A call is being made by a former footballer of St Benedict’s College for the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) to extend the duration of its league and restructure its divisional fixtures. The proposal comes from Dane Peters, who is a college graduate living in Brooklyn, New York.
“I believe these modifications can go a long way towards improving T&T’s football,” said Peters. “As a former student at St Benedict’s College, I had the opportunity to play at all levels before I had a brief run with the championship team and those experiences have fuelled my desire to make this contribution.
“I am deeply passionate about school football and remember the games that were memorable such as Marco Elcock’s QRC versus Cornell Glen’s Compre and Spann’s St Benedict’s versus Jace Peters’ Naps. I, however, distinctly remember St Anthony’s battles with St Benedict’s in 1995, 1997, 1998, which is why I believe that such games need to exist outside of intercol to maintain such interest in our youth football.”
Peters pointed out that the SSFL has played a fundamental and historical role in developing T&T’s football. “Citing its role in spring-boarding the careers of many of our sporting heroes of yesteryear, it has cemented itself as a linchpin in our country’s talent pool,” said Peters.
“The league’s purpose has been to foster the holistic growth of T&T youth through football at the various age levels and competition. It is the primary reason why the SSFL should consider new ideas to further the development of sports in T&T.” Peters added that in 1964 the league then consisted of six teams and has now grown significantly to 31 teams.
“This growth has shown beyond the growth of the league but a commitment to developing football in areas outside the major cities and boroughs. “By increasing the duration of the league from the beginning of August to the ending of January, I propose to look at the extension as one would benefit from any after-school program (extra lessons in the summer, vacation bible school, scouting, etc).
“These related intervention programs have yielded significant benefits towards youth intervention. As a result, after school programs are likely to have positive effects that are independent of later youth intervention programmes.
“This would imply that after school programmes such as the SSFL would be cost effective as oppose to late youth intervention programmes such as anti-gang initiatives and government work employments for secondary school drop outs. “Keeping these young men off the streets and out of trouble has become a fundamental issue in T&T and by extending the league it would basically maintain much needed structure in a critical moment in their life.
“This in co-ordination with teachers who would provide assistance in Maths, English and other subjects needed for CXC would begin to further the role secondary schools play in the society.
“By extending the league we can address improving the technical, tactical and physical capabilities of the student athlete. Having a game-per-week fixtures for example on Fridays or Saturdays would provide several key points.” Peters also recommended that the SSFL give coaches the opportunity to work with students/athletes individually as well as collectively.
He also suggested that the league allows coaches to develop and nurture their coaching skills and implement a philosophy. “It will in turn slow and curb the monopoly of student athletes to traditional powerhouses. Instead developing talent within the school.”
He also feels that students should be allowed to be introduced to the everyday life of a professional by training, and preparing physically and tactically, three to four times a week. He is also of the opinion that by extending the league and restructuring the fixtures, injuries and physical burnouts will be prevented.
“I believe that by allowing permanent institutions such as schools to implement this into their after-school curriculum it would benefit the school, the community and region both from a sporting aspect and from a social and cultural aspect.”
Peters related that during the last 46 years household names such as Leroy de Leon, Wilfred Cave, Milton Archibald, Jan Steadman, Everard “Gally” Cummings, Russell Latapy, Hutson Charles, Clint Marcelle, Dwight Yorke, Kerry Jamerson, Jerren Nixon, Stern John and recently Kenwyne Jones have surfaced from the SSFL.
“As a result, it has created loyalty, nurtured a healthy competitiveness, and increased the number of spectators at games as students from a certain school will support their team because they feel that the team is somehow representing them. “There is a sense of belonging and connection. However, what has been lost is the failure to continue the traditional rivalries outside of school divisions.
“Therefore by having division and non division games would increase this rivalry. “Teams in their respected divisions would have their regular season games of two rounds, however in between teams during the season will play six to eight non-division teams.
“For example, St Benedict’s College in the south will have a marquee match with division rivals Naparima College, and three days after must travel to Queens Royal College, or St Anthony’s College or St Augustine for a non division game. “The incentives towards non-divisional games would be a round-robin of the best non-divisional record with prize money and silverware at stake.
This round robin would comprise of the top six non-divisional records. “It is my belief that this would do several things for the SSFL—increase the standard of football amongst divisional teams, develop rivalries across divisions and increase interest in grassroots football.”
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