The 2011 edition of the Secondary Schools Football League's (SSFL) "premier knock-out competition", the Coca Cola InterCol, kicks off on Monday with a South Zone double-header at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
In the first match, Presentation College San Fernando take on Vessigny at 3 p.m., before defending zonal champions Naparima go up against St Benedicts from 5 p.m.
This is the third year of Coca Cola's five-year InterCol sponsorship agreement and marketing activation manager for the company, Roberto Lapeira, at yesterday's media launch for the competition at the Grand Riviere Room, Courtyard by Marriott at Invaders Bay, Port of Spain, revealed plans to take their sponsorship a step further.
Lapeira said they were in negotiations with the SSFL to develop an Under-15 league competition to select the country's representative at next year's International Copa Coca Cola competition which he said would most likely take place in Mexico.
"We took the kids to Argentina last year for the International Copa Coca Cola and they had a great time. It was a great life experience for them and this year, to take more advantage of the agreement with the SSFL, we are going to select the team in another way. We are going to do a special league and we are going to select the best team."
He also revealed that Coca Cola has invested in a long-term contract, spending in excess of $1.5 million towards the InterCol and other development initiatives.
Marlon Newallo, marketing manager of Coca Cola Trinidad and Tobago, was also pleased with the Under-15 initiative and with the overall gains in the development of the players coming from their participation in the yearly InterCol competition, which SSFL president Ewing Davis likened to the FA Cup in England.
Newallo said: "We have seen camaraderie and teamwork and that is a big part of the InterCol. It fosters the growth and development of players. A lot of times the skills are already there and they just need to be channeled.
"InterCol is a great platform where they can develop and further their skills. The schools InterCol is a premier competition in Trinidad and Tobago and we are proud to be part of it."
He also noted that the school team that went to Argentina last year came back stronger this season and expects the Under-15 initiative to bear huge dividends in lifting the overall standard of the tournament.
Davis also pointed out the success of the Under-15 team's participation in the 2010 Copa Coca Cola and lamented the fact they could not send another team this year.
"The nucleus of players who went to Argentina came from El Dorado Senior and they had a fantastic season this year. They won the East Zone and were unlucky to lose to St Anthony's in the 'Big Five' semi-final. But I think we are seeing the fruits of our labour coming through that Copa Coca Cola competition," Davis added.
"InterCol in the Secondary Schools Football League is like the FA in England and what is good about the partnership with Coca Cola is that they have gone one step further in having a holistic development by having a T&T school boys team going to the international Copa Coca Cola.
"We are hoping other corporate partners come on board to look at the Under-14s and the Form Ones so that they can learn the fundamentals from an early age and they can hit the ground running, and if we get that right, it is clear in my mind that we would be on the right road," the SSFL president concluded.
16