Who is popular today?

COACH Downie Marcelle and his Signal Hill Secondary team will be hoping lightning strikes twice when his charges tackle Naparima College in the 2025 Coca-Cola Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) boys’ national intercol final at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, from 5 pm on December 10.
Just under two weeks ago, Signal Hill were edged 2-1 at Lewis Street, San Fernando by a Naparima team which just edged their way to the 2025 SSFL premier division crown to secure a fifth league title since the premier division format commenced in 2014. Marcelle is trying to recreate happier memories for the Tobago school, though, as their sixth and last national intercol trophy came in 2010 when they got a 2-1 victory over “Naps” at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Marcelle reckons it’s about time for the school to end a 15-year wait, but he knows Signal Hill will have their work cut out against the Angus Eve-coached Naparima team which is hunting a ninth national intercol title.
In their head-to-head clash for the league title on November 27, Signal Hill started slowly and were punished by a Naps team which stormed out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Sebastian James and in-form Tobago-born striker Riquelme Phillips. With the nerves out of the way this time around, Marcelle said his boys will be ready.
“I think we’re more hungry (sic) for success because playing against Naparima could never be an easy battle. They’ve shown they are the best team in the 2025 SSFL season, and we’re the third-best team based on the league standings. We have to respect them and respect what they’re doing,” Marcelle told Newsday on December 9. “
“At the same time, we also have to believe in ourselves and what we can do. I think there is a hunger for success from the players for tomorrow’s game.”
Both teams got to the final on the back of 1-0 victories in the national semifinals, with Naps edging St Augustine Secondary and Signal Hill getting the better of St Anthony’s College courtesy of a 76th-minute goal from substitute Siel Mills, who put away the winning goal just seconds after coming off the bench. Marcelle and his staff are sweating over the fitness of Mills, who didn’t train on December 9 because of some pain in his hamstring area. However, whether Mills is ready by game time or not, Marcelle said his charges are well-prepared for the tricks the southern juggernauts may have up their sleeves.
“Naparima depend heavily on (Jayden) Caprietta and (Arron) Raymond on the wings. And they have a more direct approach and try to get the ball to the wingers as quickly as possible. We are prepared for that,” he said. “We don’t want to give them too much room to play. We can only try because they are good players, and of course, Riquelme Phillips doesn’t need much, so we have to pay close attention to Riquelme and try to eliminate the space.
“We realise this is their strength. If he (Eve) comes with the same approach, we’ll be ready for it. If he comes with a different approach, we’d have to adjust during the game,” said Marcelle, who has shown he’s not afraid to make early first-half substitutions, having done so in the earlier meeting with Naparima, as well as the recent clashes with St Anthony’s and a Speyside Secondary team they edged to the Tobago intercol crown.
Marcelle promised a blockbuster of a final.
“I really want our players to go out there and play their brand of football. Signal Hill’s brand is a high-pressing, all-out attack brand. At the same time, we have to be mindful of the threat from Naparima’s wide players.
“I think it will be one of the best games for the SSFL season...I think you’d want to experience the highest level of football in TT when it comes to secondary schools. And I think Signal Hill will give them a show.”

BIRTH OF A NEW RIVALRY?

This meeting between Naps and Signal Hill will be the first of three matches within a week between the two, as the two schools are also scheduled to face off in the national under-14 and under-16 finals. As Naparima look to land their first national intercol crown since their 2018 penalty shootout victory over San Juan North Secondary, manager Percy Samlalsingh said their players are eager to keep their noses in front in this new-formed rivalry.
“It’s a final, and Signal Hill will be coming hungry as well to win something nationally. The team is quietly confident. We respect the opponent. There was no huge difference between us when we played in the league. It ended 2-1 (in our favour) and was a close game,” Samlalsingh told Newsday. “I think we started well in that league game in particular and they finished strong. Again, it will come down to who makes the least (sic) number of mistakes and keeps a clean sheet, and takes opportunities. On a side note, there is a new, constructive rivalry brewing, I think.”
The Naparima manager said while the team is playing well, he believes they need to be more clinical in front of goal.
“We have to capitalise on the opportunities we’re getting. Defensively, we have done well. At the same time...we don’t want to make a mistake, and then we throw away chances and that costs you.”
For those in the Naparima camp, there is a drive to help some players sign off their SSFL careers with a bang as players such as skipper Jerrel Cooper, goalkeeper Adriano Baptiste and attacking midfielders Xarion France and Ryan Radellant are all in Upper Six and aren’t expected to return for another season.
“I think the boys are up for it. We have a couple of boys who are on their last hurrah in Upper Six and they want it badly as well. Signal Hill have good players and a good management team as well, so we hope the best team wins and we get some good support too.”
The post Race to intercol glory: Signal Hill plot revenge over league champs 'Naps' appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.