2024 Big 5: Hillview, Scarborough chase historic Premier places

Hillview College and Scarborough Secondary will be chasing their maiden appearances in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division when the 2024 Big Five competition kicks off on Friday 25 October.

Hillview College are East Zone Championship winners, just 12 months after winning promotion from the third tier Senior Division, while Scarborough, led by former Shiva Boys’ Hindu College coach Hayden Ryan, beat Bishop’s High School to their first Tobago title in 12 years.

The Hillview College 2024 Championship Division team.
(via Hillview College)

They will battle with southern winners Pleasantville Secondary, North Zone champions Trinity College (Moka) and Central conquerors Carapichaima East Secondary in the Big Five.

The top three teams in the competition will advance to the Premier Division to cross swords with the likes of Fatima College, St Benedict’s College and Presentation College (San Fernando).

However, the other two schools will return to zonal football and try to win another shot at promotion next season.

Pleasantville are hoping for an immediate return to the SSFL top flight after demotion last season while Carapichaima East’s last spell in the Premier Division came in 2022.

Pleasantville Secondary striker Kelon Williams (centre) looks for a way past the Moruga Secondary defence during 2023 South Zone Intercol quarterfinal action at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on 9 November 2023.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Trinity, who are back under the guidance of head coach Marlon Minguel, were relegated to the North Zone Championship in 2019 and have not graced the big stage since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minguel’s troops host Carapichaima East from 3.30pm on Friday while Hillview travel to the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium to face Pleasantville. Scarborough are on a bye.

St Augustine Secondary, Signal Hill Secondary and Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School were the three promoted schools last season and the former two are clear of the relegation zone at present—although St Augustine are challenging a potential points deduction.

Two of the three promoted teams in 2023, St Mary’s College and Arima North Secondary, are also still holding their own in the top flight. Bishop’s, who also advanced through the 2022 Big Five competition, did not retain their place.

A Carapichaima East Secondary attacker (left) slips past Miracle Ministries PHS defender Terriq Thomas during the 2023 SSFL Central Zone Intercol semifinal match at Edinburgh 500 ground on 14 November 2023.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

2024 Big Five fixtures

(Fri 25 October)

Pleasantville Secondary vs Hillview College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Trinity College vs Carapichaima East, 3.3pm, Moka;

Scarborough Secondary are on a bye

(Wed 30 October)

Hillview College vs Trinity College, 3.30pm, Hillview;

Scarborough Secondary vs Pleasantville Secondary, 3.30pm, Scarborough;

Carapichaima East Secondary are on a bye.

Scarborough Secondary are Tobago Championship Division winners for the first time since 2012.
(via Scarborough Secondary)

(Sat 2 November)

Hillview College vs Carapichaima East, 3.30pm, Hillview;

Trinity College vs Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Moka;

Pleasantville Secondary are on a bye

(Tue 5 November)

Scarborough Secondary vs Hillview College, 3.30pm, Scarborough;

Carapichaima East vs Pleasantville Secondary, 3.30pm, Presentation (Chag);

Trinity College are on a bye

(TBA)

Pleasantville Secondary vs Trinity College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Carapichaima East vs Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Presentation (Chag);

Hillview College are on a bye.

More from Wired868
Seepersad nabs promotion, SSFL execs want term extensions, plus possible Scarborough cover-up

Controversial Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) administrator Laurence Seepersad should have resigned his post in shame, according to Scarborough Secondary Read more

SSFL abandons outstanding 2025 games; St Augustine and Malick stay up after controversial ruling

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) executive committee has abandoned four outstanding games from the 2025 season, with a significant Read more

SSFL Appeals Committee uphold Scarborough’s relegation; embattled Seepersad requests promotion

Scarborough Secondary failed to convince the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Appeals Committee that they were unfairly sanctioned for using Read more

SSFL 25: Scarborough appeal disciplinary ruling; SSFL VP resigns—but Seepersad still mum

Scarborough Secondary have appealed against the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Disciplinary Committee’s decision to overturn their 1-0 win over Read more

Seepersad must resign! Distraught Scarborough open up on SSFL ‘betrayal’

The Secondary School Football League (SSFL) Disciplinary Committee’s ruling to penalise Scarborough Secondary for fielding sixth form student Johan Elliot Read more

SSFL 25: Nikita scores a handful, as Pleasantville rout weakened Convent 10-0

Pleasantville Secondary, the reigning 2025 Girls National Intercol champions, swept aside a weakened St Joseph’s Convent (Port of Spain) team Read more

Check Also

Seepersad nabs promotion, SSFL execs want term extensions, plus possible Scarborough cover-up

Controversial Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) administrator Laurence Seepersad should have resigned his post in …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.