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The fate of the five teams chasing promotion to the 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division competition will not be known until next year—as the competition will finish months behind schedule for the second straight year.
There are three games outstanding in the 2024 Big Five competition and, remarkably, all five schools can still qualify.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
At present, Carapichaima East Secondary lead the standings with five points and a goal difference of plus-two, while Trinity College (Moka) and Hillview College are second and third respectively on goal difference.
Trinity’s goal difference is plus-one while Hillview have scored four goals and conceded as many. Hillview have already played all four of their fixtures.
Scarborough Secondary and Pleasantville Secondary have one point each and were roughly an hour into their clash when the lights went out at Shaw Park, forcing a replay.
The problem is that Pleasantville are unable to get a flight to the Sister Isle for 22-plus players and staff during the Christmas period. And, this morning, SSFL general secretary Azaad Khan confirmed that “due to the unavailability of flights, the Big 5 tournament will resume in January 2025”.
Photo: Alison Quashie-Boucher/ Pleasantville Secondary
Once the Scarborough – Pleasaantville fixture is completed, the closing round of the Big 5 can be scheduled, which would see Pleasantville host Trinity while Scarborough travel to Carapichaima East.
Should Scarborough and Pleasantville play to a draw and then go on to win their closing contest, all five schools would end on five points—with goal differential deciding which teams go to the SSFL’s top tier competition.
At the same time, neither Scarborough nor Pleasantville can afford a defeat in their remaining outings. And, in theory, Carapichaima East and Trinity could both slip below Hillview if they lose on the final day of the competition—according to the margin of that defeat.
Earlier this year, the Big Five finished four months behind schedule due to successful appeals by Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (MMPHS) and Moruga Secondary against their exclusions.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
MMPHS are among the three schools set for relegation from the Premier Division, after finishing bottom of the standings. The other two schools set for demotion are East Mucurapo Secondary and Speyside Secondary—although St Benedict’s College also have a significant matter to settle in relation to the registration of their captain Derrel Garcia.
SSFL Big Five fixtures
(TBA)
Scarborough Secondary vs Pleasantville Secondary, 3.30pm, Scarborough;
(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
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