The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) led by president William Wallace came in for high praises from the Ministry of Education for its commitment and vision towards national development through youth football.
At an end of season appreciation event for its executive, staff and partners at the Ato Boldon Stadium Saturday, Cheryl Ann Wilkinson, Adviser to Minister of Education Anthony Garcia, congratulated Wallace and his team for a successful 2017 football season.
“I want to congratulate Mr Wallace and his executive, the coaches and players for their job this season.
“We are very proud of the league to see that you now have an office and you have indeed come a long way. I will do everything that I can to ensure that you go an even longer way as an administration” Wilkinson said.
“I think there should be a secondment and also a subvention from the Ministry of Education for the League.
“This is a very costly exercise and out of this, so many students continue to get opportunities.
“We have had many players who were able to get scholarships as a result of the football and this is indeed a worthy exercise. I am proud to have been associated with the League and continue to be associated with the league,” Wilkinson added.
She promised to lobby for members of the SSFL to be seconded to carry out their duties, as it brought her a sense of satisfaction to see talented, dedicated and disciplined youths coming together to be part of an effort towards national development through sport.
Wallace spoke of the milestones achieved this year that included the most watched Intercol and Premier League finals on television via Sportsmax TV and other live broadcast of matches during the season.
The League also staged a TTFA “B” License coaching course and will join with the TTFA to play a bigger role in football nationally.
The SSFL also launched its own website and staged a first responders course for team officials. It is expected to hold a symposium for all stakeholders in 2018.
“We are happy that the T&T Football Association is willing to work with us.
“They are the ones who have reached out to us and offered to work and at the end of the day it is about the development of Trinidad and Tobago football.
“It goes beyond us and we always have to see the bigger picture,” Wallace said.
TTFA Director of Football Muhammad Isa said: “I am proud to say that we have started some negotiations with the Secondary Schools Football League on things that we believe need to be looked into to outline the football in the SSFL.
“I am happy to say that the TTFA continues to be supportive of the League.”
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