The fourth round of matches in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Championship Division Boys Big 5 tournament will be contested today from 3.30 pm.
The feature match of the round will see Chaguanas North Secondary host league-leader East Mucurapo Secondary at the Woodford Lodge Recreational Ground in Chaguanas.
With a win in their match against Chaguanas North, East Mucurapo will gain automatic promotion to next season’s SSFL Premier Division tournament.
“We understand that we need to at least get a point in tomorrow’s game, but we will enter the game trying to get the three points,” head coach of East Mucurapo, Dale Saunders told Guardian Media Sports yesterday.
“It will be a difficult game as our opponent is in a must-win situation, but God-willing we will win tomorrow,” he added.
When asked about the mood of the team on the brink of promotion he said, “Winning brings confidence to the team, it balances the team, we won our first two matches so the mood of the team is great, but we need to get the job done against our opponent’s tomorrow first.”
Conversely, Chaguanas North is coming off a terrible run of form, the team currently sits in fourth place in the standings, following a draw and a loss in their first two games, and has only managed to score a single goal in the tournament. Today’s match is a must-win game for the team from Central.
The other match of the day’s programme will see a clash for second place on the line as Valencia Secondary School takes on Bishop’s High School at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.
Both teams are currently level on four points in the standing, but Bishop’s has a one goal advantage going into the contest.
Bottom of the table, Moruga Secondary will be on a bye today and will hope to use its time off in an attempt to prepare as the school pushes for promotion.
On Sunday, East Mucurapo beat Valencia Secondary 1-0 to vault to the top of the table, and Moruga Secondary and Bishop’s played to a 1-1 draw.
At the conclusion of the tournament, which is scheduled for November 3, the top three teams in the standings will gain automatic promotion to next season’s SSFL Premiership Division.
LATEST STANDINGS
Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS.
1. East Mucurapo Sec 2 2 0 0 3 0 +3 6
2. Bishop’s High School 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
3. Valencia Sec 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1 4
4. Chaguanas North Sec 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2 1
5. Moruga Sec 3 0 1 2 3 7 -4 1
TODAY’S MATCH-UPS
Valencia v Bishop’s High at Larry Gomes Stadium, 3.30 pm
Chaguanas North v East Mucurapo at Wood Lodge Ground, 3.30 pm