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Gifted San Juan North Secondary schoolboy Lindell Sween chose an appropriate time to burst to life this afternoon as the eastern outfit claimed three valuable points with a 3-0 triumph over Speyside High at Bourg Mulatresse.
The result not only offered San Juan North (13 points) some space from the relegation zone—as they, at least temporarily, moved six points clear of 14th place Trinity College East—but they also denied points to another relegation-threatened school, Speyside, who remain 13th with nine points.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
The three bottom schools in the 16-team Premier Division will be relegated to their respective zones at the end of the season.
Today, San Juan North did the damage during a nine-minute gap in the first half as Sween got a double in the 27th and 36th minutes while Jahdel Chase-Charles chipped in with a 33rd minute item.
Speyside manager Kerry Lynch said his team started poorly and had no answer for Sween—who, at 18 years old, already has two National Senior Team caps and as many TTPFL seasons under his belt.
“We had a pretty lethargic and careless first half and that cost us,” Lynch told Wired868. “[…] Sween was totally influential. All their creative plays were through him.”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Veteran San Juan North head coach Jerry Moe suggested that his team had an advantage in playing at home, with just over two days rest, and empathized with what he felt was a very decent Speyside team.
“It was difficult for them [because] they played a tough game over the weekend [against St Anthony’s College] and then had to travel here while we were at home,” said Moe. “I don’t want to say they were leg weary but they looked a bit leggy at first. They were a very hard opponent and they tried to play the football—but we deserved the win.
“Basically, I think we dominated from a corner kick [accumulation] and territorial standpoint.”
Moe also credited Sween’s effort today on both sides of the ball (attack and defence), which were crucial in ending their six-game winless streak.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“For the last couple of games, his head was right and he was very influential,” said the San Juan coach. “[Sween] is basically doing the right thing on and off the ball—he is not just standing up watching the game.”
In any case, Moe suggested that Sween was not totally at fault for his lean returns this season.
“The problem is not him but the supporting cast,” said Moe. “They wanted him to do everything. So even if someone else is the better option, they would still pass to him and expect him to figure something out.
“Players were not having the balls to make the right decisions on their own.”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
For Speyside, Lynch hopes today’s result was just a blip—as they try to secure their fifth successive season in the SSFL top flight. And recent draws away to Naparima College and Fatima College suggest that the “Country Boys” are more than capable of digging out a crucial result.
But with Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School and Trinity College East both picking up points recently, Speyside can take little for granted.
“Usually over the history of the Premier league, 12 and 13 points used to be safe,” said Lynch, “but this year looks to be a little tighter. I think we are looking at 15 or 16 points to be safe.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“We have four more games so we are looking to achieve it. It is not to say we are being totally outplayed [in our defeats] but we have to start better.”
He urged Speyside supporters to keep the faith.
“We love the constant Speyside support, even when we play in Trinidad,” said Lynch. “People are supporting our efforts in this competition and we don’t want them to lose heart.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“Keep on supporting us and for sure we will be in this competition in 2025.”
San Juan North are away to Naparima College next Tuesday before they host St Anthony’s College in their last league match of the 2024 season. Two points should be enough for safety—but Moe is aiming for six.
“We want to get as many points as possible, but I think 15 or 16 should be enough to stay up,” said Moe. “The next two games, I’d definitely want to get six points out of them.”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
SSFL Premier Division result
(Tue 22 Oct)
San Juan North 3 (Lindell Sween 27, 36, Jahdel Chase-Charles 33), Speyside High 0 at Bourg Mulatresse;
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 |
Match Day Thirteen
(Wed 23 Oct)
Presentation (San F’do) v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
East Mucurapo Secondary v Arima North Secondary, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;
Malick Secondary v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Arima Velodrome;
Miracle Ministries PHS v St Augustine Secondary, 3.30pm, Edinburgh 500;
Queen’s Royal College v Fatima College, 3.30pm, QRC;
Signal Hill Secondary v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;
St Mary’s College v Trinity College East, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road.
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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.
