SSFL 2022: “Pres”, Benedict’s start Intercol campaigns in Mahaica, CIC host Miracle Ministries in Big 5

Defending National Intercol champions, Presentation College (San Fernando), and 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big 4 conquerors, St Benedict’s College, will open their 2022 Intercol campaigns in Mahaica Oval double header on Thursday 10 November.

Both Premier Division schools join the fray at the South Zone quarterfinal stage, according to fixtures released today by the SSFL executive committee.

Presentation College, who were defeated Big 4 semifinalists, face the winner between Point Fortin East Secondary and Fyzabad Anglican Secondary from 5pm at Mahaica Oval. And St Benedict’s open the Mahaica Oval double feature against either Ste Madeline Secondary or Princes Town West Secondary from 3pm.

The 2022 Intercol competition actually kicks off in the North Zone with St Mary’s College amongst six teams who are in action in the preliminary round on Tuesday 1 November.

St Mary’s College, who recently copped the North Zone Championship title, play Diego Martin Central from 3.30pm on Mucurapo Road.

Before the “Saints” join the knockout competition, there is the far from inconsequential matter of the SSFL Big 5 competition—which will decide the three second tier schools to be promoted to the 2023 Premier Division.

St Mary’s College hosts Central champs Miracle Ministries High School from 3pm on Saturday 29 October while South Zone winners Siparia West Secondary are at home against East Zone champions Arima North Secondary.

The Tobago representative, which is still to be decided, is on a bye.

At present, Bishop’s High School top the group with Mason Hall Secondary in second place—as the latter outfit were awarded three points today after their trip to Pentecostal Light and Life was abandoned due to an inadequately marked playing field.

According to the Tobago Zone’s rules, the top two finishers will meet in a playoff to determine the zonal champion—which is a consequence of a belated decision to condense the competition from two rounds to just one.

Mason Hall will now challenge Bishop’s High for the right to represent Tobago in the Big 5 competition and, ultimately, to join Speyside High School in the 2023 Premier Division.

The SSFL has decided to play only the first round of the Big 5 competition with the other four rounds postponed until all of the participating teams are eliminated from the National Intercol competition.

The uncertainty over Big 5 match days, according to the SSFL, is due to inter-island travel issues resulting from the Tobago Carnival.

At present, Merere Gonzales is president of the SSFL alongside general secretary Azaad Khan.

Big 5 fixtures

(Sat 29 Oct)

St Mary’s College vs Miracle Ministries High, 3pm, Serpentine Road;

Siparia West Secondary vs Arima North Secondary, 3pm, Siparia West;

Tobago are on a bye

(To be determined)

Arima North Secondary vs Miracle Ministries High at Arima Old Road;

St Mary’s College vs Tobago at Serpentine Road;

Siparia West Secondary are on a bye

(To be determined)

Tobago vs Siparia West Secondary at Tobago;

Arima North Secondary vs St Mary’s College at Arima Old Road;

Miracle Ministries are on a bye

(To be determined)

Miracle Ministries High vs Tobago at TBA;

Siparia West Secondary vs St Mary’s College at Siparia West;

Arima North Secondary are on a bye

(To be determined)

Miracle Ministries vs Siparia West Secondary at TBA;

Tobago vs Arima North Secondary at Tobago;

St Mary’s College are on a bye

Intercol

Preliminary Round

(Tue 1 Nov)

St Mary’s College v Diego Martin Central, North Zone, 3.30pm, Fatima ground;

Trinity College (Moka) v Tranquillity Secondary, North Zone, 3.30pm, St Mary’s ground;

Mucurapo West Secondary v Blanchisseuse Secondary, North Zone, 3.30pm, QRC;

(Wed 2 Nov)

Five Rivers Secondary v Holy Cross College, East Zone, 3.30pm, St Augustine;

(Thu 3 Nov)

Point Fortin East v Fyzabad Anglican Sec, South Zone, 3.30pm, Pt Fortin;

Ste Madeline Secondary v Princes Town West, South Zone, 3.30pm, Moruga;

Zonal Quarterfinals

(Fri 4 Nov)

Fatima College v Mucurapo West/ Blanchisseuse, North Zone, 3.30pm, St Mary’s ground;

QRC v Trinity (Moka)/ Tranquillity, North Zone, 3.30pm, Fatima ground;

East Mucurapo Secondary v St Anthony’s College, North Zone, 2pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Malick Secondary v St Mary’s/ D’go Martin Central, North Zone, 4pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

(Mon 7 Nov)

Miracle Ministries High v ASJA Boys (Charlieville), Central Zone, 3.30pm, Arena Recreation Ground;

Presentation College (Chag) v Couva East Sec, Central Zone, 3.30pm, Couva East;

Speyside High v Championship #7, Tobago Zone, 3pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Championship #3 v Championship #4, Tobago Zone, 5pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Championship #2 v Championship #5, Tobago Zone, TBA;

Championship #1 v Championship #6, Tobago Zone, TBA;

(Wed 9 Nov)

San Juan North v Five Rivers/ Holy Cross, East Zone, 3.30pm, St Augustine;

St Augustine Secondary v Manzanilla Secondary, East Zone, 3.30pm, El Dorado;

Trinity College East v Valencia Secondary, East Zone, 1.30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;

Arima North Secondary v El Dorado East, East Zone, 3.30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;

(Thu 10 Nov)

St Benedict’s College v St Madeline/ P Town West, South Zone, 3pm, Mahaica Oval;

Presentation College (San F’do) v Pt Fortin E/ Fyzabad Angl, South Zone, 5pm, Mahaica Oval;

Naparima College v Siparia West Secondary, South Zone, 3pm, Moruga,

Pleasantville Secondary v Moruga Secondary, South Zone, 5pm, Moruga.