CHAMPIONS Fatima College will look to continue their good start to the Secondary Schools Football League Boys Premier Division when they face St Benedict’s College at Fatima Ground this afternoon.
The two best teams from last season meet again in what promises to be an exciting clash. Fatima College, last year’s league champions, have set the standard, while St Benedict’s won the InterCol knockout competition and went through the 2024 season unbeaten before being docked 12 points, officially finishing fourth after being found guilty of fielding Derrel Garcia, the SSFL’s 2024 Most Valuable Player, in earlier matches when he was not properly registered with the school.
The teams have already faced each other this season. In the curtain-raising the Super Cup last week Friday, Fatima edged St Benedict’s 4–2 on penalty kicks following a 0–0 draw in regulation time. In their official season opener on Wednesday, Fatima followed up with a convincing 3–0 victory over Scarborough Secondary, with Reagan Rowe, Seth Hadeed, and Jahaem Bailey getting on the scoresheet. St Benedict’s also impressed in round one, thrashing Queen’s Royal College 4–1.
Meanwhile, last year’s runners-up, Presentation College San Fernando, are looking to build on a commanding 3–0 victory over Trinity College East in their round two match, while San Juan North hope to secure their first win of the season when the two sides meet at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium at 3.30 p.m.
San Juan North managed a 1–1 draw with St Augustine Secondary in round two, with Molik Marrast scoring the equaliser, but they will need a strong performance to overcome Presentation’s attacking threat.
Current leaders Naparima College are also in impressive form, recording a 3–1 win over Arima North Secondary in round two after a resounding 7–0 demolition of Trinity College East in round one.
“Naps” will look for a third win when visiting Maraval to face Trinity College Moka, who, after an opening 4-0 win over early strugglers Carapichaima East, were brought back to earth with a 7-1 loss to Scarborough Secondary in Tobago.
—Ian Prescott
TODAY’S SSFL BOYS PREMIER DIVISION MATCHES:
(Kick-off: 3.30 p.m.)
Fatima College vs St Benedict’s College, Fatima Ground
Presentation College vs San Juan North Secondary, Manny Ramjohn Stadium
Trinity College, Moka vs Naparima College, Trinity College Ground
St Augustine Secondary vs Arima North Secondary, St Augustine Ground
Signal Hill Secondary vs St Anthony’s College, Signal Hill Ground
Carapichaima East Secondary vs Queen’s Royal College, Carapichaima East Ground
Trinity College East vs St Mary’s College (CIC), Trinity College Ground
Malick Secondary vs Scarborough Secondary, St Mary’s Ground
SSFL PREMIER DIVISION BOYS STANDINGS:
Teams P W D L GF GA GD. PTS
1 Naparima College 2 2 0 0 10 1 9 6
2 St. Mary’s College 2 1 1 0 7 4 3 4
3 St. Augustine Secondary 2 1 1 0 3 2 1 4
4 Signal Hill Secondary 1 1 0 0 7 1 6 3
5 St. Benedict’s College 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 3
6 Fatima College 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
7 Presentation College 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
8 Trinity College Moka 2 1 0 1 5 8 -3 3
9 San Juan North Secondary 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
10 Arima North Secondary 2 0 1 1 4 6 -2 1
11 Scarborough Secondary 2 0 1 1 3 6 -3 1
12 Queen’s Royal College 2 0 1 1 3 6 -3 1
13 St. Anthony’s College 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Malick Secondary 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
15 Carapichaima East Secondary 2 0 0 2 3 9 -6 0
16 Trinity College East 2 0 0 2 0 10 -10 0
