2024 SSFL Thread

[Tallman]

St Benedict’s stripped of league title...docked 12 points, demoted to fourth; Fatima official 2024 champions
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has ruled that its 2024 top scorer Derrell “Zoom Zoom” Garcia was not a bona fide student of St Benedict’s College when he played four matches during the 2024 season.

Based on the ruling, the unbeaten “La Romaine Lions” have been docked of 12 points while demoted from first to fourth place, with 29 points.

Fatima College (38 points) will now officially be recognised as 2024 SSFL League champions, thus retaining the title they won in 2023. Meanwhile, Presentation College, San Fernando (35 points) was upgraded to second and St Anthony’s College (33 points) promoted to third.

Yesterday, the SSFL confirmed that St Benedict’s has been stripped of victories against San Juan North Secondary (1-0), Fatima college (3-1), St Anthony’s College (2-1) and Queen’s Royal College (2-1). St Benedict’s have 72 hours to lodge an appeal.

“Based on the facts presented to the Committee, it appears that Derrell Garcia was ineligible to play in four matches in which he participated,” the SSFL release stated. “Therefore, it is the decision of the Committee that St Benedict’s College forfeit all points for each of the games in which Derrell Garcia played while ineligible.”

The SSFL ruling is based on an opinion formulated by attorney Tyronne Marcus, having gathered info from several sources, including the SSFL and Ministry of Education.

According to Marcus: “Based on his first date of attendance on October 8, 2024, Garcia only became eligible to play for St. Benedict’s from Wednesday October 9, 2024 when they defeated Queen’s Royal College (QRC) 2-1. However, Garcia played in three of the eight matches highlighted in the above table, namely, the games on October 2nd, 5th, and 7th.”

There is also an allegation that St. Benedict’s College infringed the SSFL procedure for registration (Article 16.1) by playing Garcia, although he was not attending classes at the time he played his first game on October 2, 2024.

However, attorney Marcus, whose legal opinion provided the basis for SSFL’s ruling, indicated that any further sanction of St Benedict’s rest with the SSFL’s Disciplinary Committee.

“The final determination as to whether St. Benedict’s breached any provisions of the SSFL Constitution is beyond the mandate given to the author of this opinion (Marcus). That authority rests with the Disciplinary Committee.”

However, it appears that the SSFL has spared St Benedict’s the penalty for such an infraction, which could have been a suspension of the school from further competitions in the division for the remainder of the season.

“The punishment must fit the crime,” the SSFL ruling further stated, adding, “The sanction must not exceed what is reasonably required for the SSFL to achieve a justifiable aim.”

[Deeks]

This is has to be on the head of the principal of Benedict's. The irony is that in 1966, Benedict's were deducted points for using overage players(Archibald and DeLeon) were the main culprits. And ironically Fatima were given the championship instead. Is dejavu all over again. Almost 60 years later and they get punished again.

[Deeks]

Happy NEW YEAR to the Faithful Remnants of this once Vibrant chat group. There is truth to the saying, winning counts. We eh winning anything at any age group, so there is no interest anymore. Blessings to All The Soca Warriors and their Families.

Let's pray and hope that the SOE bring a sense of Sanity and Normalcy to Afro Trini population who are on a self destructive path to paradise or hell.

God's Blessing.

[Tallman]

Fatima manager: Players, staff conflicted after SSFL ruling
By Yohance Simonette (T&T Newsday)

FATIMA College manager Stephen Williams said it’s a proud moment for the school to win back-to-back Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division titles, but he, the players and the remaining staff have had mixed emotions since the league elevated them to champions on December 30, 2024.

In a matter that was the talk of the town for much of the 2024 SSFL season, the league ruled decisively on December 30 when it stripped St Benedict’s College of the premier division title for the use of star forward Derrel Garcia. Benedict’s, who initially finished the season unbeaten on 41 points, were docked 12 points for the use of Garcia in four matches in one week – elevating Fatima to the top of the table with 38 points.

Though it feels anticlimactic for Williams and company, their ascension now represents premier division trophies in both 2023 and 2024, to go along with the 2022 national intercol crown.

“To win the premier division back-to-back is obviously a great feat,” Williams told Newsday on January 2.

“Unfortunately, the players wouldn’t feel like that at this moment, especially as...for a better choice of words, they would have preferred to celebrate it at least closer to their last premier division game or even before the intercol started.

“(The players) said ‘finally we were able to be crowned champions,’ and then another player said ‘Benedict’s could appeal.’ We don’t even know if to celebrate or if to not celebrate as yet.”

In its ruling, the SSFL said St Benedict’s had until January 3 to appeal the decision of the disciplinary committee. On December 31, St Benedict’s principal Gregory Quan Kep told Newsday his school would do just that.

With questions raised over Garcia’s eligibility since October, Williams felt the league took too long to make a final decision.

“My personal view is if the information they got from the Ministry of Education and the time they got it was sufficient enough for them to make the decision they eventually made, it was sufficient time for them to make a decision (sooner),” Williams said.

“I’m not part of the disciplinary committee, so that would just be my opinion on it. I think they had the important information from the ministry to make a decision they took, which took roughly about two months. They could have done it in early November when the league finished.”

In the last two seasons, the on-field brilliance of players such as Garcia has been overshadowed by off-field registration issues, and the league has also faced similar challenges in the past – namely the 2017 premier division season when both Fyzabad Secondary and Shiva Boys Hindu College were severely punished for their use of ineligible players.

“Being around the TTFA…system, I think they have somewhat of a flawless system in place. I’m not too sure if the schools can go onto that system and work parallel. I know there are a lot of schoolboys who play with clubs, but if we can find a way for that to work.

“We don’t have those teething problems at all with the TTFA in that system where when you register a player, the league has to approve it before he even comes up on your team sheet. If he’s not on your team sheet, you won’t be able to feature him in a game,” Williams said.

With Benedict’s making their intentions clear to appeal, Williams said Fatima would once again have to play the waiting game. The teams finished one-two in the premier division before the disciplinary committee’s ruling sent the league title the northern school’s way.

Benedict’s landed a big blow in the rivalry between the teams when Garcia settled the national intercol final on December 5, but Williams and Fatima will hope the SSFL upholds its latest decision so they can finally exhale and celebrate the 2024 premier division crown.

[Tallman]

St Benedict's Derrel Garcia appeal to be heard on January 7
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Reigning Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) national intercol winners St Benedict’s College will have their date in the SSFL’s boardroom on January 7, when the league’s appeals committee hears their case in the matter involving star striker Derrel Garcia.

Benedict’s had a 15-game unbeaten run to the SSFL’s premier division summit for the 2024 season to end on 41 points, but on December 30, 2024, the SSFL stripped Benedict’s of their league title after handing the south school a 12-point deduction for their use of Garcia. The deduction saw Benedict’s slipping to fourth spot with 29 points, with Fatima College rising to the premier division’s summit with 38 points.

After the SSFL disciplinary committee’s ruling, Benedict’s principal Gregory Quan Kep indicated the school had planned to appeal. Quan Kep said that Benedict’s lodged their appeal on the deadline day of January 3, with SSFL president Merere Gonzales confirming that an appeal was made by the “La Romaine Lions.”

On January 2, Fatima manager Stephen Williams told Newsday that he and his players didn’t know if to celebrate as they were aware Benedict’s were well within their right to appeal.

While Williams said clinching back-to-back premier division titles was a great achievement, he said it couldn’t match the euphoria of being crowned champions in the season. From Benedict’s point of view, Quan Kep feels as though too much on the case has already been ventilated in the public domain, and he opted not to comment further on the matter. He declined to comment on the possible strengths of Benedict’s appeal.

In a couple of days, a three-man SSFL appeals committee will rule on the fate of Garcia and Benedict’s in a case that grabbed many headlines in the 2024 season.

The 17-year-old Garcia was the top-scorer in the SSFL season, and even scored a brace to lead Benedict’s to the national intercol title in their battle with Fatima on December 5. On October 8, Garcia resumed classes at Benedict’s after missing an entire school year due to an overseas stint with CF Intercity International Academy in Spain.

However, Benedict’s were punished for the three games Garcia featured in prior to his resumption of classes, to go along with an October 9 meeting with Queen’s Royal College.

[Tallman]

Scarborough beat Pleasantville, edge closer to SSFL premier division promotion
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

SCARBOROUGH Secondary (four points) took a big step towards possible Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division promotion for the 2025 campaign on January 9 when they got a 3-1 victory against Pleasantville Secondary in a rescheduled Big 5 championship division playoff match in Shaw Park, Tobago.

Six weeks after a power outage at Shaw Park brought the initial game between the teams to an end at the 70-minute mark, Scarborough and Pleasantville renewed their promotion quest. Their meeting on November 29 was tied at 1-1 before the game was called off, but Scarborough were in no mood for a stalemate this time around.

Scarborough opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Jaheim Toney, with Johan Elliot doubling the advantage in the 17th minute to take the hosts into the halftime break with a 2-0 lead.

Pleasantville pulled a goal back in the 77th minute through Jelani Roberts, but Scarborough sealed all three points in the 82nd minute when Jervae Weekes found the back of the net.

Even as his team looked to celebrate their precious win, Scarborough midfielder To Peters was shown a straight red card for violent conduct in the 87th minute for a stamp on a Pleasantville player.

Though Scarborough stayed in fourth spot on the five-team table after the win, they moved to within a point of the trio of Carapichaima East Secondary, Trinity College Moka and Hillview College – all of whom are on five points.

With the top three teams gaining promotion for the 2025 premier division season, Scarborough can secure a spot in the SSFL top flight with a result against Carapichaima in their last game. Pleasantville, who have now dropped out of promotion contention, will face Trinity in their remaining match.

Hillview are in a precarious position as they are third on the table and will be on a bye in the final round, giving Scarborough the chance to leapfrog them when the Tobago championship winners face Carapichaima.

On January 9, SSFL president Merere Gonzales said the date for the final round of matches was still to be confirmed, but said it’s the league’s desire to play the games simultaneously to ensure fairness for all parties.

SSFL boys championship division Big 5 playoffs:

Teams*GP*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts

Carapichaima East*3*1*2*0*4*2*2*5

Trinity Moka*3*1*2*0*3*2*1*5

Hillview College*4*1*2*1*4*4*0*5

Scarborough Secondary*3*1*1*1*5*4*1*4

Pleasantville Secondary*3*0*1*2*1*5*-4*1

[Tallman]

St Benedict's lose Derrel Garcia appeal
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Reigning national Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) intercol champs St Benedict’s College hit another stumbling block when the league’s appeals committee turned down their appeal in the boardroom matter involving star striker Derrel Garcia.

St Benedict’s climbed to the top of the 2024 SSFL premier division table after an unbeaten season, but their world was turned upside down on December 30 when the SSFL’s disciplinary committee stripped them of 12 points for their use of the 17-year-old Garcia, who was deemed ineligible for four matches. Fatima College, who had finished second to Benedict’s in the initial standings, profited from the points deduction to assume the top spot on the table with 38 points.

“Please be informed that the appeals committee has upheld the decision of the disciplinary committee (regarding) Derrel Garcia,” said a January 14 release from the SSFL.

“St Benedict’s College has the option to refer the matter to the arbitration committee by January 16, 2025.”

Newsday contacted Benedict’s manager Ravi Ramgoolam and asked if the school had any intentions to take the matter to arbitration. Ramgoolam said he wasn’t in a position to comment on the situation and referred Newsday to acting principal Gregory Quan Kep. Calls to Quan Kep went unanswered, along with a whatsapp message, which asked if Benedict’s would accept the appeals committee’s decision.

SSFL president Merere Gonzales said St Benedict’s had not indicated if they were willing to take the matter to arbitration.

A correspondence from the SSFL to Quan Kep said any school who refers a matter to the arbitration committee must pay a $3,000 fee. If the appeal is successful at the level of the arbitration committee, the school will be refunded.

Time will determine if Benedict’s, who were represented by attorney Christophe Brathwaite, deem it necessary to take their appeal a step further. However, the appeals committee of Rudolph Hope, Forbes Persaud and chairman Derek West felt they had enough information to reject the Benedict’s appeal which was made by Quan Kep at the hearing on January 7.

In a decision which was made on January 10 and then communicated to Benedict’s on January 13, the appeals committee said, “it unanimously agreed that St Benedict’s College failed to present sufficient information for the overturn of the decision of the disciplinary committee in this matter and therefore agreed that all sanctions applied as a consequence stand.”

In the appeal, Quan Kep opined that the report submitted by the disciplinary committee contained incorrect information regarding Garcia’s first date of attendance, thus causing the committee to arrive at an “irrational decision.” Quan Kep’s submission also claimed the SSFL’s Article 16 on player registration was vague and ambiguous, and suggested that “in the absence of clarity, no penalty should be given.”

Quan Kep also contended that there were irrelevant considerations, inequitable treatment and bias against St Benedict’s.

In response to Benedict’s claim that the disciplinary committee used incorrect information regarding Garcia’s first date of attendance, the appeals committee said the information forthcoming from an independent authority in the Ministry of Education was sufficient as it stated that Garcia only resumed attendance at the school on October 8, as verified by the attendance register at the school.

By then, Garcia, who was returning to the school after missing an entire school year due to a stint away to the Intercity Academy in Spain, had already played three league matches against San Juan North Secondary, Fatima and St Anthony’s College. He also played and scored in a 2-1 win against Queen’s Royal College on October 9. Benedict’s were punished by the SSFL for their use of Garcia in the aforementioned matches.

Article 16 of the league’s constitution states, “Students must be duly registered, according to the existing rules and regulations of the Ministry of Education and on the official roll of the school presenting the team. These students must attend classes at that school during normal school hours.”

Article 16 also states that the registration of a player must be made at least 72 hours before the start of the match in which the player is to participate in and must be done via the SSFL general secretary or the secretary of the relevant zone.

The appeals committee asserted that Article 16 was “specific in its requirements for player registration” and found Benedict’s registration of Garcia to be incomplete.

On Benedict’s claim of possible bias in the ongoing process, the appeals committee “unanimously agreed that there was no inequality of treatment and/or bias during the process of the inquiry.”

By January 16, Quan Kep and Benedict’s must decide if they want to take their boardroom battle to another level.

[Tallman]

St Benedict's take Derrel Garcia matter to SSFL arbitration committee
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

THE ramifications of the 2024 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division aren’t over just yet, as St Benedict’s have referred the registration matter involving star attacker Derrel Garcia to the league’s arbitration committee.

On December 30, the SSFL’s disciplinary committee stripped Benedict’s of 12 points from their premier division tally for the use of Garcia, who was deemed ineligible for four matches. The ruling knocked Benedict’s down from the premier division summit, with Fatima College moving to the top of the table.

Benedict’s appealed the league’s decision, but on January 10, the SSFL’s appeals committee of Rudolph Hope, Forbes Persaud and chairman Derek West upheld the ruling of the disciplinary committee and “unanimously agreed that St Benedict’s College failed to present sufficient information for the overturn of the decision of the disciplinary committee in this matter and therefore agreed that all sanctions applied as a consequence, stand.”

St Benedict’s were informed of the appeals committee’s decision on January 13.

Given a January 16 deadline to formally appeal the decision by the appeals committee, SSFL president Merere Gonzales told Newsday that St Benedict’s did indeed send a letter to the league on January 16, for the matter to be taken to arbitration. Up to press time, Gonzales said he was unable to name the members of the arbitration committee or indicate when they would meet.

With two key decisions in the ongoing matter already going against St Benedict’s, Newsday asked the school’s acting principal Gregory Quan Kep if they were confident of receiving a different verdict with the arbitration committee.

Quan Kep simply replied, “no comment.”

Making the submission on behalf of the school at the appeal hearing on January 7, Quan Kep opined that the report submitted by the disciplinary committee contained incorrect information regarding Garcia’s first date of attendance for the school term, claimed that Article 16 of the league’s constitution on player registration was ambiguous and lacked clarity, and also claimed bias and inequitable treatment against the school in the case.

St Benedict’s submissions weren’t supported by the appeals committee, who found Garcia’s registration to be incomplete and “unanimously agreed that there was no inequality of treatment and or bias during the process of this inquiry.”

For the 2024 saeson, Garcia played three games before his first attendance of the school term on October 8. He also played in a 2-1 win against Queen’s Royal College on October 9. Benedict’s were stripped of points for the abovementioned games.

Last year, both Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School and Moruga Secondary found favour in the arbitration committee when they were reinstated as respective central and south championship division winners after being initially found guilty of registration breaches by the league’s disciplinary and appeals committees.

In 2025, Benedict’s will hope they can have a similar outcome.

[Tallman]

'Caps East,' Scarborough, Trinity seal SSFL promotion on dramatic final day
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

CARAPACHAIMA East Secondary (six points), Scarborough Secondary (five points) and Trinity College Moka (six points) sealed promotion for the 2025 season of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division on a dramatic final day in the boys' Big 5 championship division playoffs on January 21.

Heading into the final two matches in the five-team competition, four schools still had hopes of gaining premier division promotion. When the dust settled, Central championship division winners Carapichaima claimed the Big 5 crown via a superior goal difference after playing to a 1-1 draw with Scarborough, with East winners Hillview College being the odd school to miss out on a promotion spot.

At St Mary's recreation ground in Freeport, the Tobago championship division winners had their fate in their hands when they met table-toppers "Caps East" – needing at least a draw to secure a top three spot.

After a tense, goalless first half, the hosts Carapichaima took the lead just after the hour mark when Damarion Boswell scored from just inside the area with a thumping right-footed shot into the top corner.

Scarborough wasn't about to back down, though, and they got a precious equaliser in the 75th minute through Jesuron Woods. The goal could arguably be the biggest in Woods' young career as it will now guarantee his school a spot in the SSFL's top flight, with Scarborough now set to replace relegated Tobago outfit Speyside Secondary.

At the Manny Ramjohn Stadium training field in Marabella, the cellar-placed Pleasantville Secondary were playing for pride and also had the chance to dash the promotion dreams of their opponents Trinity.

With Hillview (five points) on a bye and still in promotion contention before kickoff, the interest of their fans and players would have been piqued when Enesio Williams scored to give Pleasantville a 1-0 lead by the end of the first half.

With Pleasantville still leading by a 1-0 margin, the game was turned on its head in the second half when referee Cecile Hinds sent off two players from the southern school for their involvement in an off-the-ball incident. Pleasantville's Jelani Roberts took exception to the antics of a Trinity player after making a challenge, and the incident soon escalated into a fracas as teammate Jahiemn Phillip also got involved.

After the officials calmed things down, both Roberts and Phillip were given their marching orders as Pleasantville were reduced to nine men.

With the numerical advantage, Trinity took the ascendancy as goals from Jaeden Samuel and Jashon Forde gave them a 2-1 lead and put their promotion pushback on track.

Still, Pleasantville went down with a fight as a late goal from Ahjahidi Noray earned them a 2-2 draw to see them finishing the competition on two points.

Trinity finished second behind Carapichaima, with Scarborough finishing third. Unfortunately for Hillview, their five-point tally was only good enough for fourth spot.

SSFL boys' championship division Big 5 playoffs:

Teams*GP*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts

Carapichaima East*4*1*3*0*5*3*2*6

Trinity Moka*4*1*3*0*5*4*1*6

Scarborough Secondary*4*1*2*1*6*5*1*5

Hillview College*4*1*2*1*4*4*0*5

Pleasantville Secondary*4*0*2*2*3*7*-4*2