the second period.”

They face fifth-placed Speyside (13pts) on Saturday in round eight.

And with just six points separating current leaders San Juan North and eighth-ranked St Mary’s College, Boyce believes there’s still all to play for in pursuit of a potential second straight crown.

“One game at a time. In this league, it doesn’t matter where you are on the table, it looks like this year, it (champions) could be anybody. We had to bring them back down to earth, get ourselves organised and look at preparation for the Saturday game.”

[Tallman]

Moruga, St Augustine continue SSFL promotion push
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Moruga Secondary and St Augustine Secondary continued their push for promotion back to the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) boys' premier division on Friday with both teams registering healthy wins in their respective south and east zones.

Both Moruga and St Augustine were relegated from the premier division in the 2022 season. However, both teams have shown their intent to be back in the top flight for 2024 and currently head their championship standings.

Moruga (21 points) got a seventh win from as many matches, as they defeated ASJA Boys' College 3-0. Jaheim Jackson, Keieal Morales and Che Teesdale scored for Moruga, who maintained a six-point lead over second-placed team Ste Madeleine Secondary.

Ste Madeleine were also big winners on Friday – romping to a 5-1 triumph over Point Fortin East Secondary. Meanwhile, Siparia West Secondary (ten points) had the biggest win in the south zone as they hammered the cellar-placed Princes Town West Secondary 9-0.

The "Green Machine" of St Augustine (18 points) opened up a four-point lead in the east, as they got a thumping 6-0 win over Five Rivers Secondary at the former school's compound. The second-placed El Dorado East Secondary (14 points) dropped two crucial points at home, as they played to a goalless draw with their struggling neighbours El Dorado West Secondary (three points) in an "El Do" derby. Valencia Secondary (12 points) overcame Holy Cross College (five points) by a 3-1 margin in the other east zone fixture.

In the north zone, Blanchisseuse Secondary showed little remorse, as they ran up the scoreline in a 13-1 demolition of Belmont Secondary. Trinity College (Moka) edged Mucurapo West Secondary 2-0 and Tranquility Secondary defeated Diego Martin Central by a similar 2-0 margin.

In Tobago's boys' championship action on Tuesday, Signal Hill Secondary School (14 points) jumped to the top of the standings after a comprehensive 7-0 win over Pentecostal Light and Life. Scarborough Secondary (13 points) slipped to second spot following a 4-2 loss to Mason Hall Secondary (ten points). The two teams at the foot of the table – Roxborough Secondary and Goodwood Secondary – played to a 1-1 draw.

Meantime, action in Tobago's girls' championship heated up on Thursday, as Scarborough (19 points) opened up a five-point lead on their nearest competitors after blanking Mason Hall 3-0. TT youth forward J'eleisha Alexander starred for Scarborough as she netted a brace. Kaleah Duke scored the other goal for the zonal leaders. Signal Hill (14 points) and Bishop's High School (13 points) played to a goalless draw in a battle of second versus third.

In the east, Five Rivers (ten points) are leading the way among the girls owing to to a superior goal differential of +16. They secured a 7-0 win over El Dorado East.

Bishop's Anstey East (ten points) are hot on Five Rivers' heels as they earned a 7-1 win over St Augustine. Third-placed San Juan North Secondary (nine points) spanked table-proppers Barataria North Secondary 7-0.

In the north, St Joseph's Convent (Port of Spain) got the biggest margin of victory as they defeated Malick Secondary 10-0. Bishop's Anstey (PoS) beat Tranquility 4-1. Diego Martin Central and Holy Name Convent played to a gripping 3-3 draw.

Championship action resumes this weekend, with matches being played in Tobago.

[Tallman]

Sween's hat-trick leads San Juan North to 6-0 demolition of Bishop's High
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)

A hat-trick from Lindell Sween guided San Juan North Secondary School to a 6-0 demolition of Bishop's High School of Tobago in the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), on Saturday.

Playing in front of his home crowd in Bourg Mulatresse, Sween took his tally to eight for the season and kept his team at the top of the standings with 21 points from eight matches.

San Juan North, despite early possession, almost went behind in the 28th minute though as Bishop's captain Kerron Arthur raced on to a left-side centre, and from the top of the area, he failed to get the ball on target, as the ball sailed high over the crossbar.

San Juan North's lone loss last week did not affect their confidence or their play yesterday. And from a neat buildup down the right, they really should have gotten the opener in the 37th minute. Nathan Quashie who terrorised the Bishop's defence all afternoon long, delivered a pin-point cross for the unmarked Jaheem Danclar in front of a gaping goal, but he somehow headed wide of the target.

A minute later, they would not be denied. From an almost identical display, Jadiel Joseph, this time taunted the Bishop's defence on the right side before picking out the unmarked Danclar to turn the ball into the net for the 1-0 lead.

The goal lifted the confidence of the home team and they tightened the screws on their opponents in the following moments. However, it was on the stroke of half-time that Sween got his first goal. Danclar failed to collect a ball that was directed to him from the right side and Sween, who was lurking behind him, took a cheeky first touch before blasting the ball past goalkeeper Kristeon Mc Eachnie in the Bishop's goal.

It was Sween's sixth goal of the season that took the teams to the halfway interval.

There were no real changes to the play when the teams returned to the pitch. In fact, San Juan North extended its advantage to 3-0 when Quashie skilfully curled the ball from a free kick past Mc Eachnie with just three minutes gone in the second half.

Still, however, the San Juan North men were far from the finish, as Sween scored two goals in the space of three minutes to take the tally to 5-0. First, he benefited from a defensive blunder on top of the Bishop's High area that allowed him to hurdle over a defender and hit the ball low and hard past Mc Eachnie in the 83rd minute for a 4-0 advantage.

Then Sween two minutes later galloped on to a toe-poked pass from Joshua Lewis and calmly hit the ball past the Bishop's High custodian for his hat-trick and his team's fifth goal for which he punched the atmosphere during his celebration.

With Bishop's High providing little to no resistance, Joseph hammered the final item home when he was picked out free on the left side of the goal area and he drilled it low past Mc Eachnie for the 6-0 victory.

RESULTS

San Juan North 6 (Lindel Sween 45th, 83rd, 85th, Jaheem Danclar 38th, Nathan Quashie 48th, Jadiel Joseph 91st) vs Bishop's High 0

St Anthony's 2 (Jean Marc Thomas 30th, Andell Fraser 78th) vs East Mucurapo 0

Benedict’s 5 ( Daniel Jones 4, Nathan George) vs Speyside 0

Chaguanas North 1 ( Justin Lewis) vs Fatima 4 ( Caden Trestrail 2, Luke Correia, Aidan De Gannes)

Presentation 2 (Vaughn Clement 2) vs QRC 0

Malick 5 (Oba Samuel 38th, Keston Richards 10th, Tyrese Manswell 27th, Jalon Matthews 53rd, Jordan Ferdinand 35th) vs CIC 2

Pleasantville 0 vs Arima 1 (Criston Gomez 16th)

Naparaima 2 (Tevin Pantor, Jarod Pascal) vs Trinity East 1

STANDINGS:

Position*Team*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts

1*San Juan North*8*7*0*1*24*10*21

2*Fatima*8*6*1*1*27*4*19

3*Naparima*8*6*0*2*36*7*18

4*Presentation*8*5*2*1*12*3*17

5*St Anthony’s*8*5*0*3*23*12*15

6*Arima North*8*4*3*1*14*5*15

7*St Benedict’s*8*4*2*2*16*8*14

8*Speyside*8*4*1*3*12*13*13

9*St Mary’s*8*4*0*4*23*26*12

10*QRC*8*3*0*5*13*12*9

11*East Mucurapo*8*3*0*5*9*20*9

12*Malick*8*3*0*5*21*13*9

13*Trinity East*7*1*2*4*8*11*5

14*Bishop’s High*7*1*0*6*4*20*3

15*Chaguanas North*8*1*0*7*3*46*3

16*Pleasantville*8*0*1*7*4*39*1

[Tallman]

Ste Madeleine hammer Princes Town West 17-0 in SSFL championship
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)

Ste Madeleine Secondary delivered an emphatic 17-0 thrashing of Princes Town West Secondary when the Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL) south zone boys’ championship continued on Tuesday.

The one-sided affair saw Ste Madeleine notch three crucial away points which kept them in second place on the standings, six points adrift of zonal leaders Moruga Secondary.

Moruga Secondary travelled to Point Fortin East Secondary to slam seven past the hosts and maintain their stance atop the table.

In the only other south contest on Tuesday, Siparia West defeated ASJA Boys’ College 3-1 at home in Irwin Park.

North zone matches saw Blanchisseuse Secondary defeat Mucurapo West 3-1 while Belmont Secondary and Tranquillity Secondary took a point each after scoring three goals each.

In the east, second-ranked Valencia Secondary lessened their gap to four points off the top, as they drubbed Five Rivers Secondary 7-1. Valencia’s victory was an important one since zonal leaders St Augustine played to a stalemate against El Dorado East.

Additionally, Holy Cross College climbed into fourth position after eking out a 2-1 triumph over cellar-placed El Dorado West.

Up to press time on Tuesday, results from central and Tobago zone were not yet available.