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“[…] If a member (Trinidad school) is unable to fulfill their obligations it should be that member who must bear the consequences. What this decision does is […] deprive the best players in Tobago from playing against the best of Trinidad and vice versa.
“[…] As it pertains to National selection, players from Tobago will be robbed of the opportunity to address national selectors on a consistent basis when campaigning at the highest level and doing so in Trinidad. They would be left with the outdated one-day screening, which is essentially a hit or miss affair…”
The following release on the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) decision to omit Tobago schools from the 2026 Premier Division season was submitted to Wired868 by the Tobago Football Association (TFA):
Watkins made his international debut with the Trinidad and Tobago National U-17 Team in February, after a superb showing in the 2025 season for his school.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
The Board of the Tobago Football Association views the recent decision of the SSFL (Secondary Schools Football League) to remove the Tobago Schools from the Premier Division of the SSFL and return to their region as another dark day in the history of football in Trinidad and Tobago.
The decision highlights the narrow view of those in management as well as those who voted in favour of it.
The reason for the decision has been stated as financial challenges on the part of the Trinidad school teams—and may I say not all of them. Yet, it is the Tobago teams that must suffer.
Speyside were demoted in 2024 but won immediate reinstatement to the top flight, via the 2025 First Citizens Big Five competition.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
If a member is unable to fulfill their obligations it should be that member who must bear the consequences. What this decision does is rob the players, coaches and the country of the opportunity to harness the talents that lie within our young people across Trinidad and Tobago.
It deprives the best players in Tobago from playing against the best of Trinidad and vice versa. Coaches aren’t able to match wits with their Trinidad counterparts—it hinders the development of those involved in the sport at this level.
As it pertains to National selection, players from Tobago will be robbed of the opportunity to address national selectors on a consistent basis when campaigning at the highest level and doing so in Trinidad. They would be left with the outdated one-day screening, which is essentially a hit or miss affair.
Do we remember how Bertille St Clair made his way onto National appointments? So the implications of this decision are tremendous from the Tobago perspective.
(Copyright AFP 2015.)
I would therefore like to urge the management of the SSFL in Trinidad to withdraw the decision and seek the views of other stakeholders in the sport to ensure that the best option is taken.
It should not just be based on the economics, as management must look at all the implications when making such vital decisions.
We have witnessed over the past week the head of world football apologizing and withdrawing his proposal and it should not be impossible for the SSFL league management and/or the proposer to do likewise.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Let’s put football first and, when we have issues, discuss them in an open and transparent manner to reach the best conclusion.
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