THE never say die attitude associated with teams in the BWIA Secondary Schools Football League will come into play over the next 18 days the duration of the second round of the league competition.
In the North Zone, Malick (16 points) will begin the seven-match programme with a head start of four points over their rivals. The Morvant lads will play Mucuarpo today at Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, in what will be the key opening match of the second round. When the teams met in the first half of the season, Malick just edged out the Mucurapo boys 1-0.
But, back then, the majority of players on both teams suffered from first-time jitters. And after losing in an upset to Tranquillity and being held 1-1 by St Mary's, the "Boys in Blue" then won their next three consecutive matches against Success/Laventille (2-1), Queen's Royal College (3-1) and defending champions St Anthony's (2-0) to establish themselves in the top half of the table.
In another key game today St Mary's, leaders at one point, will be away to St Anthony's at Westmoorings.Tigers' coach Nigel Grosvenor will be hoping to have his captain and goalie Mikhail Germaine, vice captain Stephen Cruickshank and stopper Larry John fully fit for the match in order to avenge a 2-3 first round defeat to the Saints.
Third-place Queen's Royal College will also travel to Moka, Maraval, to take on Trinity hoping to better the 3-3 draw they fought to in the first round. Success/Laventille take on Tranquillity in the other game at PSA Ground, Long Circular Road.
In the East/Central Zone, leaders Arima (17 pts) will be tested by Toco (9 pts) at Toco while second-placed San Juan (16 pts) will be at home to Barataria (4 pts).El Dorado (14 pts) will be entertained by Carapichamia (8 pts) and St Augustine (6 pts) will play Presentation (2 pts) at St Augustine in the other games. In the first round, Arima beat Toco 3-2, San Juan defeated Barataria 4-0, El Do whipped Carapichaima 2-0 and St Augustine and Presentation drew goalless.
In south, St Benedict's (16), Naparima (15) and Mayaro (13), the first three in the South Zone, began their campaign on a winning note against Moruga (4-1), Princes Town (1-0) and Pleasantville (2-0) respectively. Today they will try to emulate those feats. The other match in that zone will bring together Vessigny and Presentation at Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin.
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