Big 5 postponed again! How Blanchisseuse, Signal Hill, MMPHS and Moruga can still qualify

Editor Monday 26 February 2024 Volley, Youth Football 1 Comment

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) executive committee has postponed the 2023 Big Five competition again, as a result of “flu-like symptoms” suffered by ten Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (MMPHS) players.

The medical report, relayed by MMPHS, prompted the SSFL to postpone the Central Zone champions’ clash with Moruga Secondary on Saturday 24 February to “a date to be fixed”.

Miracle Ministries PHS coach Kern Cupid (left) urges his players on during their SSFL Central Zone Intercol semifinal win over Carapichaima East Secondary at Edinburgh 500 ground on 14 November 2023.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

The other fixture between St Augustine Secondary and Signal Hill Secondary went off as scheduled, with the “Green Machine” emerging as 1-0 victors to seal their return to the SSFL Premier Division.

However, the SSFL executive is adamant that Moruga and MMPHS face each other before their final round of matches. The body promised revised fixtures tomorrow.

Moruga, the South Zone champs, will close off their campaign at home again MMPHS, while on the last match day—initially scheduled for tomorrow—North winners Blanchisseuse Secondary travel to Signal Hill while Miracle Ministries host St Augustine.

All five teams still have plenty to play for in the competition, with Moruga, Blanchisseuse, MMPHS and Signal Hill all aiming to join St Augustine in the Premier Division.

St Augustine Secondary forward Jamell Cooper (centre) tries to force his way past two Signal Hill Secondary defenders during SSFL Big 5 action at Warren Street, St Augustine on 24 February 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

While St Augustine, the East Championship winners, hope to add the Big Five trophy to their list of accolades for their 2023 season.

Of course, the reason that the competition is still going on in February 2024—three months later than expected—is down to administrative errors by Miracle Ministries and Moruga and shoddy supervision by the SSFL Credentials Committee, which saw the schools investigated, banned, and then reinstated via the Arbitration Panel.

MMPHS and Moruga are fourth and fifth on the Big Five standings respectively but can still qualify.

It’s a tougher ask for the “Moruga Scorpions” who have one point from their first three matches. Their five goals scored so far are matched only by Blanchisseuse. However, their nine items conceded are six more than any other team.

Blanchisseuse Secondary goalkeeper Simon Kirk (far left) dives low to keep out a free kick from Moruga Secondary defender Diego Philip during SSFL Big 5 action in Blanchisseuse on 20 February 2024.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868

Moruga must defeat MMPHS by four or five goals to have any chance of progressing. And, even then, they would need St Augustine to defeat MMPHS on the final match day and for there to be a clear winner between Signal Hill and Blanchisseuse.

(If St Augustine and Moruga win their remaining games, a draw in Tobago would see both Signal Hill and Blanchisseuse qualify alongside the Green Machine.)

Miracle Ministries can qualify with one win from their remaining two matches, so long as Signal Hill and Blanchisseuse don’t draw. However, a win and a draw for coach Kern Cupid’s team against St Augustine and Moruga would definitely get them into the SSFL top flight for the first time.

Miracle Ministries attacker Jabari Rodriguez (left) celebrates his goal against Carapichaima East during the SSFL Central Zone Intercol semifinal match at Edinburgh 500 ground on 14 November 2023.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Blanchisseuse only need a draw in Tobago to create history and advance to the Premier Division. The northern champs can squeeze through with a loss too, but they would need MMPHS to lose or draw their remaining two games—so long as Moruga do not win by four or five goals.

Signal Hill qualify with a win. A draw will only suffice if MMPHS do not win any of their remaining games.

St Augustine will lift the national Big Five trophy with a win or a draw at Edinburgh 500. Coach Tacuma Jones could have the last laugh with a loss, once the other fixtures all end in draws.

The St Augustine Secondary football team mark their return to the SSFL top flight after a 1-0 win over Signal Hill Secondary at Warren Street on 24 February 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

The Big Five is still on a knife’s edge, then. To ensure it stays that way, the SSFL Executive Committee has made another postponement, which now takes the competition into March.