SSFL 23: We want to win league down south! Fatima eye “Naps” trip; bottom three relegated

Fatima College are a whisker away from their first Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division title, as the northern outfit maintained their five-point gap over St Benedict’s College and San Juan North today, with a 4-0 win over Trinity College East on Mucurapo Road.

Three more points would do the trick for coach Hutson “Baba” Charles’ troops, who play away to fourth placed Naparima College on Saturday before they travel to St Mary’s College on Friday 3 November.

Today, first half items by Michael Chaves and Christian Bailey and a double from second half substitute Lucas Correia moved them almost out of sight from the chasing pack.

St Benedict’s College continued their own impressive run with a 8-0 hammering of Pleasantville Secondary while San Juan North whipped St Mary’s College 4-1 in Bourg Mulatresse.

But with two games remaining, there appears to be little chance of catching Fatima now.

Charles said Fatima aim to seize the title in style, by claiming it on Lewis Street, San Fernando when they face the Premier era’s most successful team, Naparima College, on Saturday afternoon.

“Today was an important game and an important three points,” Charles told Wired868. “On Saturday, we play Naparima, which is a tricky team. If we don’t lose, it will put us in a good position to win the league.

“But we aren’t going to go and try not to lose. We want to win the league in south—we going down there to get three points, not to park the bus!

“Anywhere we go, we go to get three points; and it ent change.”

At the other end of the table, today’s results sealed the fate of the bottom three who were all relegated from the top flight.

Chaguanas North Secondary lost any hope of retaining their Premier Division status on the weekend, when they lost 1-0 to Arima North Secondary at home. Today, a second half goal from Justin Lewis saw them fight back to hold Speyside High Secondary 1-1 at Edinburgh 500—but it was too little, too late for the Central Zone team.

Pleasantville needed three points against defending league champions, St Benedict’s College, which was always a tall order. “P-ville” were already five goals behind at the interval and eventually succumbed 8-0.

And Bishop’s High could not get the result they needed against Arima at the Larry Gomes Stadium, as they fell 4-0—despite a goalless score at halftime.

None from that trio can catch fourth-from-bottom team, Queen’s Royal College, who suffered their eighth loss of the season today as they fell 4-1 on their own ground against Naparima.

“Naps”, who trail Fatima by seven points, have no chance of lifting the Premier Division title themselves. But they can delay Fatima’s celebrations with a result this weekend.

Charles, whose troops are on a five-match winning streak, is in confident mood though. Fatima are blessed with panache and depth and have been the neutral’s team in 2023—just as St Benedict’s were last year.

For their head coach, the most pleasing thing about this season has been the little surprises within his player pool.

“Elijah Camacho was just a fringe player last year,” said Charles. “But when he came back for pre-season, he was a different, different player. I’d say that seeing players like that really take their game to another level was one of the most pleasing things about this season.

“[…] Also, Yohance Atherton has been one of our most improved players at the back. He has lifted his performance so much that he won the admiration of all the staff.”

Camacho and Atherton added to a strong core that comprises Chaves, free-scoring midfielder Aidan De Gannes, gifted goalkeeper Tristan Edwards, flanker Bailey and captain and versatile defender Jaden Williams.

Correia too, who pulled Fatima clear of Trinity East today.

“Correia stepped up his game big time this season so that we have no choice but to play him,” said Charles. “He is not a starter, but when he comes on he always lifts the team.”

Correia, Chaves and Atherton are among the Fatima players who should be back for the 2024 season. And, even as he prepares to lift his first Premier Division trophy, Charles is already eyeing his second one too!

“The nucleus of our team will be there for next year,” said Charles, a former Strike Squad stand-out and national senior and youth team coach. “I introduced some of our under-16 players to just give them a taste of what is expected of them for next year.

“And if you think Fatima was great this year, look out for us next year! Whatever titles we win [in 2023], we will replicate it next year.”

All that stands in their way, at present, is Naparima.

SSFL Premier Division results

(Wednesday 25 October)

QRC 1 (Micah Nelson 90), Naparima College 4 (Kanye Francis, Arron Raymond, Terrell Rajoon pen, Jaron Pascall) at QRC Ground;

Presentation (San F’do) 1 (Vaughn Clement), St Anthony’s College 0 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium;

Fatima College 4 (Luke Correia [2], Michael Chaves, Christian Bailey), Trinity East 0 at Fatima Ground;

Chaguanas North 1 (Justin Lewis), Speyside High 1 (Omar Daniel) at Edinburgh 500;

Arima North 4 (Mark Thomas 49, Ability Hazel 58, Tyrell Stapleton 61, 66 pen), Bishop’s High 0 at Larry Gomes Stadium;

Pleasantville Secondary 0, St Benedict’s College 8 (Jeremiah Niles [2], Daniel Jones [2], Jaden Grant, Josiah Ochoa, Malachi Webb, Ethan Trotman) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium Training Field;

Malick Secondary 5 (Oba Samuel [3], Tyrese Manswell, Keston Richards), East Mucurapo 1 (Maalik Jarvis) at Serpentine Road;

San Juan North 4 (Jaheem Danclar 9, Lindell Sween 20, Jadel Chase-Charles 40, Jadiel Joseph 45), St Mary’s College 1 (Kyle Phillip 88) at Bourg Mulatresse;

2023 SSFL Premier Division

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Fatima	15	13	1	1	50	8	42	40
2	St Benedict's	15	11	2	2	51	10	41	35
3	San Juan	15	10	3	2	37	15	22	33
4	Presentation	15	9	4	2	25	8	17	31
5	Naparima	15	8	3	4	48	14	34	27
6	Arima North	15	7	5	3	24	10	14	26
7	St Anthony's	15	8	2	5	34	21	13	26
8	Malick	15	6	2	7	42	27	15	20
9	Trinity East	15	5	3	7	24	28	-4	18
10	Mucurapo	15	5	3	7	28	40	-12	18
11	QRC	15	5	2	8	30	32	-2	17
12	Speyside	15	4	5	6	18	29	-11	17
13	St Mary's	15	5	2	8	26	40	-14	17
14	Bishop's Tobago	14	1	1	12	9	45	-36	4
15	Chaguanas North	15	1	1	13	5	64	-59	4
16	Pleasantville	14	1	1	12	12	72	-60	4

Upcoming fixtures

(Saturday 28 October)

Naparima College vs Fatima College, Lewis Street, 3.30pm;

Arima North vs St Anthony’s College, Larry Gomes Stadium, 3.45pm;

Trinity East vs St Benedict’s College, Trincity, 3.45pm;

St Mary’s College vs Chaguanas North, Serpentine Road, 3.30pm;

Presentation (San F’do) vs Pleasantville Secondary, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 4pm;

East Mucurapo vs San Juan North, Fatima Ground, 4pm;

(Tuesday 31 October)

Bishop’s High vs Trinity East, Plymouth Recreation Ground, 3.30pm;

Speyside High vs QRC, Speyside Recreation Ground, 3.30pm.

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Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.