THE 2017 season of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will kick off tomorrow with a Premier Division double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
At 3 pm, Carapichaima East will square off against Fatima while, two hours later, reigning champions Shiva Boys will tackle Naparima.
The other Round One matches will take place on Saturday, all starting at 3.40 pm – St Benedict’s versus St Anthony’s, Speyside versus QRC, St Mary’s versus St Augustine, Fyzabad versus Trinity College Moka, Trinity College East versus Signal Hill and Presentation College San Fernando versus San Juan North.
The 2017 season was launched yesterday at the National Cycling Centre, Couva and SSFL president William Wallace, in his feature address, promised those gathered that its website will be up and running in a few days.
He added, “the (Trinidad and Tobago Football Association) has met with us and has agreed on the inevitable, that is acknowledgment that the SSFL has a major role to play in youth development.
To this end, a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is currently being drafted which speaks to both organisations working together in the area of Coaches Education and Player Development.” Wallace also pointed out that a number of coaches were certified by the TT FA, an initiative which received assistance by sponsors Coca- Cola.
He also revealed that at least one member of the technical staff from each school will be trained as a “first responder”, in the event of a major injury or incident affecting a player on the field of play.
Representatives from the 2017 SSFL sponsors also spoke at the launch – Lisa Guissepi, marketing manager of Digicel; Tanya Lee, head of marketing at SportsMax, Jinelle Holloway, product manager of First Citizens; Aneka Mentor, community relations advisor at Shell and Maritza Ballack, marketing activation manager at Coca-Cola.