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East Mucurapo Secondary will join Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School through the trap door of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division, as the northern outfit were relegated today.
Mucurapo travelled to Signal Hill Secondary needing their first away win since they edged Miracle Ministries 1-0 on Wednesday 25 September.
- Signal Hill Secondary forward Kyle James curls home the opening item for his school as they defeated East Mucurapo Secondary 2-0 in SSFL Premier Division action on 1 November 2024.
But it was not to be, as a goal in each half from forward Kyle James and midfielder Jaden Richardson secured a 2-0 win for the Tobago outfit. And, with nine points from a possible 42, Mucurapo are unable to save themselves—with just one game outstanding against Speyside High on Mucurapo Road.
Speyside High gave their own chances of beating the drop a real boost today as they came from behind to surprise Arima North Secondary 3-2 at the Arima Velodrome.
The Dial Dynamos had not lost a game this season before a 2-0 defeat to defending champions, Fatima College, on Tuesday.
But attacker Riquelme Phillips made it back-to-back defeats for the Dynamos at the Arima Velodrome with a second half double before defender Milz Johnson curled home a free kick to put the game beyond the reach of the home side.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Speyside are still in the relegation zone with 13 points—one shy of 13th place Trinity College East. However, unlike the latter school, Speyside have two games in hand: at home against Signal Hill (Thu 7 Nov) and away to East Mucurapo (date TBD).
The “Country Boys” of Tobago need just two points to survive relegation now.
Elsewhere, leaders St Benedict’s College signed off on their 2024 Premier Division season with a 1-0 win away to St Mary’s College with another goal from, you guessed it, captain and gifted attacker Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia.
With the SSFL executive committee yet to rule on his student eligibility, Garcia again served notice of his quality on the field with his 17th goal of the season—a stat that is even more impressive considering that he played just 10 of his school’s 15 games.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Fatima College playmaker Caden Trestrail, who netted in his school’s 4-1 home win over Malick Secondary today, is the next highest scorer in the Premier Division with 12 items.
At the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, the SSFL’s southern Clasico had less riding on it, with neither Presentation College (San Fernando) nor Naparima College in contention for the title.
But there was plenty of drama anyway as former National Under-20 midfielder Levi Jones scored an injury time winner for the “Pres Lions”, after Naparima drew first blood through 14-year-old midfielder Sebastian James.
There is still tension in the air as Speyside High attempt a great escape from relegation. Trinity College East will be watching closely—and praying.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
SSFL Premier Division results
(Fri 1 Nov)
Presentation (San F’do) 2 (Vaughn Clement 49 pen, Levi Jones 90+3), Naparima College 1 (Sebastian James 14) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
Fatima College 4 (David Hospedales 15, Caden Trestrail 47, Josiah Gobin 68, Liam Gooding 90+4), Malick Secondary 1 (Ronaldinho Richards 75 pen) at Mucurapo Road;
St Mary’s College 0, St Benedict’s College 1 (Derrel Garcia 32) at Serpentine Road;
San Juan North 4 (Jelani Valentine 12, Daniel Lewis 44, Jadiel Joseph 50, 90+3), St Anthony’s College 3 (Rondell Harewood 40, Mordecai Ford 51, Jean-Marc Thomas 80) at Bourg Mulatrasse;
Arima North Secondary 2 (Garrick Thomas 13, Darren De Four 87), Speyside High 3 (Riquelme Phillips 47, 64, Milz Johnson 85) at Arima Velodrome;
Miracle Ministries PHS 0, Trinity College East 2 (Khaleem Prince [2]) at Edinburgh 500;
Signal Hill Secondary 2 (Kyle James 13, Jaden Richardson 47), East Mucurapo Secondary 0 at Signal Hill;
St Augustine Secondary 2 (Shumba Cudjoe 69, Marcel Valentine 90+4), Queen’s Royal College 2 (Isaiah Isaac 52, Marcel Valentine OG 75) at Warren Street.
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 |
Outstanding rescheduled matches
(Mon 4 Nov)
St Anthony’s College v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;
(Thu 7 Nov)
Speyside High v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Speyside;
(TBA)
East Mucurapo Secondary v Speyside Secondary, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;
Signal Hill Secondary v Arima North Secondary, 3.30pm, Signal Hill.
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So the SSFL wants to penalize a student for going on a school approved football scholarship to improve his skill to represent his school on hos return. He may also one day want to represent TT. He is within age and went on a bonafide school scholarship. What is the real problem? No school complained except the ssfl itself. Where are we going??