Everton Alfred, President of the Tobago Football Association (TFA), views the recent decision by the executive of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) to omit the Tobago schools, namely, Signal Hill Secondary and Speyside Secondary, from the Premier Division as another dark day in the history of football and has called on the league to withdraw its plans.
For the upcoming 2026 season of the SSFL Premier Division, defending champion Naparima College; St Benedict’s College; Fatima College; St. Anthony’s College; Trinity College Moka; Arima North Secondary; Queen’s Royal College; St Mary’s College; San Juan North Secondary; Trinity College East; Malick Secondary; St. Augustine Secondary; Tobago duo Signal Hill Secondary, which ended fifth in the Premier Division last year; and Speyside Secondary, which gained promotion from the Championship Division ‘Champion of Champions’ Big-Five competition along with Hillview College and Mucurapo West Secondary, were set to compete.
However, in a decision taken late last month after it was proposed by North Zone SSFL chairman Joseph Taylor, the former principal of Mucurapo West Secondary, the SSFL executive agreed to omit the Tobago schools (Signal Hill Secondary and Speyside Secondary) from the upcoming Premier Division campaign, leaving the league without representation from Tobago for the first time in 12 seasons.
The decision was due mainly to financial constraints, which in the past have affected teams travelling to and from Tobago for matches.
As a result, the SSFL executive further determined that the two last-placed teams, Scarborough Secondary and Carapichaima East Secondary School would be demoted from the Premier Division to their respective Tobago Zone and Central Zone Championship Divisions.
This meant the 2026 season was due to feature 17 participating teams, with the four bottom-placed teams at the end of the season in the Premier Division being demoted to their respective Championship Division, while the top three teams in the Championship Division ‘Big Five’ gain promotion to the 2027 Premier Division, which will comprise 16 teams.
It was also determined at the meeting in May to declare joint winners of the National Girls SSFL ‘Big-Five’ competition between Inter-Col winners Pleasantville Secondary and Tobago champions Signal Hill Secondary, along with the boys’ national Under-14 and Under-16 finals, both between Naparima College and Signal Hill Secondary, due to the postponement of those matches due to traveling issues that arose during the season.
However, in response to the decision, TFA President Alfred said, The decision to remove the Tobago Schools from the Premier Division of the SSFL and return to their region is another dark day in the history of football in T&T.
Alfred said, “The decision highlights the narrow view of those in management as well as those who voted in favour of it.
He stated further, “The reason for the decision taken has been stated as financial challenges on the part of the Trinidad school teams, and may I say, not all of them. Yet, it is the Tobago teams that must suffer. If a member is unable to fulfil their obligations, it should be that member who must bear the consequences.
He added, “What this decision does is rob the players, coaches, and the country of the opportunity to harness the talents that lie within our young people across T&T.
“It deprives the best players in Tobago from playing against the best of Trinidad and vice versa while coaches aren’t able to match wits with their Trinidad counterparts. In addition, the move also hinders the development of those involved in the sport at this level.”
Alfred said he was urging the management of the SSFL in Trinidad to withdraw the decision and seek the views of other stakeholders in the sport to ensure that the best option is taken.
Instead of competing in the Premier Division, the Tobago schools, Signal Hill Secondary, Speyside Secondary, Scarborough Secondary, and Bishop’s High School, will compete in a four-team round-robin format with four rounds of matches, with the winners at the end of the 12 matches advancing along with the top three teams from Trinidad to the semifinals, from which the champions will be declared.
Last year, the SSFL Premier Division faced major disruptions due to inter-island travel challenges, which resulted in postponed matches, namely during the late part of October, the high point of the Tobago carnival celebrations.
A key factor in those issues, according to officials, stemmed from the SSFL moving away from being responsible for making travel arrangements for the schools travelling to and from Tobago and allowing the schools to make their own arrangements, which were not done in a timely manner.
In addition, major sponsors, Sportsmax, and National Gas Company (NGC) also pulled the plug on their deals with the SSFL.
According to Merere Gonzales, president of the SSFL, the new format was agreed upon via a 9-6 vote with six abstentions at an extraordinary general council meeting held at the Ato Boldon Stadium Technical Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Thursday, July 22.
Gonzales noted the final decisions on the issues were only made after the SSFL failed to get positive replies from Caribbean Airlines and the Tobago House of Assembly with regard to the traveling issues that plagued the league for the past two seasons.
The SSFL president said that they had made attempts, but no positive replies were forthcoming from both Caribbean Airlines and the THA.
But in a release from the THA last week, it was stated, “The THA notes with concern the reports of a decision by the Secondary Schools Football League regarding the participation of Tobago schools in the 2026 Boys’ Premier Division competition” and is “currently engaging the relevant stakeholders to ascertain the circumstances under which the reported decision was made and its potential wide-reaching effects on Tobago.”
The release added: “The THA remains resolute in ensuring that this matter is resolved in the best interests of the secondary school football fraternity.”
