Youth Football

“[…] I fully understand and respect the rules concerning team sheets. However, rules must also be applied with fairness, common sense, and consideration of circumstances beyond the control of participating teams. The issue was not negligence on our part. “[…] Our players, coaches, and parents invested significant time, effort, and …

“[…] Often, our instinct is to protect athletes. Making mistakes, losing races, or failing can be embarrassing, frustrating, and sometimes devastating. So, we try to make them feel better by saying things like: ‘It’s okay’, or ‘You’ll get them next time’. “While those statements may be true, they are incomplete. …

“[…] At the heart of my concern are two critical areas that I believe continue to affect the progress of football in Trinidad and Tobago, leadership and administration of the game, and the development and support systems surrounding our football stakeholders. These are not easy conversations, but they are necessary …

“[…] Even worse were the conditions under which these young women participated for the last few weeks. There were no tents, no substitute benches, no changing areas, and no toilet facilities available for the players on the training field. “Substitutes sat directly on the ground under the scorching sun, and …

“I think a better method [to select the Secondary Schools Football League standout players] has to be used,” said Arima North Secondary head coach Wayne Sheppard. “No disrespect to young [Mikhail] Clement, who is a terrific young goalkeeper—but anyone who watched last season knows the player of the season had …

Naparima College goalkeeper Mikhail Clement and Pleasantville Secondary attacker Nikita Gosine were crowned the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Boys and Girls Player of the Year respectively for the 2025 season. The SSFL Awards Ceremony was held yesterday at the Couva/ Point Lisa Chamber of Commerce in Couva. Clement, who …

Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team forward Afiyah Cornwall today secured an emphatic legal victory over her former head coach, Kenwyne Jones, for defamation in the Port of Spain High Court. Cornwall, 24, was represented by attorneys Debbie Juman and Lana Chunilal of Gerard Raphael & Associates, while the …

“[…] Trinidad and Tobago football is underperforming not due to lack of talent, but because of fragmented systems, weak development pathways, and inconsistent leadership. “The goal to success is to create a clear, sustainable pipeline from youth to senior national teams, supported by modern coaching, sport science, and consistent national …

Controversial Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) administrator Laurence Seepersad should have resigned his post in shame, according to Scarborough Secondary representative and school teacher Salisha James, after Seepersad’s alleged misdirection led to sanctions and, ultimately, relegation from the Premier Division for the Tobago school. Instead, Seepersad has risen, unopposed, to …

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) executive committee has abandoned four outstanding games from the 2025 season, with a significant impact on the respective divisions. The abandoned matches are: the Boys U-14 and U-16 National finals (both involving Naparima College and Signal Hill Secondary); the Girls Big Five final between …

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) completed its first general council meeting of 2026 yesterday, with still no date set for three outstanding schools finals or a pivotal Premier Division contest between Signal Hill Secondary and St Augustine Secondary. At present, Wired868 understands that St Augustine are trying to book …

“[…] Player safety is a critical consideration. Athletes in the U-15 age group are still developing physically. Allowing unlimited substitutions helps manage fatigue. “Third, it (unlimited substitutions) promotes team participation and morale. Providing opportunities for all players to contribute and builds team unity. When athletes feel involved and valued, they …