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The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has postponed four Premier Division games scheduled for Monday 10 November, in an effort to synchronise the final match day of teams contesting the 2025 title and scrapping to avoid relegation.
The decision follows a letter from Presentation College (San Fernando) principal Dexter Mitchell on Friday, which requested a postponement of their final game against Trinity College (Moka).
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Mitchell argued that having some teams complete their fixtures while others had games in hand “directly impacts the fairness and integrity of the competition standings”.
“Proceeding with our final match under these circumstances would place our team at a disadvantage, as results from these pending fixtures could significantly influence the final league positions,” stated the Presentation principal, in a letter to the SSFL secretariat.
“We believe that ensuring all teams compete on an equal footing upholds the competitive spirit and fairness that the SSFL strives to maintain. We therefore kindly ask that the league consider rescheduling our final match to a later date, once the outstanding games have been completed.”
Within 48 hours, Presentation had a response. The SSFL confirmed, via assistant secretary administration Laurence Seepersad, that four games will be postponed, including Presentation’s scheduled fixture.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
(Postponed fixtures initially scheduled for tomorrow)
- Malick Secondary v Fatima College, 3.30pm, TBA;
- Trinity East v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Trincity;
- Trinity College v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Moka;
- Scarborough Secondary v San Juan North, 3.30pm, Shaw Park.
St Benedict’s College and Presentation both remain in contention for the Premier Division crown, while San Juan North are trying to avoid relegation.
It is uncertain why the SSFL opted to also postpone Fatima’s closing fixture although the defending champions have no chance of retaining their title and Malick still have an outstanding game against Signal Hill Secondary.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
There will still be four games played tomorrow with Arima North Secondary, Queen’s Royal College, St Mary’s College and Carapichaima East Secondary all finishing their respective league campaigns.
Arima North, QRC and St Mary’s are eighth, ninth and tenth respectively and cannot win the league or be demoted while “Caps” are already relegated.
Seepersad explained that the latest postponements “become necessary as the League recognises that some teams still have outstanding fixtures to be completed”.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“Postponing your upcoming match ensures that all teams compete under fair and balanced conditions,” stated the SSFL communique, “maintaining the integrity and fairness of the competition standings.
“A new date will be confirmed and communicated once the pending matches have been communicated.”
At present, there are eight Premier Division games with no scheduled date, with the league presumably waiting until the relevant competing teams are eliminated from the Intercol competition.
Photo: Nicholas Williams/ Wired868.
With Signal Hill, the defending Tobago Intercol champs, still holding three un-rostered games (against Malick, Trinity East and Naparima) and heavily favoured to reach at least as far as the national semifinals on Thursday 4 December—it is extremely unlikely that the Premier Division season will end before the start of the school Christmas holidays on Monday 15 December.
Premier Division fixtures
(Mon 10 November)
St Mary’s College v Naparima College, 3.30pm, Serpentine Road;
St Anthony’s College v St Augustine Secondary, 3.30pm, Westmoorings;
Carapichaima East v Arima North, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
QRC v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, QRC ground;
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Arima Araucans Academy.
(Thu 13 November)
Signal Hill Sec v St Anthony’s College, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;
Trinity East v Scarborough Secondary, 2.45pm, Trincity;
(Sun 16 November)
Signal Hill Sec v St Augustine Sec, 3.30pm, Signal Hill.
2025 Premier Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Naparima | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 8 | 34 | 37 |
| 2 |  St Benedict's | 15 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 45 | 13 | 32 | 36 |
| 3 |  Signal Hill | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 48 | 17 | 31 | 34 |
| 4 |  Presentation | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 11 | 29 | 34 |
| 5 |  Fatima | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 48 | 24 | 24 | 32 |
| 6 |  St Anthony's | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 25 |
| 7 |  Trinity Moka | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 23 |
| 8 |  Arima North | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 34 | 27 | 7 | 22 |
| 9 |  QRC | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 25 | -2 | 19 |
| 10 |  St Mary's | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 31 | 23 | 8 | 18 |
| 11 |  Trinity East | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 21 | 55 | -34 | 13 |
| 12 |  Malick | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 43 | -13 | 12 |
| 13 |  St Augustine | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 46 | -30 | 12 |
| 14 |  San Juan | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 26 | -4 | 11 |
| 15 |  Scarborough Sec | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 36 | -18 | 11 |
| 16 |  Carapichaima | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 72 | -65 | 0 |
To be rescheduled
Signal Hill Secondary v Malick Secondary, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;
Signal Hill Secondary v Trinity East, 3.30pm, Signal Hill;
Trinity College v Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Moka;
Naparima College v Signal Hill Secondary, 3.30pm, Lewis Street;
Malick Secondary v Fatima College, 3.30pm, TBA;
Trinity East v St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Trincity;
Trinity College v Presentation (San F’do), 3.30pm, Moka;
Scarborough Secondary v San Juan North, 3.30pm, Shaw Park.
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It is unacceptable that the fixture schedule for the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has been set in direct conflict with the national side’s important World Cup qualifying match. This decision displays a lack of coordination, disrespect for priorities, and a failure to recognise the broader interests of our national footballing ecosystem.
Firstly, the national team’s match is of national significance, displaying our country on the global stage, uniting fans across all age-groups, and raising the profile of our sport internationally. By allowing a domestic league fixture to clash with such a fixture, the organisers undermine the national agenda and send a message that the SSFL takes precedence over representing the country.
Secondly, scheduling such a clash places unfair pressure on stakeholders: young players, coaches, referees, supporters, and administrators. Many of those involved in the schools league may also be tied into national team events (as spectators, aspiring national team members, or part of youth development pathways). This overlap deserves accommodation, not conflict.
Thirdly, from a developmental viewpoint — schools football is the ground floor of our footballing pyramid. It is essential that the school competition aligns with and supports the national team’s programmes, not rivals them. Conflicting fixtures dilute attention, stretch resources, and risk missing valuable synergy between grassroots and senior levels.
Finally, this action diminishes the spectacle, media coverage and fan support for both competitions. When the national team plays, it deserves undivided attention; when the schools league plays simultaneously, both events suffer.
I call on the SSFL executive to reschedule the league fixtures, ensure clear fixture-planning protocols in future, consult with the national association, and adopt a calendar that reflects the hierarchy of football commitments — with the national team’s schedule given priority. Only by doing so can we demonstrate proper respect to all levels of the game and ensure the long-term growth and unity of football in our country.
It ought to be fair to everyone. Based on the argument,which is very valid, I cannot help but ask why then is the St Anthony’s vs St Augustine game being played tomorrow? Isn’t St Augustine in the relegation scrap?
The entire final round should not be played until all outstanding games are completed if we really want to be fair.
The SSFL administration should not have required a principal to have to point this issue out, it is very obvious.
Well, this won’t be St Augustine Secondary’s final game. They still have to play Signal Hill Secondary.