SSFL 23: Will San Juan be first secondary to lift Premier title? Wired868’s mid-term review

The 2023 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division has so far thrown up arguably the most competitive title race in recent memory.

With seven games left in the 15-match regular season, the top three schools (San Juan North Secondary, Fatima College and Naparima College) are within three points of each other.

From fourth to sixth place (Presentation College San Fernando, St Anthony’s College and Arima North Secondary) are six points off the leaders, while it would be a brave person to rule out resurgent defending champions St Benedict’s College who are seven points shy of San Juan North.

The next three match days are likely to be pivotal.

Before we look at upcoming fixtures, let’s consider the tale of the schools themselves.

San Juan North coach Jerry Moe is schools’ football answer to MacGyver when it comes to building a solid outfit from largely spare parts with the odd dash of raw talent. But Moe could outdo himself this year.

The “two banks of four” are still there and the Bourg Mulatresse boys have perhaps the most gifted player in the school game, Lindell Sween, occupying a free role behind useful frontman Jaheem Danclar.

But it is classy midfielder Nathan Quashie who, arguably, tips the scale in making San Juan North genuine title contenders.

No secondary school has ever lifted a Premier Division title, which might say something about the resources needed to perform at your peak twice per week across the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago.

San Juan, two points clear of Fatima, can be the first former comprehensive school to rule the schoolboys’ game in the modern era. And their thrilling 4-3 statement win over St Benedict’s on match day one speaks plenty of their gumption in 2023.

Fatima, a sleek, ball-playing outfit with tricky wingers in Christian Bailey and Jonathan Mason, are the most likely contenders—so keep a close eye on coach Hutson Charles’ boys.

Naparima have a formidable squad but coach Travis Mulraine has lifted the lid on internal issues there. Regardless, the freescoring juggernauts are just three points off the top and have a strong case for the throne themselves, with man-mountain Josiah Cooper, midfield anchor Jaron Pascall and attacker Kanye Francis among their standout players.

Presentation, who have found a groove with winger Vaughn Clement converted to a frontman, are not out of the frame yet while St Anthony’s College are not to be underestimated either—with winger Andell Fraser clearly in the mood.

St Benedict’s front three players are Malachi Webb, Daniel Jones and Jeremiah Niles while, in captain Josiah Ochoa, they probably have the best midfield architect in the business. (Coach Randolph Boyce’s star player, Derrel Garcia, migrated to Spain, early in the regular season, in an attempt to launch his pro career.)

They have won three games on a trot and would be more than a handful.

Arima North, on their first excursion in the Premier Division for eight years, are sixth at present and produced the shock of the season thus far with a 1-0 win over Naparima College on match day six.

The Dial Dynamos have lost just once this season so far, at home to San Juan. But their 8-1 rout of St Mary’s College looks more and more like an aberration every week.

Rather coach Wayne Sheppard’s Arima team looks to be built more on solid organisation than an eye-catching offence with defender Akil “Smooth” Henry and goalkeeper Isaiah Diaz being their most consistent performers.

Ninth placed St Mary’s might appear to be blowing hot and cold in 2023, if you’re an armchair pundit.

In truth, wily veteran coach Michael Grayson is extracting loads from a fairly limited squad and it’s a remarkable statistic that the Premier Division’s first and second highest scorers—winger Ryan Radellant (nine goals) and forward Kyle Phillip (eight)—are both in blue and white stripes.

And the Saints’ extraordinary 4-3 win over bitter rivals Queen’s Royal College, after the former outfit trailed by three goals in the 68th minute, might be the most exciting fixture to date.

Trinity College East might be the biggest disappointment so far, as the East Zone Intercol champions are 13th in the 16-team table and just two points above the relegation zone.

However, the “Blue Hawks”, who boast National Under-17 player Joshua Figaro in midfield alongside versatile captain Deisean Plaza, have not lost a single match by more than one goal and you suspect they are due some luck soon.

Perhaps a barometer of the competitiveness of the competition lies in table-proppers, Pleasantville Secondary.

“P-ville” have a single point from eight matches so far, yet in frontman Kelon Williams—who has scored all four of their goals this term—they clearly have a quality player while their narrow 1-0 loss to Arima on the weekend suggests they won’t go down without a fight.

The feature match on Wednesday is a clash between St Benedict’s and Presentation at the Mahaica Oval from 4pm. Neither team can afford to drop points if they want to keep their somewhat distant title hopes alive.

But here is what lies ahead for the current big three teams:

Round Nine

(Wednesday 11 October)

Fatima College vs QRC, Fatima Ground, 3.30pm;

Speyside High vs San Juan North, Speyside Recreation Ground, 3.30pm;

Naparima College vs Bishop’s High, Lewis Street, 4pm.

Round Ten

(Saturday 14 October)

Fatima College vs Arima North, Fatima Ground, 4pm;

San Juan North vs Naparima College, Bourg Mulatresse, 4pm;

Round Eleven

(Wednesday 18 October)

Naparima College vs Presentation (San F’do), Lewis Street, 4pm;

Malick Secondary vs Fatima College, Serpentine Road, 4pm;

St Anthony’s College vs San Juan North, Westmoorings, 4pm.

Which teams will hold their nerve?

Top 2023 SSFL Premier Division scorers (so far)

9—Ryan Radellant (St Mary’s College),

8—Kyle Phillip [1 pen] (St Mary’s College),

7—Kanye Francis (Naparima College), Vaughn Clement (Presentation San F’do), Lindell Sween, Nathan Quashie (San Juan North),

6—Aidan De Gannes (Fatima College), Tevin Pantor (Naparima College), Jaheem Danclar (San Juan North), Andell Fraser (St Anthony’s College), Daniel Jones (St Benedict’s College),

5—Michael Chaves, Jonathan Mason (Fatima College), Stephon James (QRC),

4—Tyrell Stapleton (Arima North), Clint Latchman (East Mucurapo), Oba Samuel (Malick Secondary), Jaron Pascall [1 pen], Akiel Vesprey (Naparima College), Kelon Williams (Pleasantville Secondary), Nkosi Quashie [1 pen] (Speyside High), Jean-Marc Thomas, Theo Cravador (St Anthony’s College).

Editor’s Note: The author, Lasana Liburd, is also manager at Arima North Secondary.