St Anthony’s College knows what it takes to be a champion. In fact the Westmoorings “Tigers” are quite aware of how to capture multiple titles in a season and when the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) kicks off next Friday (September 7), the challenge will be to keep of hold of them.
With a little over a week to go before the start of zonal action, the reigning North Zone, Big Five, North Zone Intercol and national Intercol champion as well as teams in each of the five SSFL zones are fine-tuning their final preparations. “Teams will be better prepared than last year.
I expect it to be more competitive. Everybody has been getting ready for the big day and I doubt you’ll see St Anthony’s dominating like they did last season,” said SSFL president Ewing Davis.
St Anthony’s, who played undefeated in 19 matches last season, will face keen competition from last year’s North Zone runner-up East Mucurapo, Fatima College, Queen’s Royal College (QRC), St Mary’s College, and Trinity College and newly promoted Diego Martin North.
It will be the first time the Diego Martin team will be competing in the Championship Division.
“Keep an eye on Diego Martin. When they were the Junior Secondary, a lot of their players progressed to the championships division schools, but now they can secure their talent for themselves and we will see a very competitive unit,” said Davis.
He suggested that competition in the other zones will be at a high level with national Intercol runner-up Arima North, looking to retain its East Intercol crowns which it won the past two years, and regain hold of the zone’s league title, which it last won in 2003.
Last season, the “Dial Dynamos” placed third behind winner El Dorado East and second-placed St Augustine. Also challenging the top East finishers of last season will be San Juan North, Toco Secondary, Trinity East and debutante El Dorado West.
Carapichaima was another finalist last season that went under to the powerful St Anthony’s unit, losing to them in the Big Five final (1-0).
The Central Zone champion will meet Presentation College (Chaguanas), Gasparillo, Couva West, Tabaquite and newest addition Chaguanas North.
Down in South, Shiva Boys will look to defend its zonal title against Pleasantville, Naparima College, Presentation College, Moruga, St Benedict’s and Princes Town while Tobago’s defending champion, Scarborough, will seek to keep Mason Hall, Speyside, Signal Hill and Roxborough at bay.
Double-headers are planned for each of the zones on opening day, starting at 3 pm.
Opening Day matches (September 7)
North:
East Mucurapo vs Fatima College, 3 pm
St Anthony’s vs QRC, 5 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
South:
Shiva Boys vs Pleasantville, 3 pm
Naparima vs Presentation, 5 pm, Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
Tobago:
Mason hall Speyside, 3 pm
Scarborough vs Signal Hill, 5 pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium.
Central:
Couva West vs Gasparillo, 3 pm
Carapichaima East vs Tabaquite, 5 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
East:
St Augustine vs Arima North, 3 pm
El Dorado east vs San juan North, 5 pm, Larry Gomes Stadium.
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