Reigning national Inter-Col champion Fatima College, Naparima College and San Juan North Secondary, each former champions, will all be confident of making it four wins on the trot when the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division continues on Saturday at venues across T&T from 4 pm.
Heading into the fourth round fixtures, the only remaining perfect teams have nine points each, leaving goal difference as the table separator at this stage. Four-time champions, Naparima (+20) is the current leader based on this criteria, ahead of San Juan North (+13) and Fatima (+8). These teams are now three points clear of another trio of former champions - North Zone's Malick Secondary, Queen's Royal College (QRC) and East Mucurapo, with six points each.
Today, the Travis Mulraine-coached Naparima College will be brimming with confidence when they play East Mucurapo at Trinity College Ground, Moka, Maraval, after a major success on their last road trip to the north last weekend which resulted in a 3-2 win over St Mary's College.
Naparima has also recorded emphatic wins, 10-0 over Chaguanas North Secondary and 9-0 over Pleasantville Secondary 9-0, in previous rounds with the influential Kanye Francis leading their charge. They will start as firm favourites against the Dale Saunders-coached East Mucurapo, who after wins in their first matches, 2-1 over Trinity East College and 1-0 against reigning champions St Benedict's College, experienced a melt-down in a shocking 5-0 loss to Fatima in their 'Mucurapo Road' derby. To add insult, they will also have to play without midfielder Clint Latchman, who was red-carded in that contest.
For the second match in a row, Fatima, coached by Hutson 'Barber' Charles, will be at home and heavily favoured to come away with a huge win against bottom dwellers Pleasantville Secondary, who are yet to pick up a point and have conceded a whopping 22 goals without a single reply.
Of the leading trio, the Jerry Moe-coached San Juan North team will face the toughest test as they travel to Port-of-Spain for a clash with the surging Queen's Royal College who have been making progress under the guidance of Kenwyne Jones. Ironically, it’s the former QRC player, Nathan Quashie who may be the key in this game, as since switching teams for this season, he has been in immaculate form, already finding the back of the nets five times in three games.
Following their opening day 4-3 win over St Benedict's, San Juan North followed up with a 5-0 thrashing of Pleasantville and then a 2-0 shut-out of Presentation College; while the Royalians, after losing their opener to Malick 1-3, have rebounded well with hard-fought 1-0 wins over rivals St Anthony's College and Trinity College East.
At the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, another interesting match-up could be in store as the Randolph Boyce-coached St Benedict's, which should be boosted by its first win of the season 3-0 away to Bishop's High, is still expected to be tested by Arima North, who are coming off an emphatic 8-1 win over St Mary’s in their last outing.
The other matches today will see St Anthony's host St Mary's College in a "Battle of the Saints" at St Anthony's College Ground in Westmoorings; Malick Secondary entertains Speyside Secondary at St Mary's College Ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair and Chaguanas North hosts Presentation College of San Fernando at Edinburgh 500 Recreation Ground, Chaguanas.
The day’s other scheduled match between Bishop's High School and Trinity College East carded for Plymouth Recreation Ground in Tobago, has been postponed to October 31.
Saturday's Round Four matches:
Chaguanas North vs Presentation, Edinburgh 500 Rec. Grd, 4 pm
East Mucurapo vs Naparima, Trinity College Grd, Maraval, 4 pm
Fatima College vs Pleasantville, Fatima College Grd, Mucurapo Rd, 4 pm
Malick Sec vs Speyside, St Mary's College Grd, Serpentine Rd, St Clair, 3.30 pm
QRC vs San Juan North, QRC Ground, Maraval Road, St Clair, 4 pm
St Anthony's vs St Mary's College, Westmoorings, 4 pm
St Benedict's vs Arima North, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, 4 pm
Rescheduled:
October 31:
Bishop's High vs Trinity College East, Plymouth Rec. Grd, Plymouth, 3.30 pm
Current standings:
Positions*Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1*Naparima College*3*3*0*0*22*2*9
2*Fatima College*3*3*0*0*13*0*9
3*San Juan North*3*3*0*0*11*3*9
4*Malick*3*2*0*1*13*2*6
5*QRC*3*2*0*1*3*3*6
6*East Mucurapo*3*2*0*1*3*6*6
7*Arima North*3*1*2*0*9*1*5
8*Presentation*3*1*1*1*1*2*4
9*St Benedict’s College*3*1*0*2*6*5*3
10*St Mary’s College*3*1*0*2*11*11*3
11*Speyside Sec*3*1*0*2*4*4*3
12*St Anthony’s College*3*1*0*2*2*9*3
13*Chaguanas North*3*1*0*2*1*20*3
14*Trinity East*3*0*1*2*2*4*1
15*Bishop’s High*3*0*0*3*1*7*0
16*Pleasantville*3*0*0*3*0*22*0
Goal scorers:
6 - Kanye Francis (Naparima).
5 - Nathan Quahie (San Juan North).
4 - Michael Chaves (Fatima), , Kyle Phillip, Ryan Radellant (St Mary's).
3 - Tyrell Stapleton (Arima North).
2 - Justin Alcantar (Fatima), Ronaldinho Richards, J'Lon Matthews, Oba Samuel, Jordan Ferdinand (Malick), Kevin Francois, Jaron Pascall, Akiel Vesprey (Naparima), Elijah Wong (St Mary's), Aidan De Gannes (Fatima), Jaheem Danclair, Lindell Sween (San Juan North), Clint Latchman (East Mucurapo), Darion Marfan (Arima North), Jaden Grant, Daniel Jones (St Benedict's), N'kosi Quahsie (Speyside), Jemaul Ashing (Arima North).
1 - Nekayse Moore (Chaguanas North), Adah Barclay (Presentation), Stephon James, Tau Lamsee, Micah Nelson (QRC), Malachi Webb, Derrel Garcia (St Bendict's), Thomas Decle, Christian Bailey, Kade Collier, Jaden Williams, Jonathan Mason (Fatima), Malachi Woodley, Ackeem James, Isaiah David, Keston Richards, Zachary Joseph (Malick), Tyrel Rajoon, Aaron Raymond, Israel Joseph, Jabari Forbes, Tevin Pantor, Josiah Cooper, J'kown Bailey, Xarion France, Nathaniel O'Garro (Naparima), Daniel Rose, Obadiah Eyeadelrosiyhia (St Anthony's), Omar Daniel, Shyon George (Speyside), Theron O'Brien, Ability Hazel (Arima North), Alejandro Harper (St Mary's), Jadiel Josep, Joshua Lewis (San Juan North), Kadeem Plaza, Khaleem Prince (Trinity East), Damario Henry (Bishop's High), Jemon Gulston (East Mucurapo).
Own goal : 2.