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Hillview College will participate in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division for the first time in 2026, after they booked their spot at their Tunapuna home ground yesterday with a 2-1 win over Palo Seco Secondary.
Flanker Jahmarley Ellis got the historic goal, eight minutes from time, as Hillview qualified with a game to spare in the 2025 First Citizens Big Five competition—after three successive wins.
Photo: Nicholas Williams/ Wired868.
Remarkably, and controversially, Hillview’s promotion was secured before their main Big Five rivals, Speyside Secondary, have even kicked a ball in the tournament.
Mucurapo West Secondary’s inability to travel to Tobago this week meant that, for the third straight match day, Speyside had to postpone their game. At present, there are no dates set for the rescheduled matches.
Three of the five participating teams in the Big Five advance to the Premier Division, while the other two schools return to their respective zones.
Inter-island travel has blighted the current SSFL season, due to a combination of financial issues and insufficient planning.
Speyside were demoted in 2024 but hope for immediate reinstatement to the top flight, via the First Citizens Big Five competition.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
In previous seasons, the SSFL executive offered Trinidad schools a grant of $10,000 for Premier Division and Big Five flights while the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) helped with travel for their teams.
Last season, schools received $8,000 from the schools body.
However, this year, Premier Division schools got no financial support at all and the impact was obvious—with 10 from the league’s 16 postponements involving travel across the seabridge.
The Big Five was not immune from that particular issue.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ bcreative designs/ Wired868.
At Hillview, they might not care too much about that, as the East Zone Championship sealed their promotion to the top flight—just two years after they won the East Senior Division, which is effectively the zonal third division title.
Hillview kicked off the contest requiring just one point from Palo Seco, who lost their only prior outing 2-1 to Mucurapo West Secondary. And, at the interval, the hosts were already a goal up thanks to attacker Ky’mani Prieto.
Coach Jeremy McMeo might have already been thinking ahead to the East Under-16 final and Intercol quarterfinals, as he only introduced the talented trio of Darnell Walcott, Tafari Kerr and Jaylen Hinds for the final half-hour of the game.
Photo: Nicholas Williams/ Wired868.
But, in the 66th minute, Akil Baptiste gave Palo Seco hope of leaving Tunapuna with something tangible as he levelled scores for the visitors.
In goal, Palo Seco captain Kristan Woods was in a defiant mood too as the South Zone champions fought back.
Hillview, undefeated this year, would not be denied though.
Ellis had the final word, though, with a late winner for Hillview.
Photo: Nicholas Williams/ Wired868.
And winger Jahmarley Ellis got the crucial goal from close range in the 82nd minute, which ensures that the likes of Fatima College, Signal Hill Secondary and Presentation College (San Fernando) will be travelling to El Dorado Road next season.
Speyside’s own fate remains in limbo, though, for issues beyond their control.
First Citizens Big Five result
(Sat 8 November)
Hillview College 2 (Ky’Mani Prieto 40, Jahmarley Ellis 82), Palo Seco Secondary 1 (Akil Baptiste 66) at Hillview;
Presentation College (Chaguanas) are on a bye.
Photo: Nicholas Williams/ Wired868.
Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)
- Hillview College 3-3-0-0-12-1-9
- Mucurapo West Sec 3-2-0-1-6-6-6
- Speyside Secondary 0-0-0-0-0–0–0
- Palo Seco Secondary 2-0-0-2-2-5-0
- Presentation (Chag) 2-0-0-2-2–10–0
Photo: Nicholas Williams/ Wired868.
Upcoming fixtures
(Wed 12 November)
Hillview College v Speyside Secondary, 3.30pm, Hillview;
Palo Seco Secondary v Presentation College (Chag), 3.30pm, South;
Mucurapo West are on a bye.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Games to be Rescheduled
Speyside Secondary v Presentation College (Chag), 3.30pm, Speyside;
Palo Seco Secondary v Speyside Secondary, 3.30pm, Palo Seco;
Speyside Secondary v Mucurapo West Secondary, 3.30pm, Speyside.
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