Still no SSFL girls' premiership division but SSFL girls get new division, title-sponsor

Merere Gonzales, president of the Secondary Schools' Football League (SSFL) says the girls will have to wait another year for the long-awaited premiership division, but revealed a new division and title-sponsor, specifically for the girls.

Gonzales spoke to Newsday in an exclusive sit down interview at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, on August 23.

He said the SSFL has already started registration for the girls 13 and under league.

"If you are in form one-three and 13 years and under you will be able to take part in that age group.

"Its unlike the boys where you must be in Form one."

Gonzales said prior to the formation of this league, the youngest age group for girls was 15 and under.

"We felt it was necessary to have a closer connection with the primary schools and more importantly to encourage more girls.

"We see this as a holistic approach to ensure we have the girls moving along with the boys in achieving their goals in football."

Newsday has been hearing about the formation of a girls' premiership division for some time now and asked Gonzales about its "progress."

Gonzales said, "We would have really liked to have it especially for our 60th year and there were discussions about it.

"But one of the major factors is finance and it just did not materialise to the point we would've liked it to. Money remains the issue."

Gonzales said the SSFL remains optimistic about the girl premiership division being developed in 2025.

In 2022, Newsday reported on the SSFL girls' premiership division – which carded to start in 2023.

The 2022 article said, the new inter-school tournament was initially scheduled to kick off in 2020 but the pandemic continued to be the primary reason for its lengthy delay.

Gonzales said the SSFL remains optimistic about the girl premiership division being developed in 2025.

Gonzales however revealed a "specific sponsor" for the girls championship and big five tournaments.

"The expectation is that they will embark on sponsoring the girls premiership division in 2025."

He remained mum on the sponsor's identity and said it would be revealed at the SSFL launch ceremony on August 28.

Newsday also asked Gonzales if more girls games would be televised in 2024, he said.

"Our intention is to always ensure we leave no one, no gender behind.

"While we give the boys' premiership attention, the girls' championship division and the big five tournament...we are hoping there will be greater coverage, especially with the new sponsor."