Fatima College sealed the runner-up spot in the Premiership Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) courtesy of a comfortable 4-1 triumph over Malick Secondary School in their final match at their home ground on Mucurapo Road, Port-of-Spain on Friday.
And they can anticipate a repeat of the crown pending an investigation by the Ministry of Education and the SSFL over the use of star striker Derrel Garcia by St. Benedict's College, who completed the season on defeat in their 15 matches. It is alleged that Garcia had been out of the school system for over a year and was registered late to participate in the SSFL season, which kicked off on September 11, 2024.
Garcia, nicknamed 'Zoom Zoom', netted his team's lone goal in a 1-0 triumph over St Mary's College on Serpentine Road, Port-of-Spain, to complete an unblemished record this season, one that comprised two drawn accounts and 13 wins.
Garcia scored in most of the nine matches he played and is well in contention for the League's Golden Boots Award with 17 goals. His item took his team to 41 points and was well out of reach of Fatima and Presentation Colleges (35 points) by six points.
Garcia used his speed to meet a neatly threaded pass inside of the St. Mary's penalty area in the 32nd minute and calmly hit the ball firmly past the advancing Josiah Superville in the CIC goal for the 1-0 win. Before that, the home team fought doggedly and could have gotten the opener in the 18th minute, but Elijah Wong's solo effort from halfway up the pitch to the top of Benedict's goal area could not find the bottom corner of the goal when he unleashed his shot.
Garcia's goal ensured his team a 1-0 advantage at the break, and they almost pushed their lead further in the 49th minute. Cam'Ron Burke nearly caught the CIC goalie napping with a looping shot for long range, but the shot was somehow pushed over to preserve the scoreline.
Presentation College College, last year's Coca-Cola InterCol winner, stormed from a goal down to edge southerner rival Naparima College 2-1. Sebastian James handed Naparima the advantage early, but the prolific Vaughn Clament knotted up the scores with a 48th-minute item before Levi Jones sealed the win in the 90th minute to ensure they got the three points that sent them to 35 points but in the third position on goal difference.
RESULTS
Arima North- 2 vs Speyside- 3
Fatima College- 4 (David Hospedales, Caden Trestrail, Liam Godding, Josiah Gobin) vs Malick Sec- 1 (Ronaldinho Richards)
Miracle Ministries- 0 vs Trinity College East- 2
Presentation College- 2 (Vaughn Clement, Levi Jones) vs Naparima College- 1 (Sebastian James)
San Juan North- 4 vs St Anthony’s College-3 (Jean-Marc Thomas, Modecai Forde, Rondell Harewood)
Signal Hill Sec- 2 vs East Mucurapo- 0
St Augustine- 2 vs QRC- 2
St Mary’s College-0 vs St Benedict’s College- 1 (Derrel Garcia)
Latest SSFL Boys Premier Division standings
Pld*Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1*St Benedict’s*15*13*2*0*36*7*41
2*Fatima*15*11*2*2*46*14*35
3*Presentation*15*11*2*2*33*10*35
4*St Anthony’s*14*9*0*5*33*19*27
5*Arima North*14*6*6*2*24*11*24
6*Naparima*15*6*4*5*26*19*22
7*QRC*15*6*3*6*22*21*21
8*Malick*15*6*2*7*30*32*20
9*San Juan North*15*6*1*8*24*28*19
10*St Mary’s*15*5*1*9*17*29*16
11*St Augustine*15*4*3*8*11*32*15
12*Signal Hill*12*4*3*5*20*22*13
13*Trinity East*15*4*1*10*19*29*13
14*Speyside*13*3*3*7*18*28*12
15*East Mucurapo*14*3*0*11*10*25*9
16*Miracle Ministries*15*2*1*12*8*51*7
