Debe High school will not field a full-strength team when it takes on Fyzabad Anglican at home when competition in the girls’ edition of the 2009 Secondary School’s Football League (SSFL) kicks off today. The three-time South Zone and 2008 SSFL champs will be without five players: Under-20 captain, Mariah Shade, Stephanie Bean and Under-17 talents Kayla Taylor, Linfah Jones, and Patrice Vincent. Coach Arnold Murphy is still confident of a win and believes that even without the players his team will start positively in the competition.
The missing players will be in action at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, today from 5.20 pm in a practice match between the national Under-17 and 20 teams. Meanwhile, North Zone defending champions Providence will start its defence against host St Joseph’s Convent, while East Zone champs St Augustine Secondary will tackle Toco Secondary at Toco in their opener.
President of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), Ewing Davis feels that pretty soon women’s school football will be the flag ship of the sport in schools in T&T.
“We expect women football to get bigger than men’s. While it will take some time, with gender on stream, we are not letting go and we are working towards achieving our goal. Girls football will definitely be the biggest form of the sport”, said Davis.
He said he felt that the attention given to the sport by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation along and T&T’s hosting of the Fifa 2010 Under-17 women’s World Cup, will no doubt help in expanding it.
Fixtures
All matches start at 3.45 pm
North Zone:
St Joseph’s Convent Vs Providence, St Joseph’s Convent Grounds
Blanchisseuse High Vs Malick Senior Comprehensive, Blanchisseuse
Corpus Christi Vs Maple leaf International, Diego Martin
South Zone:
Debe High Vs Fyzabad Anglican, Debe High Grounds
Moruga Secondary Vs Holy faith Convent, Moruga
Point Fortin East Secondary Vs Pleasantville Secondary, Point Fortin
East Zone:
St George’s College Vs El Dorado East Secondary, Barataria
Toco Secondary Vs St Augustine Secondary, Toco
Bishop Anstey East Vs San Juan North Secondary, Trincity
Tobago Zone:
Bishop’s High Vs Scarborough Secondary, Bishop’s
Harmon High Vs Mason Hall Secondary, Calder Hall
Signal Hill Secondary vs Roxborough Secondary, Carnbee