SSFL 26: Eve praises Clement and Caprietta as “Naps” pip CIC to title; Mucurapo West stun Trinity Moka

An Adasa Richardson strike, his 17^th of the season, and a typically miserly defensive performance at the back were enough to give Naparima College their sixth Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership Division title in 11 seasons.

Today, “Naps” could only muster one goal against St Anthony’s College. But a single item is often enough for coach Angus Eve’s troops.

And it meant St Mary’s College could not leapfrog them—even with a 4-1 home win over San Juan North Secondary today. The “Saints” finished the 2026 Premiership season unbeaten. But their goal differential was inferior to Naps’ by six goals.

The Frederick Street-based school team would have to wait at least one more year for their first title of the Premiership era then. St Mary’s were agonisingly close this season, and they would probably look back on their draw against Signal Hill Secondary on Tuesday with regret.

But from the moment that goalkeeper Mikhail Clement and flanker Jaydon Caprietta resumed school in early October, Naparima have been unrivalled.

Clement and Caprietta played Naparima’s last 10 league matches. The San Fernando-based school won all 10 games during that period, with eight clean sheets to go with 25 goals scored.

If that is not title winning form, then what is?

In contrast, during their last 10 matches, St Mary’s managed seven wins and three draws (Signal Hill, Presentation College, and Fatima College). Those are good returns. But, as it turned out, not quite good enough.

“[This title] feels really good, to know where we came from,” Eve told Wired868, after the final whistle. “We were on the bottom of the league after the first two matches, and then ninth from about our fifth or sixth game. Every week, we made steady progress.

“For me, it was a heart-warming thing to see the fellahs take the responsibility to make themselves better every week in training. They trusted in us that if they put the work in and just took it one game at a time, they could come back.”

It is 57 days since the 2026 Premiership season kicked off. Naparima have led for just four of those days.

Yet, there was a feeling of inevitability once they did get their noses ahead of St Mary’s.

Today, they met another resurgent team in St Anthony’s College, who had seven wins and a draw from their last eight outings going into Match Day 16.

But when Richardson finished with a left footed strike into the far corner, off a pass from winger Arron Raymond in the 38^th minute, one sensed the “Westmoorings Tigers” were in trouble.

It was Richardson’s 17th goal of the season, which was only bettered in the division by Fatima captain Jahaem Bailey’s record-breaking haul of 26.

But Eve noted how “extremely important” Clement’s performances were at the other end.

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“Young Samuel Hosein did very well for us in the first five or six games,” said Eve. “But Clement added maturity at the back. Every team with a good goalkeeper—like [Thibaut] Courtois at Madrid, or [Edwin] Van Der Sar at Manchester United and Petr Cech at Chelsea back in the day—it breathes confidence into the team where they don’t feel as nervy.

“Your forwards are less likely to snatch at chances, because they don’t feel they are under as much pressure to score, and your defenders are less likely to slice clearances.

“The two guys (Clement and Caprietta) added belief into the group when they came back in.”

Still, Eve admitted that his players did display some nerves today.

“They were shooting from angles that we don’t normally do and made some bad passes they wouldn’t normally do,” he said. “I think the guys were probably due an erratic game, after the fantastic run that we had. But we were still able to come away with a clean sheet…”

In the relegation race, 12^th placed Queen’s Royal College eased themselves out of trouble with a 2-0 win over 10^th placed Arima North Secondary at the latter’s school ground on the Arima Old Road. But they need not have bothered, as the three schools immediately below them all lost.

San Juan North were brushed aside 4-1 by St Mary’s. St Augustine Secondary came from three goals down to pull within a single item of visitors Fatima College, only to eventually succumb 4-2.

And, in the shock of the round, second from bottom Mucurapo West Secondary thumped Trinity College (Moka) 7-3 on Mucurapo Road.

Mucurapo West, already relegated, had only pride to play for. But that was clearly enough—and their win meant safety for San Juan North, although the latter have not won a game in nine matches.

Trinity (Moka), who slipped from 15^th to 16^th in the 17-team standings, do have a final straw to clutch on to.

On Saturday 10 October, referee Timothy Derry called off Trinity’s home game against Signal Hill due to inadequate field markings at Moka.

The SSFL Disciplinary Committee rejected Trinity’s argument that their marking was partially disturbed by rainfall, but still good enough to play. However, Trinity appealed that decision.

If the Appeal Committee rules in Trinity’s favour and awards them a win rather than a replay, the three points would see them climb from 16^th to 13^th. And, with relegation assured for schools from 14^th to 17^th place, it would mean that San Juan North would go down in their place.

As it stands, Trinity College East (beaten 4-0 by third placed Signal Hill today), Trinity (Moka), Mucurapo West and St Augustine are heading back to the zonal Championship.

The headline news, though, is Naparima’s sixth title. It is the third time the southern juggernauts managed back-to-back triumphs, after 2014-2015 and 2018-19.

Glen suggested today that the SSFL Premiership Division, with two games a week across two months, is too much for the teenaged players.

Eve, perhaps unsurprisingly, wants to keep things as is.

“All of the kids here are under-20—so you have U-15, U17 and U-20 nationals playing,” said Eve. “[Concacaf] tournaments in youth football play one day in, one day off. Teams in the US colleges league play three days a week with six or eight hours travel.

“If we are developing them for youth national football, this is how youth tournaments are…”

(Editor’s Note: In US collegiate soccer, outside of the NCAA Division I, players are allowed one re-entry in the second half after being substituted, which allows coaches to better manage their players’ exertions. The Division I uses Fifa rules on substitutions.)

In 2027, Naparima will search for the one accolade that has escaped them in the Premiership era: a three-peat.

Maybe St Mary’s, Signal Hill, St Benedict’s College or Presentation College (San Fernando) will have something to say about that, then.

For another year, though, the Premiership trophy will stay on the Naparima compound.

SSFL Premiership results

(Fri 13 Nov)

Presentation College (San F’do) 2 (Joshua Ryce 48, Oshea Watson 51), Hillview College 3 (Kemarley Pierre 13, 60, Ky’mani Prieto 62) at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

(Sat 14 Nov)

Naparima College 1 (Adasa Richardson 38), St Anthony’s College 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

St Augustine Secondary 2 (Israel Holder 45, Kylon Williams 49), Fatima College 4 (Antuan Louison 7, Jahaem Bailey 13, 55, Jordan Grant 23) at St Augustine;

Trinity College East 0, Signal Hill Secondary 4 (Jaden Marcelle 30, Ackim Duncan 32, J’meke Watkins 45 pen, 82) at Trinity East;

Arima North Secondary 0, Queen’s Royal College 2 (Nyrell Roberts 29, Jahseem Pierre 57) at Arima North Secondary school ground;

Mucurapo West Secondary 7, Trinity College 3 at Mucurapo West;

St Mary’s College 4 (Nadeem Grant 1, Jaedon Thomas 6, Eran McLeod 8, Deron Blackman 80), San Juan North Secondary 1 (Anthony Lewis 53) at Serpentine Road;

St Benedict’s College were on a bye.

2026 Premiership Standings

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Naparima	16	13	1	2	47	10	37	40
2	St Mary's	16	12	4	0	41	10	31	40
3	Signal Hill	16	12	2	2	37	13	24	38
4	Fatima	16	9	5	2	49	22	27	32
5	Hillview	16	10	2	4	46	26	20	32
6	St Benedict's	16	9	4	3	41	12	29	31
7	Presentation	16	8	3	5	30	20	10	27
8	St Anthony's	16	7	3	6	27	26	1	24
9	Speyside	16	7	2	7	26	39	-13	23
10	Arima North	16	6	1	9	31	38	-7	19
11	Malick	16	5	1	10	36	38	-2	16
12	QRC	16	4	3	9	16	24	-8	15
13	San Juan	16	3	2	11	18	40	-22	11
14	St Augustine	16	3	2	11	25	52	-27	11
15	Mucurapo W	16	3	2	11	22	53	-31	11
16	Trinity College	16	2	4	10	29	60	-31	10
17	Trinity East	16	1	3	12	18	56	-38	6

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Lasana Liburd

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.