A new look St Anthony’s College will seek to defend its Secondary Schools Football League, League, Big5, and InterCol titles, when the 2011 “invincibles” kick off its season against Queen’s Royal College, in the second match of the opening round North Zone double-header, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, from 5 pm today.
The mouth-watering encounter will follow the league-opener between last season’s North Zone runner-up East Mucurapo and Fatima College, which is set to start at 3 pm.
Both St Mary’s College and newly-promoted Diego Martin North Secondary will kick off their season, tomorrow at St Mary’s Ground, Serpentine Road, at 3.45pm, while the zone’s other team, Trinity College is on a bye. All four other divisions, East, Central, South and Tobago, will also open today with two matches in each zone. The champion team, however, has a new challenge this season.
According to St Anthony’s College long-standing coach Nigel Grosvenor, the team has entered a new cycle with the departure of 13 key members of last year’s successful team, which won all of its 19 league and InterCol matches, and will now have to integrate a younger team into the “Tigers” system. All but three regular starters have left, including last year’s captain Dwight Ceballo.
Ceballo, a national U-20 defender now plies his trade in the United States, after being awarded a scholarship to the University of Connecticut. Grosvenor, who also coaches an in-form Westside Superstarz in the blink/bmobile National Super League admitted that the new season will come with its challenges with the remodelling of the team’s roster.
“Quite a number of our Under-16 team, which won their division last season will come into the senior team. “We’ll also have the services of Xavier Rajpaul (a national U-20 midfielder), who was turned down from returning to Fatima College last season.
He’s now in form six and will be a huge boost.” “The younger guys will, however, have the guidance of some of the older and more experienced guys who have remained, including Jamali Garcia, Jonathan Cruickshank, Savion Kirton and Adrian Millette.”
Kirton, Millette and Garcia were instrumental in the team’s successes last season, which ended fittingly with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Arima North Secondary.
Should the team continue its successes of last season, it will likely meet some of the most promising, up-and-coming Colleges and Secondary Schools from around the country in the National Coca-Cola InterCol competition, which will get rolling in late November.
Shiva Boys Secondary, which edged out Presentation College San Fernando for the South Zone title last year will open its league account versus the third-placed finisher Pleasantville Secondary, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 3 pm.
The East Zone competition will begin with a clash between St Augustine Secondary versus InterCol finalist Arima North at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, from 3 pm, followed by the league champions, El Dorado East Secondary’s opener against San Juan North Secondary.
In Tobago, league champions Scarborough Secondary takes on runner-up Signal Hill, at Dwight Yorke Stadium, from 5 pm. Action in Central will see Couva West taking on Gasparillo Secondary, at Guaracara Park, from 3 pm, while Carapichaima East challenges Tabaquite, in Carapichaima, at 4 pm.
All zonal matches are expected to conclude on October 24, five days before the BGTT Big5 quarterfinals kicks off. The Big5 final is scheduled for November 11, four days after the InterCol zonal quarterfinals begin.
Fixtures [Today]
North Zone
• East Mucurapo v Fatima College, Hasely Crawford Stadium - 3 pm
• St Anthony’s College v QRC, Hasely Crawford Stadium - 5 pm
East Zone
• St Augustine Sec v Arima North Sec, Larry Gomes Stadium- 3 pm
• El Dorado East Sec v San Juan North Sec, Larry Gomes Stadium - 5 pm
Central
• Couva West Sec v Gasparillo Sec, Guaracara Park - 3 pm
• Carapichaima East v Tabaquite, Carapichaima - 4 pm
South
• Shiva Boys v Pleasantville, Manny Ramjohn Stadium - 3 pm
• Naparima College v Presentation College, Manny Ramjohn Stadium - 5 pm
Tobago
• Mason Hall v Speyside, Dwight Yorke Stadium - 3 pm
• Scarborough Sec v Signal Hill, Dwight Yorke Stadium - 5 pm
• Roxborough - Bye
Tomorrow
North Zone
• St Mary’s College v Diego Martin North Secondary, St Mary’s Ground - 3:45pm
• Trinity College - Bye
Central
• Presentation College (Chag) v Chaguanas North Secondary, Presentation College Ground - 3:45 pm.
East
• El Dorado West v Trincity East, El Dorado - 3:45 pm
Toco West - Bye
South
•Moruga v St Benedict’s College, Moruga - 3:45 pm
• Princes Town - Bye.
SSFL kicks off today in 4 zones.By Donstan Bonn & Kern D Freitas (Express).
It's that time of the year again, when the schoolboys lace up their boots and step out on the field to challenge for BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) supremacy across the five Zones--North, South, East, Central, and Tobago.
St Anthony's College recorded a perfect season last year, winning all their matches as they swept both the BG T&T "Big Five" and Coca Cola InterCol titles, as well as the North League and InterCol titles.
But as is usual with schools football, much can change in a year, and it leaves, in every Zone but Central, much difficulty in making predictions as to who will triumph this year.
Today, action will begin with double headers in each of the Trinidad Zones, while the start of the Tobago Zone is delayed until September 15.
NORTH ZONE
Most North teams have stated that they are rebuilding. St Anthony's have lost nine starters, said coach Nigel Grosvenor. Yet the "Tigers" have retained some talent, with striker Adrian Millette and clever winger Kiel Pierre, along with some defensive support.
East Mucurapo Secondary have retained their core squad from last year and should prove dangerous under Selris Figaro and Ian Clauzel, themselves former skillful T&T attackers. Forward Aaqil Campbell will lead the team in attack and with captain's armband, but their defensive end may prove crucial.
Debutants Diego Martin North Secondary are hoping to make a splash in the new season, but Fatima College and Queen's Royal College (QRC) will also make the Zone fascinating. Both teams have lost players to foreign scholarships, and QRC will blood a new defence. But T&T under 17 captain Brendon Creed will stand in Fatima's midfield, while for QRC, striker Akiel Morris and Makesi Lewis will add some attacking power.
St Mary's College have lost their goalkeeper, but retained captain Kyle Beggs in defence and Akhil Noel up front. Trinity College struggled last year, and leave questions to be answered with a mostly new team.
EAST ZONE
If history and optimism levels are anything to go by, the winners of the East Zone will come from this group—defending champions El Dorado East Secondary, 2010 winners St Augustine Secondary and feisty Arima North Secondary.
San Juan Secondary, according to coach Keith Jeffrey, have lost the bulk of last year's squad, and have faced big obstacles in getting players together to prepare for this season. They are hoping to take full advantage of the draw to get much needed practice in.
Trinity College East and Toco Secondary have struggled in past years to consistently compete with the bigger names, while newcomers El Dorado West Secondary add an unknown dimension to the East. But their rivalry with their eastern neighbours, the "Blue Thunder", should prove interesting.
St Augustine are banking on the T&T Under-17 trio of wingers Akeem Garcia and Aikim Andrew, and Shannon Gabriel at right back, and have had a good pre-season run. "El Do" East have a "sturdy" squad, according to veteran coach Trevor Spicer. They have big losses from last year, but have kept dangerous striker Shaquille Bertrand, captain Keylon Hernandez in midfield and goalkeeper Akeem Lucas.
And Arima are quietly confident of their chances with a young team built around talented playmaker Marcus Gomez, who led them to last year's InterCol final. But they will have to prove coach Peter Lewis right that they're "the best team we've had in years".
CENTRAL ZONE
Carapichaima East Secondary are expected to dominate Central once again. Their squad has been steady over the past few years, meaning they may have a number of new faces this year. But it is not likely to change their control of the Zone, with teams like Presentation College Chaguanas, Gasparillo Secondary and Couva West Secondary all reporting big losses to their starting squads.
It shows in that none of these teams have listed winning the zone among their ambitions this year. Gasparillo coach Everol Joseph is hoping his team can play well enough to stay up in the Zone, while Curtis James (Presentation) wants a top-three position, and Couva's Keith Kirton is hoping to build a team with a view to 2013.
SOUTH ZONE
Shiva Boys Hindu College wrested the South Zone from the clutches of perennial winners and arch-rivals Naparima College and Presentation College San Fernando, under coach Dexter Francis of "Strike Squad" fame, and will be hoping to repeat. They have lost a couple of key players, but have T&T Under-20 goalie Kwesi Weston, as well as striker Nathaniel Garcia at their service.
Naparima, always South Zone contenders, will this year have Brazil-born, former W Connection midfielder Jose Seabra as head coach. Seabra has replaced Leonson Lewis, and will be keen to bring the team success this year despite the loss of several accomplished players. Adan Noel is also in doubt as "Naps" captain, with T&T Under-20 duty looming.
"Pres" Sando are the third of the three expected to challenge for zonal honours, and again the losses have hit them. But Shaquille Henry, last year's leading goalscorer, will return. And their entire defence, including goalkeeper, is also intact.
The big three will contend with Dexter Cyrus' St Benedict's College, Pleasantville, Princes Town and returning Moruga Secondary.
St Benedict's, a.k.a. the "La Romaine Lions", are set to field a youthful team, including Yaseu Rougier, the nephew of former T&T player Anthony Rougier. The St Benedict's wagon fell apart last year, and manager Nolan Bernard feels there's no place for his team to go but up.
Moruga's mission is to gain experience, after losing some key players after the battle for the South Senior Division title.
"P'ville are hoping for teamwork over stardom, with a young team studded with a few experienced names.
And Princes Town, without an abundance of flair, are hoping their team will get better as the season progresses.
TOBAGO ZONE
Scarborough Secondary and Signal Hill Secondary have led the rush for Tobago Zone glory over the years, with Mason Hall joining in in recent times. Although little is known about 2011 Tobago winners Scarborough and their arch-rivals Signal Hill, Mason Hall are positive about their chances.
Mason Hall have a young squad, the core of which helped them win the Tobago Under-14 final a few years back.
The other schools in the zone are Roxborough Secondary and Speyside Secondary.
The Tobago teams will have to wait until next week to start their battle due to scheduling and venue issues.
Today's Fixtures
Central Zone
Couva West Sec vs Gasparillo Sec, Ato Boldon Stadium, 3 p.m.
Carapichaima East Sec vs Tabaquite Sec, Ato Boldon Stadium, 5 p.m.
East Zone
St Augustine Sec vs Arima North Sec, Larry Gomes Stadium, 3 p.m.
El Dorado East Sec vs San Juan North Sec, Larry Gomes Stadium 5 p.m.
North Zone
East Mucurapo Sec vs Fatima College, Hasely Crawford Stadium, 3 p.m.
St Anthony's College vs QRC, Hasely Crawford Stadium, 5 p.m.
South Zone
Shiva Boys vs Pleasantville Sec, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 3 p.m.
Naparima College vs Presentation Sando, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 5 p.m.
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