Tigers, Caps to open SSFL

The match will immediately follow the opening fixture of the SSFL season in a North Zone clash between St Mary’s College and East Mucurapo, from 3.30 pm. Focus, however, will be on the trophy competition, where the Tigers of St Anthony’s, winner of a joint-record sixth Coca-Cola InterCol title last season, meets Carapichaima East Secondary, the defending Big-Five champion. The cup match is being held in commemoration of Osmond Gabriel, a former general secretary of the SSFL, who served from 1972-1992.

While both teams will battle for their first piece of silverware this season, neither will play a league fixture until Saturday. Four zones will kick off on Friday, with double-headers beginning at 3 pm. The North Zone will play the remaining match day one fixtures on Saturday, as with all other zones. In total, 110 schools, both girls and boys, will participate in this year’s divisions. The promoted teams in their respective divisions include, Malick (North), Valencia (East), Mayaro (South) and Vishnu Boys (Central).

In Tobago, three teams have been promoted to make an eight-team championship. They include, Pentecostal L&L, Bishop’s High and Goodwood. Newly elected president of the SSFL, Anthony Creed, speaking at the SSFL’s media launch at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday, praised sponsors, BGTT, First Citizens and Coca-Cola, for their contributions to the development of youth football, through the SSFL medium.

He announced the contribution of BGTT and First Citizens at almost $.5 million, while Coca-Cola, in its contribution as title sponsor for the InterCol competition, has contributed over $.25 million. First Citizens is now in its fourth year in partnership with the SSFL, while BGTT is in its 11th.

Coca-Cola’s contribution includes the sponsorship of a St Anthony’s College Under-15 team, which qualified for the this month’s 2013 Copa Coca-Cola in Costa Rica by virtue of its senior team winning the InterCol title last season.

“It would be remiss of me if I did not thank SporTT in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport for its contribution to the lower levels of SSFL for the 2012 season, when corporate T&T did not step up to the plate of development to assist those junior divisions,” said Creed, who is also the executive manager of sport development and performance at SporTT.

Creed also praised former SSFL president Ewing Davis for his contribution over the span of 18 years. “I will like to thank publicly the past (SSFL) president Mr Ewing Davis for his long and dedicated stint at the helm of the SSFL,” said Creed. He added, “I now appeal to corporate T&T to join in BGTT, First Citizens and Coca-Cola and make a valuable contribution to over 3,000 footballing students involved at the lower levels at schools.”

Fixtures

North Zone

East Mucurapo v St Mary’s College, Hasely Crawford Stadium, 3.30 pm

Ormond Gabriel Trophy

St Anthony’s College v Carapichaima East, Hasely Crawford Stadium, 5.30 pm

Friday

South Zone

St Benedict’s College v Shiva Boys, Skinner Park, 3 pm
Presentation College San Fernando v Naparima College, Skinner Park, 5 pm

Central Zone

Presentation College v Vishnu Boys, Ato Boldon Stadium, 3 pm
Couva West v Chaguanas North, Ato Boldon Stadium, 5 pm

East Zone

St Augustine v El Dorado East, Arima Velodrome, 3 pm
Arima North v San Juan North, Arima Velodrome, 5 pm

Tobago Zone

Signal Hill v Speyside, Shaw Park, 3 pm
Scarborough v Mason Hall, Shaw Park, 5 pm

Saturday

North Zone

St Anthony’s College v Fatima, St Anthony’s, 3.45 pm
Malick v QRC, Hasely Crawford Stadium, 3.45 pm
Diego Martin North - Bye

South Zone

Mayaro v Pleasantville, Mayaro, 3.45 pm
Princes Town - Bye

Central Zone

Carapichaima East v Tabaquite, Carapichaima, 3.45 pm

East Zone

Valencia v El Dorado West, Valencia, 3.45 pm
Trinity East - Bye

Tobago

Bishop’s High v Roxborough, Mt Pleasant, 3.45 pm
Pentecostal L&L v Goodwood, Signal Hill, 3.45 pm.