SSFL 2022: Arima go back to Siparia as Big 5 returns, S/Juan on course for fifth zonal title

Arima North Secondary will return to the job of winning promotion to the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division from this Sunday, as the Big 5 competition resumes after a three-week break.

The “Dial Dynamos” are away to South Zone champions, Siparia West Secondary, from 3.30pm at the Siparia Sporting Complex on 20 November—in a fixture that was rescheduled due to dangerous field conditions at the Siparia school field last month.

The outing ensures that Arima North have little time to feel sorry for themselves after their flirt with East Zone Intercol glory ended at the Larry Gomes Stadium yesterday evening.

In an outing that pitted the reigning zonal Intercol champions and Premier Division heavyweights, San Juan North Secondary, with the East Zone Championship Division winners, Arima twice came from behind to hold the Boys from Bourg Mulatrasse 2-2—only for the latter team to prevail 7-6 via kicks from the penalty mark.

San Juan’s gifted attacking duo of Lindell Sween and Larry Noel scored a goal apiece for the Premier Division outfit. However, left back Ricardo Jones and substitute Devin Seales clawed the second tier team level on each occasion.

While Arima North were not disgraced, San Juan North will be chasing a remarkable fifth successful East Zone Intercol trophy when they square off against Trinity College East from 3.30pm at the same venue next Wednesday.

The “Blue Hawks” saw off St Augustine Secondary 3-0 in yesterday’s other East Zone semifinal, with Khaleem Prince, Jeremiah Frank-Williams and Jaheim Faustin each getting on the score summary.

San Juan North eked out a 1-0 win over Trinity East in Premier Division action on 28 September and it is likely to be a tight finish again between the East Zone’s top two teams for 2022.

Elsewhere in Tobago, there was no shortage of drama at the Dwight Yorke Stadium either as Signal Hill Secondary took advantage of a penalty that was controversial twice over to defeat Speyside High 2-1.

Signal Hill seemed fortunate to get the penalty decision at all, as the contact—if any—with a Speyside defender appeared to take place outside the opposing 18-yard box. However, there was clearly another player in the penalty area when De’reem Taylor converted from the spot.

Regardless, the Signal Hill penalty was allowed to stand.

And, in the second game of a double header, Mason Hall Secondary edged Bishop’s High 4-2 via kicks from the penalty mark—even as the former team rage against the officiating that saw Bishop’s edge them to the Tobago Championship crown.

Signal Hill and Mason Hall will square off from 4pm in the Tobago Intercol final at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on Tuesday 22 November.

However, despite Mason Hall’s protests, it looks to be Bishop’s that will represent the zone in the Big 5.

After this weekend’s rescheduled clash between Arima North and Siparia West, Bishop’s High are rostered to travel to St Mary’s College for a 3.30pm kickoff at Serpentine Road on Thursday 24 November while Arima North host Central Championship winners Miracle Ministries from 3.30pm at their Arima Old Road school ground.

After the five rounds of Big 5 matches, three zonal winners will be rewarded with spots in the 2023 SSFL Premier Division competition while the bottom two schools will remain in the second tier competition for another year.

2022 Zonal Intercol Semi-final results

(Fri 11 Nov)

Fatima College 8 (Michael Chaves [2], Joshua Mason, Jaden Williams, Khiba Romany, Christian Bailey, Alijah Nunes, Chaim Williams), East Mucurapo 0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium;

QRC 2 (Musaddiq Mohammed, Nathan Quashie), Malick Secondary 1 (Joshiema Duncan) at Hasely Crawford Stadium;

(Mon 14 Nov)

Chaguanas North 7 (Nathan George [2], Jakwan Benjamin [2], Arron Raymond, Zaidon James, Lee Vann David), Presentation College (Chag) 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

Carapichaima East 6, Miracle Ministries 1 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Tue 15 Nov)

Trinity College East 3 (Khaleem Prince, Jeremiah Frank-Williams, Jaheim Faustin), St Augustine Secondary 0 at Larry Gomes Stadium;

San Juan North 2 (Lindell Sween, Larry Noel), Arima North Secondary 2 (Ricardo Jones, Devin Seales) at Larry Gomes Stadium;

*—San Juan won 7-6 on kicks from the penalty mark

Speyside High 1, Signal Hill Secondary 2 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Mason Hall Secondary 2, Bishop’s High 2 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

*—Mason Hall won 4-2 on kicks from the penalty mark.

Upcoming Intercol fixtures

(Wed 16 Nov)

St Benedict’s College v Moruga Secondary, South Zone semifinals, 1.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Presentation (San F’do) v Naparima College, South Zone semifinals, 3.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Intercol Zonal Finals

(Fri 18 Nov)

QRC vs Fatima College, North Zone, 4pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium.

(Mon 21 Nov)

Chaguanas North vs Carapichaima East, Central Zone, 3.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Tue 22 Nov)

Signal Hill vs Mason Hall, Tobago Zone, 4pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Wed 23 Nov)

San Juan North vs Trinity East, East Zone, 3.30pm, Larry Gomes Stadium;

(Fri 25 Nov)

South Zone final, 3.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.

Big 5 result

(Sat 29 Oct)

St Mary’s College 5 (Jamal Thomas 35, 90+6, Josiah Connell 37, Daylon Riley 65, 83), Miracle Ministries 1 (Daniel Hope 40 pen) at Serpentine Road;

Upcoming Big 5 fixtures

(Sun 20 Nov)

Siparia West Secondary vs Arima North Secondary, 3pm, Siparia Sporting Complex.

(Thu 24 Nov)

Arima North Secondary vs Miracle Ministries High, 3.30pm, Arima Old Road;

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

Siparia West Secondary are on a bye

(Sun 27 Nov)

Bishop’s High vs Siparia West Secondary, 3pm, Bishop’s;

Arima North Secondary vs St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, Arima Old Road;

Miracle Ministries are on a bye

(Wed 30 Nov)

Miracle Ministries High vs Bishop’s High, 3pm, TBA;

Siparia West Secondary vs St Mary’s College, 3.30pm, Siparia Sporting Complex;

Arima North Secondary are on a bye

(Sun 4 Dec)

Miracle Ministries vs Siparia West Secondary, 3.30pm, TBA;

Bishop’s High vs Arima North Secondary, 3pm, Bishop’s;

St Mary’s College are on a bye.