The BG T&T Girls Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will kick off today, with defending champions Debe Secondary opening up in the South Zone against Point Fortin East Secondary at Debe from 3.45 p.m.
The defending champions will be a new look side, with several big names that have contributed to their rule of the League in the last four years moving on.
The other teams in the South Zone are Vessigny Secondary, who tackle Fyzabad Secondary at home, as well as Mayaro Secondary, who make the long trip to Siparia East Secondary in the other encounter.
The North Zone will feature two interesting matches, with St Francois Girls College hosting St Joseph’s Convent, and Providence Girls High at home to Holy Name Convent.
In the East, Toco Secondary visit St Augustine Secondary, while El Dorado East Secondary and San Juan North Secondary square off at El Dorado.
And in Tobago, Signal Hill Secondary and Scarborough Secondary clash at Signal Hill. All matches kick off at 3.45 p.m.
Debe coach Clive Auguste says despite the losses in his team, he is hopeful they will be competitive this season. He is also disappointed with the fact that the national Under-17 players have been barred from playing in the League.
“Things are going okay, we have a pretty new team this year,” Auguste told the Express yesterday. “It’s more developmental this year.
Most of our big guns have gone. (Former skipper) Patrice Vincent has entered the police service, (star striker) Kayla Taylor gone to college in Texas. Some of the top defenders have gone on. The national Under-17 players have been told they can’t play.”
Returning, though, are defender Ray-Ann Montano, midfielder Sheneika Paul and a few others. Auguste wants his team to be “competitive”.
We have Ray-Ann Montano, defender. Sheneika Paul, midfielder, new goalkeeper Lorall Romaine.
“Across the board, most of the schools will be affected by the ban on Under-17 players.
“A lot of the senior people would also have moved on from most of the other schools. We have to take it one game at a time and see how it goes,” he said.
Debe participated in a Southern Football Association tournament recently, and with “five or six matches under their belt”, coach Auguste hopes that will be enough for a good start for his team.
Fixtures
North Zone
St Francois v St Joseph’s, St Francois, 3.45 pm
Providence v Holy Name Convent, Providence, 3.45 pm
Tranquility Secondary v Bishop’s, Tranquility, 3.45 pm
East Zone
St Augustine v Toco Secondary, St Augustine, 3.45 pm
Arima North v St George’s College, 3.45 pm
El Dorado East v San Juan North, El Dorado, 3.45 pm
South
Debe Secondary v Point Fortin East, Debe, 3.45 pm
Vessigny Secondary v Fyzabad, Vessigny, 3.45 pm
Siparia East v Mayaro, Siparia, 3.45 pm
Tobago
Bishop’s v Mason Hall, Bishop’s, 3.45 pm
Signal Hill v Scarborough, Signal Hill, 3.45 pm
Speyside v Roxborough, Speyside, 3.45 pm