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Secondary School Football League (SSFL) Premier Division schools were left scrambling this morning after a last-minute change in kick off times for match day ten.
Yesterday evening, fixtures for today’s matches were sent out with kick off times given as 3.30pm. No explanation was given and there was no accompanying statement.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Wired868 contacted a SSFL executive committee member who, after checking, suggested that the updated kick off times was an error—supposedly caused by the fixtures committee using an outdated template.
All matches, outside of the broadcasted game, were to remain at 4pm.
However, at 11.02am today, the executive committee member confirmed that all games today would indeed start at 3.30pm.
It meant that, at the last minute, schools had to change their travel itinerary—which would include travel and lunch times—as well as inform parents and supporters.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Up to the time of publication, the SSFL had not issued a press statement or updated its own social media pages to reflect the change. Instead, the responsibility for informing the public was left entirely up to the schools.
SSFL games traditionally started at 3.30pm. However, this was changed due to the heatwave last month—with live broadcasted games on SportsMax being the sole exceptions.
Wired868 understands that school teams voiced concern at a midweek general council meeting about fading light at football matches, with a suggestion that weather conditions were suited to 3.30pm starts.
The SSFL might have listened to those concerns. Ironically, though, the administrators left member schools in the dark about the time change.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Arima Araucans Academy
In today’s round, leaders St Benedict’s College are away to struggling East Mucurapo Secondary at QRC grounds in St Clair while runners-up Fatima College host second-from-bottom Speyside High on Mucurapo Road.
Speyside are coming off a 1-1 draw with Naparima College at Lewis Street in San Fernando on Wednesday.
Third-placed Presentation College (San Fernando) face a potentially awkward challenge from ninth-placed Malick Secondary on Serpentine Road, St Clair while fourth-placed Arima North Secondary are away to East Zone rivals Trinity College East in Trincity.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Premier Division fixtures
(Sat 12 Oct)
Malick Secondary v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;
Trinity College East v Arima North Secondary, 3.30pm, Trincity;
East Mucurapo Secondary v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, QRC grounds;
Fatima College v Speyside High, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;
Miracle Ministries PHS v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Edinburgh 500;
Naparima College v St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;
St Anthony’s College v Queen’s Royal College, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;
St Augustine Secondary v San Juan North, 3.30pm, Warren Street.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Rescheduled match
(Mon 14 Oct)
Malick Secondary v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road.
2024 SSFL Premier Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fatima | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 39 | 38 |
| 2 |  Presentation | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 10 | 23 | 35 |
| 3 |  St Anthony's | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 19 | 19 | 33 |
| 4 |  St Benedict's | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 29 |
| 5 |  Arima North | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 24 |
| 6 |  QRC | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 24 |
| 7 |  Naparima | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 22 |
| 8 |  San Juan | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 1 | 22 |
| 9 |  Signal Hill | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 21 |
| 10 |  Malick | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 20 |
| 11 |  St Mary's | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 16 |
| 12 |  St Augustine | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 34 | -23 | 15 |
| 13 |  Trinity East | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 30 | -10 | 13 |
| 14 |  Speyside | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 34 | -13 | 12 |
| 15 |  Mucurapo | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 27 | -13 | 12 |
| 16 |  Miracle Ministries | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 51 | -43 | 7 |
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