The Cupid ruling: QRC survive but Intercol champs San Juan North relegated 

Presentation College (San Fernando) defender Kori Cupid turned out to be Queen’s Royal College’s most influential player in the 2016 season. But he is no god of love for San Juan North Secondary.

Two months after the final 2016 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division match was played, San Juan North and QRC have switched places in the relegation zone due to a rule violation by a third school, Presentation.

Photo: San Juan North Secondary midfielder Josiah Beard (left) tries to keep the ball from Naparima College defender Shadeon Arthur during the SSFL Big Four semifinals on 9 December 2016 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: San Juan North Secondary midfielder Josiah Beard (left) tries to keep the ball from Naparima College defender Shadeon Arthur during the SSFL Big Four semifinals on 9 December 2016 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

The SSFL’s Credential and Disciplinary Committees ruled yesterday that Cupid was ineligible to represent Presentation this season since he wrote his SEA examinations in 2008 and not 2009, as incorrectly stated on his form.

Therefore, the Sixth Form student, who is also a Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team player, had exhausted the eight year window in which he is allowed to play in the SSFL.


The matter was raised by Presentation’s South Zone rivals, Naparima College, and the ‘Pres Lions’ did not protest the final decision.

As a result, Presentation’s wins over Fatima College, East Mucurapo Secondary and QRC were all overturned with the three aforementioned schools awarded 3-0 wins in the protest room. Naparima’s 2-0 win over Presentation on 28 September was also adjusted to 3-0.

The adjustment to the points total of the relevant schools sees QRC climb to 12th place—just one point outside the relegation zone—while San Juan North, the 2016 National Intercol champions, slip to 14th place in the 15-team standings. The bottom three schools are relegation to their respective zonal divisions.

And, just like that, the “Royalians” were awarded to right to participate in the 2017 Premier Division competition.

Photo: QRC midfielder Keyshawn Villafana (centre) runs at St Augustine opponents during SSFL Premier Division action at the QRC grounds on 8 September 2016. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: QRC midfielder Keyshawn Villafana (centre) runs at St Augustine opponents during SSFL Premier Division action at the QRC grounds on 8 September 2016.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

There might be more upheaval in the standings for the New Year, though, as East Mucurapo are also before the Disciplinary and Credential Committees over the use of Lower Six Form student Abdus Ramcharan.

According to the SSFL ruling: “The Committees, including the Appeals upheld the decision that Abdus only having three subjects in [Lower Six] (contrary to League Rules) is not eligible to represent his school as a player in the League. Therefore the game was awarded to St Benedict’s with three points and three goals.

That decision in itself does not significantly alter the standings, as East Mucurapo and St Benedict’s College would still remain in 10th and 11th place respectively.

However, Ramcharan was allegedly used for East Mucurapo in wins over Fatima and Fyzabad Secondary as well as in draws against QRC and Trinity College. Notably, all four games in question were after East Mucurapo’s game against St Benedict’s as the school continued to use Ramcharan in their survival race.


“The manager had heard about a protest but I didn’t understand why [St Benedict’s were protesting],” East Mucurapo coach Dale Saunders told Wired868. “It was only after the league was finished that we were [officially] told [about the Ramcharan protest].”

Photo: Giant East Mucurapo captain Akquinde Marslin (left) tries to turn past a Signal Hill opponent during SSFL Premier Division action at Moka on 14 September 2016. (Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Photo: Giant East Mucurapo captain Akquinde Marslin (left) tries to turn past a Signal Hill opponent during SSFL Premier Division action at Moka on 14 September 2016.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

Elliot insisted, though, that East Mucurapo were properly informed as soon as St Benedict’s lodged their protest.

Should East Mucurapo be stripped of those points, they will finish bottom of the Premier Division standings and be relegated. And Fatima, who were last at the end of the season, would also be saved in the boardroom due to rule violations by the two schools in the hot seat.

Unlike Presentation, East Mucurapo are fighting their case to the end and their matter will now go to arbitration.

SSFL assistant secretary Gerald Elliot said the East Mucurapo ruling, which will decide the fate of their Mucurapo Road neighbours, Fatima, may be resolved until well into 2017. At present, the schools body is setting up an arbitration panel.

“East Mucurapo are taking us down a road and we are trying to be patient,” said Elliot. “Once the arbitration is finalised and once it goes in favour of the League, further penalties will be taken.”

If found guilty, East Mucurapo will be relegated. However, Presentation, the 2016 South Zone Intercol champions, survived as their position dipped from second to fourth.

Photo: Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder Kori Cupid (centre) tries to tug back Naparima College playmaker Justin Sadoo (right) during the 2015 South Intercol final in Marabella. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder Kori Cupid (centre) tries to tug back Naparima College playmaker Justin Sadoo (right) during the 2015 South Intercol final in Marabella.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Should Presentation have been expelled, as suggested by ‘Naps’ coach Angus Eve?

Presentation coach Shawn Cooper said an inadvertent error was made five years ago when Cupid transferred in from Trinity College (Moka) and insisted they did not deliberate seek out an unfair advantage.

Elliot suggested that the SSFL’s probe came to the same conclusion.

“When we investigated, we realise that the present [administrators at Presentation] were not involved [in Cupid’s transfer],” Elliot told Wired868, “and to deny the whole school, I think, would have been unfair to the school.”

San Juan North might have a thing or two to say about fairness, though.

In an earlier interview, just before the National Intercol final, San Juan North coach Jerry Moe vented his frustration at the boardroom scenario facing his team.

“[If we do get relegated] then a can of worms will be opened because somebody should have put a stop [to the player’s participation] there,” said Moe. “[…] You can’t penalise San Juan for something like that. The [SSFL] administration is doing their job so that is not San Juan’s responsibility…

Photo: San Juan North Secondary midfielder Jerome Cyrus (left) is lifted bodily by a schoolmate after their 2016 National Intercol final win over Presentation College (San Fernando) at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on 2 December 2016. (Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Photo: San Juan North Secondary midfielder Jerome Cyrus (left) is lifted bodily by a schoolmate after their 2016 National Intercol final win over Presentation College (San Fernando) at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on 2 December 2016.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

“I think from a management standpoint a lot of things were swept under the carpet. I think they could have done a lot better in terms of managing it. In order for a player to play he has to get a pass. In order for him to get a pass he has to be registered.

“That means whoever [needed] to make sure the player has all the accreditations [dropped the ball]…”

Unfortunately for San Juan North, Elliot said the SSFL cannot now consider creating a special clause to save their Premier Division status. Safety or relegation decides on the standings and, in the end, the boys from Bourg Mulatresse did not have enough points.

“We are going by the points table,” said Elliot. “It is just unfortunate but it is something we saw happen already. The year when Mucurapo won the [National] Intercol title, they were relegated. So it is not a strange phenomenon.”

East Mucurapo’s relegation in 2014 occurred on the playing field, though. San Juan North’s demotion happened in the protest rooms.

Still, Elliot said the SSFL is looking into changes that would safeguard against similar occurrences in the future.

Photo: Shiva Boys Hindu College stand-in captain Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel (front, centre) and his squad celebrate after clinching the 2016 SSFL Premier Division crown with a 3-1 win over Pleasantville Secondary on 22 October 2016. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: Shiva Boys Hindu College stand-in captain Tyrel “Pappy” Emmanuel (front, centre) and his squad celebrate after clinching the 2016 SSFL Premier Division crown with a 3-1 win over Pleasantville Secondary on 22 October 2016.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

The problems, he suggested, usually come with transferred players who are registered on the eve of the opening fixture or after the season has already started. Elliot said the schools body is considering a firmer line with teams that overburden the registration process.

“The League feels it needs to reiterate the registration must come in at a particular time so the Credentials Committee can look at it. If you are not ready by [the start of the season] and your players are not fully registered, you will lose games [until you are].

“This will be especially for the schools who are always drafting players and then find themselves having to wait for the Ministry [of Education] to approve these players. They have under-14 and under-16 players in their schools, so develop them and use them until your transfers come in.

“Remember the majority of people involved [on the SSFL committees] are teachers… So making the time to ensure that certain things are done [can be difficult once the school term starts].”

For now, QRC will be toasting the god of love, as they live to fight another season. Cupid probably is not as popular in San Juan.

Photo: Naparima College forward Isaiah Lee (left) takes his aim while Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder Kori Cupid looks on during SSFL Premier Division action at Lewis Street, San Fernando on 28 September 2016. Lee scored one and set up another as Naparima won 2-0. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Naparima College forward Isaiah Lee (left) takes his aim while Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder Kori Cupid looks on during SSFL Premier Division action at Lewis Street, San Fernando on 28 September 2016.
Lee scored one and set up another as Naparima won 2-0.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

(The revolution of the 2016 SSFL standings)

[At the end of the season]

Previous 2016 SSFL Premier Division standings 

(Tabulated as Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Shiva Boys HC    14-12-1-1-35-12-37

Presentation SF 14-10-2-2-32-11-32

Naparima             14-10-2-2-27-12-32

St Anthony’s       14-9-1-4-38-21-28

St Augustine       14-5-5-4-15-12-20

Signal Hill           14-6-2-6-16-15-20

Fyzabad Sec       14-6-2-6-26-25-20

St Mary’s             14-5-5-4-14-25-20

Trinity Moka      14-5-3-6-7-17-18

East Mucurapo 14-4-3-7-13-19-15

St Benedict’s      14-3-3-8-7-21-12

San Juan North 14-3-2-9-21-24-11

QRC                         14-2-4-8-8-20-10

Pleasantville       14-2-4-8-12-26-10

Fatima College  14-2-3-9-15-27-9

Photo: San Juan Secondary striker Renaldo Boyce (centre) and his teammates celebrate after their 1-0 win over Presentation College (San Fernando) in the National Intercol final at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on 6 December 2016. (Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Photo: San Juan Secondary striker Renaldo Boyce (centre) and his teammates celebrate after their 1-0 win over Presentation College (San Fernando) in the National Intercol final at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on 6 December 2016.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
[After the St Benedict’s and Presentation rulings]

Current 2016 SSFL Premier Division standings

(Tabulated as Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Shiva Boys HC    14-12-1-1-35-12-37

Naparima             14-10-2-2-28-12-32 (+1)

St Anthony’s        14-9-1-4-38-21-28 (+1)

Presentation SF 14-7-2-5-27-20-23 (-2)

St Augustine        14-5-5-4-15-12-20

Signal Hill            14-6-2-6-16-15-20

Fyzabad Sec         14-6-2-6-26-25-20

St Mary’s               14-5-5-4-14-25-20

Trinity Moka       14-5-3-6-8-18-18

East Mucurapo  14-4-3-7-15-19-15

St Benedict’s      14-4-3-7-10-18-15

QRC                        14-3-4-7-11-19-13 (+1)

Fatima College  14-3-3-8-18-25-12 (+2)

San Juan North 14-3-2-9-21-24-11 (-2)

Pleasantville      14-2-4-8-12-26-10 (-1)

Photo: QRC midfielder Kalev Keil (right) is tackled by a St Augustine player during SSFL Premier Division action at the QRC grounds on 8 September 2016. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: QRC midfielder Kalev Keil (right) is tackled by a St Augustine player during SSFL Premier Division action at the QRC grounds on 8 September 2016.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
[If East Mucurapo are punished for every possible use of Abdus Ramcharan]

Projected 2016 SSFL Premier Division standings

(Tabulated as Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Shiva Boys HC    14-12-1-1-35-12-37

Naparima             14-10-2-2-28-12-32

St Anthony’s        14-9-1-4-38-21-28

Presentation SF 14-7-2-5-27-20-23

Fyzabad Sec         14-7-2-5-28-23-23 (+2)

St Augustine        14-5-5-4-15-12-20 (-1)

Signal Hill            14-6-2-6-16-15-20 (-1)

St Mary’s              14-5-5-4-14-25-20

Trinity Moka      14-6-2-6-10-17-20

Fatima College   14-4-3-7-21-24-15 (+3)

QRC                         14-4-3-7-14-19-15 (+1)

St Benedict’s       14-4-3-7-10-18-15 (-1)

San Juan North 14-3-2-9-21-24-11 (+1)

Pleasantville       14-2-4-8-12-26-10 (+1)

East Mucurapo  14-2-1-11-11-29-7 (-5)

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About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

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128 comments

  1. Any status on the arbitration exercise?

  2. There are academic criteria for transfer and repeats.
    If they wait a year dome may not be in school for the football
    The real problem is 1) getting valid information from Schools and 2) the league being able to vet documents and schools waiting for approval .

  3. Lasana…all this going on for years and harsh disciplinary action may put an end to it..

  4. Secondary School football mafia . #smallgoalfifa. Harsher penalties needed.

  5. Great is the college #blueblood #magnumest ?

  6. A sensational headline, People often forget that the SSFL and Intercol are two different leagues.

  7. Birdy keep it up bro congratulations

  8. Pres should be relegated..end of story lol

  9. Are there clear cut sanctions for violations of the like, or is it up to a committee to make a judgment ?

  10. This issue of ineligible players & relegation due to protests will continue to plague the SSFL until more is done to regulate player transfers.

    • Player transfers are the business of the Ministry of Education though. So that won’t be easy at all.

      • Not really Lasana. The SSFL already has rules regarding players & transfers re: eligibility that “contradict” MoE policy & there’s no problem. Add on to/amend them….e.g. Students who transfer are ineligible to play in the year of transfer & must meet certain academic criteria before being allowed to play (in keeping with their reason for transfer). See how many will transfer after that rule is brought into effect.

  11. The rules should be ” Any school found playing over age players will be place to the bottom of the table ” .

  12. “When we investigated, we realise that the present [administrators at Presentation] were not involved [in Cupid’s transfer],” Elliot told Wired868, “and to deny the whole school, I think, would have been unfair to the school.”

    With all due respect to Elliott, the SSFL Administrators failed in dealing justly with Pres. They dragged their feet in dealing with Naparima’s protest. Severe penalties should have been given by denying them participation in the Big Four Final ALTOGETHER. Even though they lost one entry ticket through their petty demotion in the league, they were ‘allowed’ to come through the ‘back door’ with their participation in the Intercol.
    If San Juan has to suffer the ‘Collateral Damage’ by being relegated on account of their lowly estate then WHY should the reckless perpetrator of the CRIME be allowed to play all the way to stardom. COME ON SSFL STOP THE CRAP!

  13. Something tells me this isn’t going to end here.

  14. Interesting that the so called “prestige schools ” are the beneficiaries……. smh

  15. It’s meant to be we are going no where faster than I thought
    It’s atrocious

  16. What are we trying to figure out people, the man in charge of SSFL that is clearly disorganized is now the interim manager of TT Soca warriors manager
    Clearly, we are going no where faster thanbi though.
    A fish rotten from the head people

  17. DeNyssa isnt San Juan winning the Intercol title separate and apart from them being relegated……….my understanding was with the revised standings due to the various protests, San Juan’s points total now places them in the bottom 3

    • What is being disputed is that it came to this, Presentation as well as those responsible for giving players clearance to play are the reason I’m livid. At the end of the day these guys played by the rules had a rocky start were able to bounce back win and league and cannot even defend their title, how fair is that? ?. It would have been a much easier pill at least for me to swallow if Pres was punished.

    • I agree that there should be harsher punishment for the schools that break the rules…………merely deducting points isn’t good enough

    • San Juan can still defend their Intercol title though. The zonal teams get to compete in the Intercol too.

  18. Its the Season of my Saviours birth so pleasant thoughts.

  19. Brent Bennett I also don’t believe that a Prestigious school like Presentation didn’t know the player was ineligible. To obtain the transfer in and be a form six student non the less his Cxc certificate is necessary these certificates are dated so it would be very easy to determine when he wrote SEA. I’m not buying that “innocent” stance at all. Repeaters and applicants for A levels as well as transfers in MUST furnish certain documents including the cumulative card and records from all schools attended. Miss me with that we didn’t know BS ?. They should be sanctioned

  20. Another issue could be the fact of when the protest occurred and how long it took to be resolved as well. It’s ridiculous to demote SJ based on someone else’s doing. The offending party has to be the one that feels the pain, not an honest party to their transgressions.

  21. Lasana you cannot really keep changing your criteria for promotion and relegation without causing serious implications down the line .
    The fact is at the end of the season based on points awarded they are to be relegated.
    It is sad ,my concern though is that the offending team , sorry School, must be sanctioned effectively and strongly to send a message to all other schools .
    The League executive has the power.

  22. It would add more weight to the Intercol championship and make it even more competitive.

  23. The Intercol champs were demoted before in 2014. Ironically, that was East Mucurapo. I don’t agree that a team should be spared demotion just because they are Intercol champs.
    My sympathy is simply because San Juan North ended the season safe from relegation but then still got demoted because someone else broke the rules.

  24. A new rule may have to be implemented. That is the way organizations evolve.

  25. I don’t think anyone could have anticipated that a team capable of winning Intercol could have performed so poorly in the league.

  26. DeNyssa Furlonge, tough break for sure.

  27. The rules as they exist now are being adhered to but , I would recommend that the League agree to withhold any monetary awards to the offending party.

  28. ? this is so unfair, our boys worked, we won the title and to be relegated because someone didn’t do their job? So as a Business teacher where ethics is a topic I would certainly be using this as a teaching point SSFL sucks big time!!!!!! In the same breath that Pesentation shouldn’t be relagated why couldn’t the league title winners be persevered as well? The same principle applied. Big wet watery STEUPS and some extra thoughts……… but I’d maintain some decorum lest I bring the teaching profession into disrepute ???. Get it together this is certainly not how we reward our young men for their efforts , epic failure!!!!!

  29. ..The Law is the Law. But it is not applied equally or with common sense in Trini..

  30. Wow …..so keeping up an extra team was not an option ?

  31. Some zones in the SSFL have more power than others.

  32. North Zone bias to justify SJ demotion and QRC staying up… Presentation should be demoted. It’s simply an injustice to SJ…

  33. How come the offending schools are the ones that seemingly do not get ‘punished’?

  34. I’d put this blame squarely on poor league administration and lack of compliance controls. It’s a pity that the competition is being decided off the field by arbitration.

  35. Again I say…the SSFL has to get their act together. This is very unfortunate to San Juan who did nothing wrong but abide by the rules. Presentation on the other hand gets away with a slap on the wrist. Presentation is a big school in secondary school football while San Juan isn’t and filled with…..(I am sure you understand my drift). The SSFL has failed secondary school sports in my opinion with their initial failure to check the credentials of these ‘student athletes’.

  36. they won the east then beat trinity moka

  37. I really feel for San Juan North. They shouldn’t have been in a relegation battle in the first place. But they would have looked at the table and worked out what they needed to survive and did it.
    And then, based on circumstances not under their control, got relegated anyway.

  38. Today we learned a lot about God. We have known for a while that he’s Trini so we just continue to do crap and survive with no vision, no plan, no integrity, etc. We know that a people without a vision perishes yet TT survives- incontrovertible proof that God is a Trini . As a QRC alum we always felt he was a man in favor of the Q but we didn’t have much proof. Today the arrow of Cupid sailed our way. Then this morning we found out that God has been a major part of the police investigative process. He’s truly omniscient and truly amazing. Oh God……

    • No Brian, as QRC Alums we are taught to do things the right way and let the chips fall as they may. If a player does not have the qualifying grades to get in, he does not get in by us. And, we develop our own players. Do it right or don’t do it at all!

    • Since the inception of Jr Sec students came to QRC to complete their final 2 years of high school, so your point is mute. Most went on to graduate with outstanding grades.

    • Yes that was when there was the 14plus exam. Now is straight transfer to play sport.

    • If you say so Junior, I’m sure some did well. I don’t know if I’d say most. And I knew quite a few of them personally.
      You make it sound as if it is natural that junior secondary students would OBVIOUSLY go to QRC to finish schooling.
      Did QRC take make junior secondary students who didn’t play football per chance?
      I am not knocking it. Quite a few club teammates of mine did it. And they are mostly nice fellahs. But I won’t go so far as to congratulate QRC as a champion of morals when it comes to school football at all.
      Do you want to compare your intake of junior secondary footballers with St Mary’s College for instance?

    • Hmmm. I remember at one point I thought QRC was a senior comprehensive with the number of junior secondary footballers that graduated to there. Lol.

    • I believe though that QRC is the least of all the evils based on my relationship with the school over the last 19 years

    • We only had space for one class of Jr Sec students in for 4 and 5. And, these were not just footballers as others do. If we lucky to pick up a couple players, we lucky. I can only speak for what I know. I cannot speak for the school on Frederick Road. I know you’re a smart fella and yuh like research. If you research well you’d find we have all kinds from Jr Sec.

    • Let me say it again. That was back in d day when there was d 14 plus exam. My Minister Mrs. Manning deshifted so there is no longer the issue.

      Now the flood gates are open.

    • Understood Joann. QRC barely has space today for regular classes, much less to have wanton bringing in of footballers.

    • I definitely don’t believe QRC is the worst offender or ever has been. Still not ideal to me. Back in the days I was in school at least. But I won’t pick on you guys. Not too much anyway. Lol

    • Trinity Moka also took one class also

    • Junior Noel what you taking about ???? Did I ever comment on people getting in without qualifying grades? I know that well and have practiced it!

    • Lasana Liburd we should be careful. i see comments that we brought in many junior sec students etc. not true!!! not while i’ve been there or associated with the school. Earl would also support me on this. One year while I played first 11 football, I remember we had 3 on our team. And academically two of these guys did relatively well. Also, they HAD to pass the entrance exam and the college always enforced that. There is one outstanding current national player who attempted to coem in from a JS, had great references but failed the test and was not accepted, as an example.

    • Brian in my time, the Junior Secondary players were: Walter Alibey, Jeremy Shortt, Marlon Springer, Chaim McKain, Shawn Euzebe…
      Those are only the players I remember because I played with two of them at youth club level and the other three were from east Trinidad so I all knew them.
      Those were within two years of each other and not four or five.
      So it is absolutely true.

    • Some of them are right in this group. You can ask

    • Lasana is being modest…there were many many more

    • Exactly Carlon Garcia. Those are just from those I knew personally and in a two-year span. God knows how many junior secondary students they took in that decade.
      Like I said, I’m not singling out QRC. But QRC ought not to play holier than thou on this particular topic. Because I can guarantee you that these were not brilliant students in their respective schools, although I think the QRC experience did help some.

    • Lasana Liburd I dont doubt that some came. I know a few also. My point was that QRC did not have a policy of going out to recruit Junior Sec Players just for football. They had to meet the academic standards. The principals I passed thru – Van Stewart, Basil Jordan, Winston Douglas, and more recently BillCarter, Lennard Hinkson and David Simon have all been consistent that there will be no targeted recruiting of individuals just for football or cricket – they all would have to meet the minimum standards. Of course some will slip thru the cracks because of special favors etc. Deceased Roderick Warner coming in from Tranquil attempted to bring in some guys and met stiff opposition from filks like Earl Best (he will be a good reference). When I was in charge of the football program 2002- 2007, I personally had to turn away several players. One in particular really hurt because I felt that he could have benefitted from a different environment – he’s a current national player

    • We are saying “we are not holier-than-thou”, more importantly, we are saying we’ve played within the rules even if others cheated to gain advantage resulted in us being demoted. Observe, either time we didn’t perform well enough to stay up, we eh beat up? Now the chick’s have come home to roost for some, we could rock back and laugh.

    • Junior Noel exactly! And thats the point the school’s leadership always made.

    • Well Brian and Junior, I cannot say that QRC violated any rules. I would give you all that much. For me, frequent transfers in for the sport are against the spirit of schoolboy competition.
      But it doesn’t break rules.

    • Lasana Liburd – do you have evidence of frequent transfers? Define frequent? Tell us the population of QRC? For schools of similar size, how many transfers are done each year? Or if you wish to normalize then tell us of number of transfers per 100 students?

      • That seems to be a very dubious assertion in an era that would have produced their own quality players – Chinapoo et al. Trinity’s pool of players has been mainly drawn from the school’s original intake. Yes, we have been allowing transfers in small numbers who would have to meet the proper academic requirements but NOT AN ENTIRE CLASS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

    • Brian I would say when between a third to a half of your team is from a junior secondary than that seems to suggest something. That was in 1990 or 1991. I am talking about five or six starters were all from junior secondary schools. And those are just the players I know.
      Are you really going to tell me that is coincidence?

    • Lasana Liburd well I don’t know the details of that year. You however can’t fall into the trap of taking one year to suggest a trend!! Also, QRC as a seven year Govt school is sometimes going to take in qualified junior Sec students but we not taking students who don’t cur the mustard!!!!! Even transfers from traditional schools must meet the academic requirements.

    • Well I admit that I never researched the topic Brian Harry. All I can guarantee you is that in that period–in the early to mid-1990s–QRC regularly raided the junior secondaries for footballers.
      I can’t speak for the academic requirements for QRC. But I guarantee you that those footballers were not top students in their junior secs at the time, I can guarantee that some got no passes.
      Hector Sam was another of those players. And anyone who knows him will laugh if you say he passed academic requirements for much schools, let alone a college.
      Euzebe was already a father by Form Four and would be seen by the maxi stand liming with his trademark cane while in a QRC uniform too. Lol.
      I don’t know want to knock QRC’s programme. I don’t have great knowledge on it. But I know what I’m talking about in those years for sure.

    • Qrc raided Mt Hope Jnr Sec like how Bayern Munich raided Borussia

    • Hahaha. And El Dorado Junior Sec too!

  39. How did SJN end up in the Intercol Final?

  40. Kori out here saving qrc ????? Johann Richards

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