Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) CEO Kester Lendor is due to meet the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) executive today, as the government looks for a way to preserve Tobago’s status in a nationwide Premier Division school football competition.
The meeting, which comes with the blessing of Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts, is the second such conference between the two parties this week.
Photo: Office of the Parliament 2025.
It follows Wired868’s exclusive report, on Wednesday 5 August, which revealed that the SSFL general council voted to exclude Tobago schools from the Premier Division for the 2026 season.
The vote was taken at a meeting last month, by schools frustrated with the inability of the SSFL executive, led by president Merere Gonzales, to raise funding to subsidise inter-island travel for Trinidad schools, which led to the abandonment of games in the 2025 season and a host of issues since 2024.
News of Tobago schools’ marginalisation from the Premier Division—although the winner from the “Sister Isle” was invited to participate in a proposed Big Four competition—brought a furious response from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), the Tobago Football Association (TFA), and representatives from Signal Hill Secondary and Speyside Secondary, as well as football fans from both islands.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Lendor said he initially requested a meeting with Gonzales and his team last Friday, but the SSFL officials were unavailable. They eventually met on Monday afternoon, with Watts skipping out of a government summit with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to attend.
“We, the Ministry of Sport and SporTT, have met with them, and we are looking at this situation with an attempt to bring relief to it,” Lendon told Wired868. “I don’t want to talk too much because nothing is finalised as yet…”
It would cost the government $150,000 to restore travel subsidies that were available to Trinidad schools for the 2023 SSFL season, in which teams received $10,000 each from the schools governing body’s sponsorship deal.
By 2024, Trinidad schools received $8,000 each from the SSFL to cross the seabridge. It would cost taxpayers $120,000 to match that figure.
The THA has provided financial support to help Tobago schools compete in the Premier Division since 2015, when Speyside became the first participants from the island. That has not changed, despite some inaccurate assertions elsewhere in the media.
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) second vice-president Osmond Downer said he too is keeping close watch on the activities of the SSFL.
“The SSFL is an integral part of the development of the local game,” said Downer, a former principal at St Augustine Secondary, “and an integral part of that integral part is the involvement of the Tobago teams!
“[…] Every league that is run by the affiliates of the TTFA, they are TTFA leagues. The various affiliates are mandated to run these competitions on behalf of the TTFA.
Photo: SSFL.
“[…] The TTFA is responsible for ALL football in the member association. So, the TTFA has all rights to be very concerned and, if necessary, to step in.”
Thus far, the TTFA has not intervened directly, though. And, with the local governing football body again struggling with debts, it is uncertain whether the TTFA, led by president Kieron Edwards, can help with the SSFL’s core issue: money.
Downer did clarify that the SSFL general council meeting, which voted to exclude Tobago schools, was constitutionally drawn up—and he empathised with the challenge of the Trinidad schools.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“The SSFL has been failing—look at how many competitions have not been completed,” said Downer. “[…] If you do the same thing over, you will end up with the same result. The airfare for teams between Trinidad and Tobago is the problem, along with bookings. Some solution has to be found.
“From what I understand, the council meeting was in keeping with the constitution and well in order to make those decisions… It was a constitutional meeting to discuss the SSFL’s failure to complete the league over the last two seasons.”
Downer noted too that Signal Hill teacher and representative Syandene Blackman-Walsh did not attend the crucial general council meeting, which decided the fate of Tobago’s Premier Division schools.
Blackman-Walsh is also the Tobago Zone secretary and SSFL vice-president.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Incidentally, Blackman-Walsh is also a SSFL vice-president and general secretary for the Tobago Zone. However, she told Wired868 that she was unable to attend the meeting due to health reason. The zone and school did not send a deputy.
“Signal Hill were not there to plead their case,” said Downer. “They should have been there a half hour before to [canvass members]!”
Although Downer said the SSFL’s decision to exclude Tobago schools was constitutionally valid, he stressed that did not mean it was morally the right call.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“Certainly not, when you think about the Tobago schools and their right to participate,” he said. “My recommendation to the SSFL would be to have a serious meeting with the Sports Company and convince them that the SSFL is an important league, and the involvement of Tobago is very important.
“Tobago has produced some top footballers for our country, like Dwight Yorke. Call for a meeting because of the public uproar.”
In the end, it was the Sports Company that reached out to the SSFL—rather than the other way around.
Photo: MSYA.
Whether by coincidence or not, Downer and Lendor know each other quite well.
When St Augustine Secondary lifted the National Big Eight and East Zone titles in 1989, Lendor lined up for the “Green Machine” at left back, alongside former national standouts like Jerren Nixon, Roger Henry and the late Michael McComie.
Downer was the school principal then.
Lendor, therefore, is acutely aware of the value of the SSFL’s competitions.
The win puts Naparima clear on top of the Premier Division table on the final match day for all title contenders.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“I saw the article on Wired868 and I thought what the hell,” said Lendor. “I knew some of the secondary schools struggled with the cost of going to Tobago in the last few years. So, I figured some of this may have been due to complaints from some of those schools.
“[…] So when the article came out I called them (the SSFL executive) to ask if they could meet, […] so we could hear more about what is influencing this decision and if we can bring some relief to it.
“I discussed it with Minister and he said absolutely [get involved].”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Downer explained that, should a solution be found, the Premier Division format could be changed again with a two-thirds majority at another council meeting, or a simple majority in a general meeting.
He noted, though, that not all Trinidad schools have the same financial issues.
The SSFL Premier Division is dominated by colleges, with only five secondary schools in the top flight: Arima North, Malick, Mucurapo West, San Juan North and St Augustine.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
The other 10 Trinidad schools are defending champions Naparima College, Fatima College, Hillview College, Presentation College (San Fernando), Queen’s Royal College (QRC), St Anthony’s College, St Benedict’s College, St Mary’s College (CIC), Trinity College (Moka), and Trinity College East.
At the top end of the spectrum, the more well-heeled football schools can operate on a budget of between $350,000 to $750,000 per season, while some secondary schools get by on between $50,000 to $125,000.
“There are two categories of schools: the privileged schools and the government schools,” said Downer. “The schools that can raise $3 million in a carnival fete—they can go to Tobago every week.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bCreative/ Wired868.
“[…] So, help the schools that need it, not the privileged schools.”
It might be another layer to the ongoing talks regarding the fate of the SSFL Premier Division.
For Downer, the nationwide Premier Division format is worth saving.
“Until something better is put in place, the Secondary Schools Football League is the main junior league in the country,” said the TTFA vice-president and former international referee. “It is the feeder for the domestic senior teams and national teams.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“[…] The present composition of the Premier Division is a good one, with the top schools from Trinidad and Tobago being exposed to tougher competition.
“It is serving a purpose until better can be devised.”
Gonzales is yet to offer a public comment on the controversy.
|
Wired868 has provided readers with solid, independent journalism since 2012. If you appreciate our work, please contribute to our efforts. Support Independent Journalism |
“[…] A letter was sent out on the 16th of July 2026 to all schools with its sole purpose being Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Boys National U-14 Team head coach Randolph Boyce announced his 18-member squad for the 2026 CFU U-14 Read more
“[…] If a member (Trinidad school) is unable to fulfill their obligations it should be that member who must bear Read more
The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) formally expressed concern at the format change of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Read more
The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) is set for a sensational departure from its top flight schedule in 2026, after Read more
St Benedict’s College assistant coach Lindsay Rondon received the dubious distinction of becoming the first football coach to be suspended Read more
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.
