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The Secondary Schools Football League 2024 season will kick off with the National Gas Company (NGC) SSFL Super Cup from 4pm on Friday 6 September at the Hasely Crawford Stadium—and not at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex on Saturday.
The schools football body confirmed the adjustment today, via a release to schools. Wired868 understands that the Hasely Crawford Stadium was always the preferred venue for the event, but it was initially declared unavailable.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
The NGC-sponsored match, which pits the Premier Division and National Intercol champions of the prior season, is in its second edition. This year, Fatima College, the league champs, face knockout winners Presentation College (San Fernando) in what looks to be an intriguing match on paper.
Last season, the “Pres Lions” were the only team to defeat Fatima College in a Premier Division fixture and Presentation coach Shawn Cooper would be a handful again—with young talent like Nkosi Foncette, Vaughn Clement, Josiah Simmons and Jimally Renne.
However, Fatima, who were also SSFL National Under-16 champs in 2023, remain the side to beat with the likes of 2023 SSFL MVP Michael Chaves, Caden Trestrail, Seth Hadeed, and Yohance Atherton still in uniform.
In 2023, St Benedict’s College, inspired by National Under-20 team attacker Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia, gunned down Fatima 4-3 in the Super Cup.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
That defeat clearly did not dent the morale of coach Hutson Charles’ troops. However, the Mucurapo Road boys will not want to be second-best, just a stone’s throw from their headquarters.
The Super Cup will be broadcast live on SportsMax, which has retained its relationship with the SSFL along with NGC, Coca-Cola, First Citizens Bank, Shell, and Omega XL.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the SSFL on the two-island republic and president Merere Gonzales, at last Wednesday’s launch in at The Brix, St Ann’s, stressed the importance of their commercial partners.
“We could not have done it without the continuous support, or the invaluable contribution, financial and otherwise, from our corporate sponsors, which I’ll like to refer to as partners,” said Gonzales.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“To run a league of such nature, you need almost $2.2 million to sustain it, although the executive members would attest [that] we have to do it with a little less.
“But we do it in such a way that, in an impactful way, we would continue with the platform for the student-athlete to pursue their dreams, their goals and their aspirations.”
NGC acting head of corporate social responsibility, Natalie Phipps-Flemming, spoke to the value of the SSFL in Trinidad and Tobago’s football landscape.
“While we often think about SSFL in terms of its entertainment value, it is important that we appreciate it as an indispensable link in the football value chain,” said Phipps-Flemming. “Hundreds of footballers have gotten their starts in this tournament, many of whom have gone on to achieve at the highest level because of this springboard.
Photo: Allan V Crane/ Wired868
“We at NGC would want to encourage all participating schools to see this league for what it is, which is an opportunity to discover raw talent and a platform to refine it.”
The SSFL’s competitive season starts on Wednesday 11 September with all 16 Premier Division teams in action. (Click HERE to see full fixtures.)
Fatima are away to newly promoted St Augustine Secondary at Warren Street on 11 September while Presentation host Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School, who also advanced through the SSFL Big Five competition and are in the top tier for the first time.
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