This year's Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has been boosted by a $220,000 sponsorship from British Gas T&T, an increase of $60,000 from last year.
This was announced at a media briefing held at 51 Degrees, 51 Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain yesterday by Aleem Hosein, head of corporate and external affairs of BG.
In his brief address, Hosein stated that his company's decision to get involved in schools football was based on the ideals of the league, which continues to be the installation and nurture of a value set within our nation's youth.
He added, “The league's primary objective is not to produce another Dwight Yorke or Stern John, though we would all be pleased if that does happen.
“Its primary goal is to provide a positive environment where our young people can learn values such as team-work, self-discipline, fair play, respect for authority and pursuit of excellence—values of true sportsmanship.”
In their efforts to improve the standard of the league, BG will also undertake a course for coaches and players during the season.
When the league—now in its third year of BG sponsorship—kicks off on Thursday, a lot more will also be at stake for the schools in the North, East and South zones.
In the past, these zones each comprised eight teams, but from this year, the eight placed team in each of these will automatically be demoted to the Senior Division while the seventh placed teams will more than likely face play-offs to determine their fate.
This is because the teams that win the Senior Division will have the option for a play-off with the seventh placed teams in these three zones for a right to compete in the SSFL Championship Division for the 2005 season.
However if the team that finishes seventh in the Championship Division also wins the Senior Division league, then they will remain in the top flight.
Anthony Creed, sports officer in the Ministry of Education, noted this change was made to reduced the number of football being played by the youngsters.
Creed added, “If we are serious about football and the development of players we would agree it is the right thing to do.
“Too many times in the past the players would not have enough time to recuperate from injuries because of the heavy league schedules,” Creed ended.
On Thursday, the league will officially kick off with a double-header at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar from 3.30 pm.
Barataria Senior Comprehensive faces neighbours St George’s College while in the feature match, Arima Senior Comprehensive and St Augustine Senior Comprehensive who dominated the East zone last year, will do battle from 5.30 pm.
St Anthony’s College, the two-time defending SSFL and Intercol champion starts defence of its North league title against rivals Malick Senior Comprehensive on Friday from 5.30 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Two hours earlier at the same venue, last year’s North Zone Intercol winning team QRC and Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive do battle.
South Zone double-crowned champion school Naparima College also begins its league defence on Friday against St Benedict’s College at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 5 pm preceded by a match between Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive and Princes Town Senior Comprehensive at 3 pm.
The Tobago Zone gets going on Tuesday September 14, while the Central Zone, the last to kick off is set for a Friday September 17 start.
The National SSFL Big-Five play-offs takes place between October 16th and 23rd. Valencia High School (East), Moruga Composite (South), Marabella Junior Secondary (Central) and Tranquillity Government Secondary (North) are the promoted teams that will be competing this year.
Opening SSFL matches - Thursday September 9:
East Zone (Larry Games Stadium):
Barataria v St George’s College @ 3.30pm
Arima SC v St Augustine SC @ 5.30pm
Friday September 10
North Zone (Hasely Crawford Stadium):
Queen’s Royal College v Mucurapo SC @ 3.30pm.
St Anthony’s College v Malick SC @ 5.30pm.
South Zone (Manny Ramjohn Stadium):
Pleasantville SC v Princes Town SC @ 3pm.
St Benedict’s College v Naparima College @ 5pm.
Tuesday September 14
Tobago Zone (Dwight Yorke Stadium):
Bishop’s v Roxborough Composite @ 2pm.
Scarborough v Signal Hill SC @ 4pm.
Friday September 17
Central Zone (Ato Boldon Stadium):
Marabella Junior Sec v Presentation College.