August 18, 2026 — A major sigh of relief has swept across the secondary school football fraternity as the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA) and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) officially intervened to clear the way for Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) teams to travel to Tobago for their scheduled fixtures.
The resolution comes after significant concern and public debate over logistical and financial hurdles—exacerbated by title sponsor shifts—that threatened to disrupt inter-island fixtures and temporarily isolate Tobago’s top-tier teams, Signal Hill Secondary and Speyside Secondary, from the national Premier Division schedule.
Collaborative Intervention & Travel Guarantees
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts, alongside SporTT Chairman Kester Lendor, met with SSFL President Merere Gonzales, Secretary-Treasurer Laurence Seepersad, and North Zone Chairman Joseph Taylor to finalize emergency airlift and travel arrangements:
- Airlift and Travel Subsidies: Immediate assistance was pledged specifically targeting inter-island air travel costs, ensuring student-athletes from both Trinidad and Tobago have equitable access to participate in home-and-away competition.
- Preserving the National Competition: Officials emphasized that preserving the nationwide character of the SSFL is crucial to youth development, teamwork, and national unity.
- Comprehensive Proposal Review: While immediate travel logistics have been resolved, SporTT confirmed its board is continuing the structured governance review of broader proposals covering referee fees, accommodation, and operational costs.
SSFL President Merere Gonzales expressed sincere gratitude to the Ministry and SporTT for acting swiftly to ensure that student-athletes can take to the field without disruption to the 2026 season.
