SSFL 25: “Naps” and “Pres Lions” set for crucial derby, but postponements cloud season

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) secretariat today confirmed that two scheduled Premier Division matches for tomorrow—both involving Tobago schools, Signal Hill Secondary and Scarborough Secondary—have been postponed, as the 2025 season continues to reel from disruptions.

St Mary’s College were due to travel to Signal Hill tomorrow, while Scarborough were expected to face Trinity College East in Trincity.

There were also two venue changes, with Malick Secondary moving their home match against Queen’s Royal College to QRC grounds and Carapichaima East Secondary shifting their contest with St Benedict’s College to the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.

The backlog of matches, undoubtedly, is the bigger problem though.

At present, the Premier Division has 13 rescheduled matches to be completed. Eight of them involve one of the two Tobago teams, with Signal Hill facing the brunt of it with six delayed games.

The Premier Division season is rostered to end on Tuesday 4 November, with the Coca Cola Intercol competition starting roughly three days later.

If the SSFL attempts to maintain a rate of two games per week for teams, its marquee competition would end on 25 November—with the school term closing on Friday 12 December, and the Intercol competition (along with end of term exams) still to go.

And this is IF the postponements stop coming in.

The fact that more than half of the postponements involve a school asked to cross the seabridge is unlikely to be a coincidence. In previous years, the SSFL offered Trinidad schools between $8,000 and $10,000 for Tobago travel with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) generally supporting its own teams.

However, the SSFL’s loss of sponsorship revenue meant schools had to fend for themselves. And a combination of financial shortcomings and late planning (often also tied to finances) complicated inter-island travel for teams.

Incidentally, the cost of travel is felt disproportionately by Tobago schools. All Trinidad Premier Division schools must travel to the “Sister Isle” once this season. However, Tobago teams must make between seven to eight trips to Trinidad.

In previous seasons, there were the odd postponed game which would run off during the Intercol season and might just be abandoned entirely as it did not affect a title-chasing or relegation-threatened season.

Not in 2026, though. Of the 16 top flight schools, only two (QRC and Carapichaima East) do not have pending matches.

Thus far, the SSFL executive has not shared its plan for addressing the issue. Wired868 tried unsuccessfully to reach president Merere Gonzales for comment.

Naparima College lead the Premier Division standings at present with a perfect score of 27 points from nine games—five points more than second placed Fatima College, although the latter team played an additional game.

“Naps” host fourth-placed Presentation College (San Fernando) from 3.30pm tomorrow at Lewis Street, San Fernando in what is currently the SSFL’s biggest rivalry.

Upcoming fixtures

(Wed 22 October)

Naparima College v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

Fatima College v Arima North, 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;

Malick Secondary v QRC, 3.30pm, QRC grounds;

Trinity College v St Augustine Secondary, 3.30pm, Moka;

St Anthony’s College v San Juan North, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;

Carapichaima East v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

Rescheduled fixtures

(Sat 25 October)

St Benedict’s College v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Mahaica Sporting Complex;

Fatima College v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Mucurapo Road;

2025 Premier Division

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Naparima	9	9	0	0	34	2	32	27
2	Fatima	10	7	1	2	26	16	10	22
3	St Benedict's	9	7	0	2	22	9	13	21
4	Presentation	10	7	0	3	18	8	10	21
5	St Anthony's	8	5	1	2	22	12	10	16
6	QRC	11	5	1	5	18	18	0	16
7	St Mary's	11	4	3	4	29	18	11	15
8	Arima North	10	3	4	3	19	16	3	13
9	Signal Hill	6	4	0	2	18	9	9	12
10	Trinity Moka	9	4	0	5	14	22	-8	12
11	Trinity East	9	3	0	6	12	30	-18	9
12	St Augustine	10	2	3	5	11	29	-18	9
13	San Juan	8	2	2	4	17	18	-1	8
14	Malick	9	2	2	5	18	23	-5	8
15	Scarborough Sec	10	1	3	6	11	29	-18	6
16	Carapichaima	11	0	0	11	6	36	-30	0

Games to be rescheduled

San Juan North v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse;

St Anthony’s College v Malick Secondary, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;

Signal Hill Sec v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;

Naparima College v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;

Malick Secondary v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, TBA;

Trinity College v Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Moka;

Signal Hill Sec v St Augustine Sec, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;

Arima North v Trinity East, 3.30pm, Arima Velodrome;

San Juan North v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Bourg Mulatresse;

Signal Hill Sec v St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;

Trinity East v Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Trincity.

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