Shiva Boys begin SSFL defence today

Hayden Ryan, coach of defending Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division winners, Shiva Boys, says his team will focus on one match at a time this season.

Shiva Boys, who won their first Premier Division title last year, will open the 2017 season today at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Shiva Boys face southern rivals Naparima at 5 pm in the second match of a double header. In the first match Carapichaima East will tackle Fatima from 3 pm.

Ryan, speaking to Newsday yesterday, said: “As long as all goes well we are in it. I am the humble type of coach that will take one game at a time.”

Ryan said most of last year’s team are returning this year, but if they don’t unite as a team they will not play at a high level.

“One of the things that I have learnt about chemistry is that it takes a degree of gelling and coming together. It does not matter how much years people play together, if they don’t have that unity and the love then that could be a slight issue. But I guess we have it so I am expecting the guys to flow tomorrow.”