SSFL 50Th Anniversary Magazine
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2 EDITORS NOTE Gaffa Chester Pierre Production Managers Jake Gillette Nicholas Murray Creative Directors Isaiah Fredericks Rhyjell Ellis Hello, Distribution Managers Raheem Belgrave Founded in 2013 to Tevyn Gill promote and encourage the support of Secondary School Football League l matches, Unveil Magazine was Editoria Andre Cuffie born out of a passion and desire to Andrew Sharpe establish a revolutionary medium to facilitate and publicize the growth and development of sports within the Photographers Nicholas Williams island of Trinidad and Tobago. In this SSFL issue, Unveil Magazine partnered Jono Hirst with the Secondary School Football Jelani Serrette League as they celebrated their 50th www.socawarriors.net Anniversary. We showcased the www.ttfootballhistory.com History of the SSFL, from the period 1908 to 2014. We are honored to be apart of this historical moment. We Graphic Designers Lawrence Deacon hope you enjoy our magazine. Jemuel Romeo TABLE OF CONTENT SSFL Executive 2014 History of SSFL SSFL Statistics Before 1964 SSFL Statistics After 1964 SSFL 50th Anniversary PAGE 6 Awards History of SSFL SSFL National Officers Long Service Awards SSFL Archives 5 ABOUT THE SSFL Azaad Mohammed- Khan (General Secretary Treasurer) and Antho- ny Creed (President) seen in an archived photo SSFL VISION STATEMENT To strive towards being the most outstanding youth football league in the CONCACAF region, making our players the cornerstone of our success, as we operate together in a globally focusing environ- ment based on fostering team spirit and holistic development. 6 SSFL MISSION STATEMENT Going beyond the realm of football, our mission defines who we are, and is the guiding force in everything we do, making us truly sustainable:- To inspire and motivate players to achieve excellence as a team, while promoting a sense of holistic development as individuals. To produce the highest quality of players, who can aspire to excel in football. To provide a structured and competitive environment for youths to play football in Trinidad and Tobago, through its leadership and manage- ment. President: Anthony Creed 1St Vice President: William Wallace 2nd Vice President: Derek West General Secretary Treasurer: Azaad Mohammed Khan Asisstant Secretary Administration: Gerald Elliot Asisstant Secretary operations: Laurence Seepersad North Rep: Rudolph Hope East Rep: Renie Gooding Central Rep: Trevor Bridgelalsingh South Rep: Robert Warner Tobago Rep: Kerry Lynch 7 HISTORY OF THE SSFL Research indicates that game and this trend continued until schools played football as far back as the 1908. St. Mary’s College (CIC) played seventies. When visiting country Queen’s Royal College (QRC) in the teams came to Northern Intercol. In and around 1923 Trinidad some schools were given both Queen’s Royal College (QRC) the opportunity to play against them. and St. Mary’s College (CIC) played In 1947, schools combined played among clubs in Trinidad Amateur against British Guyana. Schools also Football Association. QRC and CIC combined to tour the different West together with Fatima College played Indian islands to play football. in the Port of Spain Football League From 1958 to 1959 attempts were from 1959. made to start a school league inclu- In 1935 Naparima College, Pre- sive of sentation College and St. Benedict’s colleges and other private schools to College began playing in the South assist with the development of school Intercol as well as among clubs in the football. Unfortunately many difficul- South Football Association League. ties, especially playfields accounted During those past years teachers for the suspension of the school played with the school boys on competitions. occasions both in the south and north. These six schools sometimes defeated some of the major clubs of the day. The Intercol which is the premiere ‘knock out’ competition amongst schools had its humble beginnings since 1908. The supporting drums, whistles, horns, songs, placards and flags served to set the intercol mood. In the 1930’s large bands paraded the In 1962 Trinidad and Tobago gained streets carnival style after an intercol its independence and a number of 8 five (5) year secondary schools were In 1984 the Championship Division built. In 1963 a shift in the Cambridge was changed from a national league examination for secondary schools competition to a zonal competition from December/January to June due to the increase in the number affected the local education system of schools participating. In 1986 the and sport was not an exception. Colleges Football League It became very difficult for schools to constitution had to be amended to continue to play amongst the clubs, ensure that only Secondary Schools since exam preparation for June students affected preparation for football. participated in the competitions. By This paradigm shift heralded the 1989 the membership had increased formation of the Colleges Football to 28 schools which advocated a League in 1964. This league was in- change in the name of the league augurated with the six Colleges. From to the Secondary Schools Football the north were St. Mary’s, Queen’s League. In 1991 the central zone Royal and Fatima Colleges and in the which was a part of the east zone was south Presentation, Naparima and St. separated and it now meant that five Benedict’s Colleges. (5) zones existed (North, South, East, The founding members of the Col- Central and Tobago lege’s Football League were Dr. Ray Dolly President, Dom Basil Matthews and Mr. Dave Traboulay St. Benedicts, Mr. Horace Springer Queen’s Royal College, Mr. Roy Jagroopsingh and Mr. Victor Cowan In 1986 the North Zone started a girl’s Naparima College, Brother Cletus division and in 1987 the East Zone Presentation College, Fr. Farfan Fati- experimented with a girl’s league. By ma College and Mr. Azlan Khan, St. 1992 the membership had grown to Mary’s College. 32 schools involving three zones. In the 1970’s a number of Junior The Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Secondary and Senior Comprehen- Schools Football League was incor- sive Schools were built. This augured porated by an act of parliament on well for the increase in the number 22nd August 1995 which is a hallmark of student footballers. In and around decision for the SSFL. 1970 the East Zone was formed and The SSFL is an affiliate of the Trinidad in 1980 the Tobago Zone was formed. and Tobago Football Association 9 (TTFA) and has always had a good Development Programme (C.S.D.P.) relationship with that organization. in St. Lucia and Barbados and are Although the SSFL is often criticized equipped to conduct courses for the but seldom acquire benefits from the league. TTFF in terms of funding, courses and In our effort to expose talent the SSFL equipment. national schools representative teams However the SSFL through its own ini- have toured Suriname, Jamaica and tiative has emphasized development Barbados. A Secondary Schools of the league by offering courses football team has been to the Norway to its members. The first English Cup. The league through its then F.A. in Trinidad was held in 1993 for sponsors BWIA has hosted four (4) 32 school coaches. The Brazilian Caribbean school tournaments. The Academy has held four courses for SSFL has hosted two (2) Italian youth our coaches one of which was an teams Napoli and Flamingo as well. advanced course in 1994 as a follow As part of its sponsorship for the up to the English FA. The Ministry of Intercol, Coca Cola Ltd has sent a Sport in collaboration with the TTFA representative junior school team of has run a number of Level I courses the winners to the Copa Coca Cola for our coaches. schools tournament in Latin America Mr. Gally Cummings on three occasions:- Argentina, former national coach has run two Colombia and Costa Rica. (2) courses and Mr. Keith Look Loy Although the SSFL has encouraged former national youth coach has done each school to acquire their own (1) for SSFL. Professor Chief Oninge health insurance for the players, the Nigerian national coach has done a league has a Player’s Fund where basic course for our junior coaches each player has to contribute one in 2000. Professor Simoes Brazil ($1.00) dollar on registration to the national has conducted a CFU Level I fund and the league matches. This for some of our coaches. fund is used to assist players with There are over 400 coaches with part payment for serious injuries registered in this league fifty-five during the season. (55%) percent of whom are certified. The League has allocated sum funds Two (2) administrator/coaches have to assist with the purchase of land attended Courses Conductors and and to build in the future whenever Master Course Conductors courses sufficient funds are available. The with the Commonwealth Sports SSFL intends to approach the Ministry 10 of Sport for an office space. We A premier division, a national schools are quite hopeful that this would under 20 league was inaugurated materialize. in 2014. Additionally each zone is The SSFL zones have arranged with divided into the following grouping: (i) TTFRA to run workshops on the laws Championship Division (U-20) North, of the game for school teams. Two (2) South, East, Central and Tobago. courses have also been done for These schools compete for three (3) students in Form V and VI who can places in the premier division. then service some of the lower The Senior Division (U-20) is where division games as junior referees. schools vie to be promoted to the The SSFL currently has one hundred Championship Division in their zones. and twelve (112) participating schools The other zonal groups are Under 16, in the league out of a total of one Under 14, Form 1 (U-13), Girls U-19, hundred and thirty eight (138) and Girls U-15.