The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) is “still discussing” its proposed format for the 2026 Boys’ Premier Division after strong objections from Tobago schools and stakeholders forced the controversial plan back to the table.However, SSFL president Merere Gonzales hinted yesterday that the format announced earlier may not be the final structure for the competition, signalling a possible rethink of a decision.“The matter is being addressed. So, the information is pending,” Gonzales told the Express when asked about the status of the proposed changes. “Right now, it is in discussion mode. A declaration on it will be made very soon.”A recently announced format change has raised concern from both the Tobago House of Assembly and affected Tobago schools. The new structure, issued to deal with rising cost of inter-island travel, will see schools from both Trinidad and Tobago meeting in separate competitions, before the best schools meet in a Big 4.The proposal sparked pushback from Tobago who argued that the proposed change could put Tobago teams at a significant competitive disadvantage.Travel costs triggercontroversial proposalThe SSFL’s proposed format was designed largely to address the increasing cost and logistical difficulties associated with inter-island travel. However, with only four Tobago schools involved, those teams would play one another repeatedly throughout the regular season.Tobago stakeholders contend that the smaller pool of teams could result in a lower level of competition compared with the much larger Trinidad group.Under the plan, Trinidad-based schools would not travel to Tobago during the regular season. Instead, the competition would effectively be split into two sections.The 14 Trinidad teams would play among themselves, while Tobago’s four Premier Division schools-- Speyside Secondary, Signal Hill Secondary, Scarborough Secondary and Bishop’s High School-- would form their own competition.Each Tobago school would play the other three teams four times, giving each side 12 matches. The Tobago winner would then advance to a knockout stage in Trinidad against the top three teams from the Trinidad competition, with those four teams deciding the national championship.The structure was approved 9-6, with six abstentions, at an Extraordinary General Council Meeting at the Technical Centre, Ato Boldon Stadium, on July 22.Problems remain freshThe SSFL’s decision was also influenced by the difficulties experienced during the previous season. Last season ended with St Augustine Secondary and Signal Hill Secondary unable to complete their scheduled league fixtures in Tobago. A decision on the final outcome of the bottom positions was not made until earlier this year. Other major fixtures also remained unresolved, including the Boys Under-14 and Under-16 national finals and the Girls Big Five final.Those issues highlighted the difficulties the league faces in completing a national competition when travel, scheduling, and other logistical problems arise.Gonzales had previously stressed that the proposed format was intended only for the 2026 season, rather than becoming a permanent restructuring of the Premier Division.The SSFL has indicated that efforts were made to find a solution to the travel challenges before settling on the proposed structure. Discussions were attempted with Caribbean Airlines and the Tobago House of Assembly, but Gonzales said the league did not receive any concrete responses.