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The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big Five competition suffered another blow yesterday evening as a fixture between Pleasantville Secondary and Scarborough Secondary ended without a result in Shaw Park, Tobago, due to a lighting issue.
The score was 1-1 at the time—but there were 20 minutes plus stoppage time left in the outing.
Photo: Alison Quashie-Boucher/ Pleasantville Secondary
It is inconceivable that the SSFL executive could declare the game as a draw, with so much time remaining on the clock. However, it is a difficult period for inter-island travel.
The Boys National Form One/ Under-13 final between Signal Hill Secondary and Fatima College, scheduled for today, has been postponed to an unspecified date. And proposed finals in the National Under-14, Under-16 and Senior Divisions are likely to also be in danger.
The SSFL executive does not book flights for teams in advance. It means that school teams have to wait until they qualify for finals to attempt to book—or, in many cases, scramble to get funding for—travel across the sea bridge.
Quick thinking by the SSFL, headed by president Merere Gonzales and general secretary Azaad Khan, might have alleviated the problem yesterday evening.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
If the school football officials persuaded Pleasantville Secondary to overnight in Tobago (by paying for a guest house) and play the remaining 20 minutes in the natural light today, there might have been a reasonable chance of completing the Big Five before the Christmas vacation.
Instead, “P-ville” returned home and must start the process of booking a round-trip to Tobago all over again.
Outside of the Pleasantville-Scarborough fixture, the Big Five still has to schedule the crucial final match day of the competition, which sees Pleasantville host Trinity College (Moka) while Scarborough travel to Carapichaima East Secondary.
Hillview College have already played their allotted four matches and are on a bye for the final round.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
The top three schools in the Big Five competition win automatic promotion to the SSFL Premier Division for the 2025 season, where they replace Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School, East Mucurapo Secondary and Speyside Secondary.
At present, Carapichaima East, Trinity and Hillview occupy the first three spots in order of goal difference. However, Scarborough and Pleasantville, each with two games in hand, can still catch them.
Even if Scarborough and Pleasantville do play for a draw, they can still qualify with wins in their closing fixtures. Were that scenario to unfold, it would lead to an unprecedented final table with all five teams locked on five points!
(via Scarborough Secondary)
Yesterday, P-ville got off to a perfect start as Terelle Williams put the visitors ahead in the first minute of play at Shaw Park. However, Jaden Pope equalised for Scarborough, midway in the first half, to set up a tense finale.
Shaw Park could not handle the action, though. At around the 70th minute, lights went out at the venue—and, after close to 20 minutes in the dark, the match was called off.
The SSFL fixtures committee, headed by executive member Laurence Seepersad, must decide what happens next.
Seepersad and Elliot often serve on the SSFL Disciplinary Committee.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Neither Gonzales, Khan nor Seepersad could be reached for comment by Wired868 today.
SSFL Big Five results
(Fri 29 Nov)
Scarborough Secondary 1 (Jaden Pope 24), Pleasantville Secondary 1 (Terelle Williams 1) at Shaw Park, Scarborough;
**—Match stopped with 20 minutes remaining, due to lighting issues;
(TBA)
Pleasantville Secondary vs Trinity College, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
Carapichaima East Secondary vs Scarborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Presentation (Chag).
(via Hillview College)
Big 5 Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)
Carapichaima East 3-1-2-0-4–2–5
Trinity College 3-1-2-0-3-2–5
Hillview College 4-1-2-1-4–4–5
Scarborough Sec 2-0-1-1-2-3-1
Pleasantville Sec 2-0-1-1-0–2–1
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Big Five Scorers
2—Kemarley Pierre (Hillview College), Jaden Pope (Scarborough Secondary), Antonio Cole (Trinity College),
1—Jerel Charles, Teriq Langton, Kamarli Wilson, Darion Boswell (Carapichaima East), Khadell Campbell (pen), Tefari Kerr (Hillview College), Terelle Williams (Pleasantville Secondary), Tyrese Neptune (Scarborough Secondary), Anton Joseph (Trinity College).
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
