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The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) executive has decided to shuffle its fixture list to ensure that the Premier Division’s potential title deciding games—involving St Anthony’s College, Naparima College and Presentation College (San Fernando)—are played on the final match day.
St Anthony’s and Naparima are locked on 30 points each, although the former team has a superior goal difference. Presentation are on 23 points at present but also have two games in hand, which could take them to 29.
Looking on (right) is St Anthony’s goalkeeper Oba Augustin.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
The “Westmoorings Tigers” were due to travel to St Mary’s College on Saturday for their final league match of 2017 while “Naps” were hosting second from bottom, Trinity College Moka.
However, a flood of postponements due to inclement weather meant that the Premier Division would have continued next week with rescheduled matches on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
It is unclear whether the SSFL’s final decision was made on its own volition or after needling from television network, SportsMax, which broadcasts the league live across the Caribbean and North America. Either way, the fixture reshuffle will ensure a dramatic final match day thanks to key adjustments of the fixture list. (See below)
The drama off the field shows no sign of slowing down, though, as a new protest was lodged this morning. This time, Shiva Boys Hindu College are the complainers and not the complainees.
Naparima College are in the hot seat now, as they will be asked to prove that midfielder Rushawn Murphy—a former Malick Secondary student and Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team player—is eligible to play school’s football.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
The 19-year-old Murphy, a former Pro League player with St Ann’s Rangers and Club Sando, is a form five student at Naparima. It is unclear what rule Shiva Boys think might have been infringed upon by Naps in using the promising utility player.
Murphy sat the SEA examinations in 2012 and passed for East Mucurapo Secondary before eventually transferring to Malick and then Naparima. Already on his third secondary school, Murphy is yet to sit the CXC exam and is not a form five repeater.
Naparima, who won the season’s first protest by querying Shiva Boys’ registration of Kierron Mason for the opening game of the 2017 term, are confident that they followed proper procedure in recruiting Murphy.
“He is a form five transfer student,” Naparima team manager Percy Samlalsingh told Wired868. “He never wrote CXC.”
If Shiva Boys’ protest is successful, though, Naparima could lose most of their points this season and are likely to be relegated, alongside the suspended Fyzabad Secondary. Ironically, Shiva Boys cannot gain any points themselves since they used an improperly registered player, Mason, in their own clash with Naparima.
At present, the SSFL still has to rule on St Benedict’s College’s protest against Speyside High for alleged insufficient security. Speyside defeated St Benedict’s 1-0 on Wednesday 11 October.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
Fatima College also filed an appeal today against a SSFL Disciplinary Committee decision not to deduct points from Shiva Boys, despite finding them guilty of using Mason in six games when he was improperly registered.
St Anthony’s won their own case against Shiva Boys on Wednesday morning and the two points gained took the Tigers a whisker ahead of Naps on the standings.
Shiva Boys manager Sheldon Maharaj indicated that the school will appeal the Disciplinary Committee’s decision.
In all, four schools—inclusive of Fyzabad—will be relegated from the Premier Division while three teams will be promoted to replace them, which means the competition will have 15 schools next season.
Valencia Secondary, Bishop’s High School (Tobago), East Mucurapo Secondary, Moruga Secondary and Chaguanas North Secondary are battling for the available positions in the ongoing Championship Division Big 5 competition.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
SSFL Remaining Fixtures
(Saturday 28 October)
Presentation College v St Augustine Secondary, 3.40pm, Guaracara Park;
St Benedict’s College v Trinity College East, 3.40pm, Lewis Street, San Fernando;
Carapichaima East v Shiva Boys HC, 3.40pm, Carapichaima;
Signal Hill v Fatima College, 3.40pm, Signal Hill;
San Juan North v Speyside High, 3.40pm, San Juan.
(Courtesy Annalisa Caruth/Wired868)
(Monday 30 October)
Trinity College East v Fatima College, 3.40pm, Trincity;
St Augustine v Trinity College Moka, 3.40pm, St Augustine;
Shiva Boys HC v St Mary’s College, 3.40pm, Morne Diablo.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
(Thursday 2 November)
Signal Hill v Trinity College Moka, 3.40pm, Signal Hill;
Presentation College v Trinity College East, 3.40pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
(Saturday 4 November)
Fatima College v Presentation College, 3.40pm, Fatima;
St Benedict’s College v Shiva Boys HC, 3.40pm, Barrackpore;
St Mary’s College v St Anthony’s College, 3.40pm, St Mary’s;
Naparima College v Trinity College Moka, 3.40pm, Lewis Street.
SSFL Standings
(Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)
- St Anthony’s 13-9-3-1-42-20-30
- Naparima 13-9-3-1-30-13-30
- Presentation 11-7-2-2-25-14-23
- Shiva Boys HC 11-7-1-3-28-14-22
- San Juan N 13-5-6-2-29-15–21
- Trinity East 11-5-2-4-20-12-17
- St Mary’s 12-4-4-4-27-26-16
- Fatima 11-6-0-5-15-15-18
- Carapichaima E 13-4-3-5-19-20-15
- QRC 14-4-3-7-23-30-15
- St Augustine 12-4-1-7-24-28-13
- St Benedict’s 12-3-3-6-18-26-12
- Signal Hill 12-2-2-8-11-25-8
- Trinity Moka 11-2-2-7-13-30-8
- Speyside High 13-2-1-10-7–43–7
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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.
He’s 19 and has never written cxc as yet? How is that even possible. I was out of A-Levels at 18!!! What in the f###?
I am sure you did A levels. I only did CXC I left school at 16.
Basically an adult going to high school
Oh bacchanal. T&T at its finest. There are schools playing by the rules. We cannot suffer a few because of the deeds of others.
This Football Worst That The Bold And The Beautiful Wiiiii Lmao
lasana why u only discussing fyzo sch so go in other sch and see wat going on there too get off fyzo back ual glad dey suspended the sch but fyzo will prevail
Cedel Hinds Cecil Hinds…. and the protest continues!!!
Drama indeed! If Murphy wrote the SEA in 2012, he is in his 6th year of Secondary School so a repeat took place at some point. The repeat doesn’t have to be Form 5. So waiting to see on which rule Shiva’s protest is based. Wonder if any academic studies are actually taking place or if he is in Form 5 at the age of 19 to play ball. This is the first season that I’ve learned so much about SSFL Rules…lol
Naps jus vex Shiva beat them along with their supporters its to bad & Shiva do produce educated young man so get with all d stupid talk
Where was I yesterday to hot up this place lord knows
Editor’s Note: St Benedict’s College v Trinity College East, 3.40pm, Lewis Street, San Fernando… Match moved from Barrackpore to Naparima’s Lewis Street ground.
so Murphy just only studing to play footballer and ain’t nothing to even rite exam u can’t blamed he blamed the sch for taking him to play football dem don’t business about him come and play football and scored goal for my sch and I don’t care if u write exams
So Sakal from Shiva said when he realised that Mason was not properly tranferred he went to the Credentials Comm. and told them and due to his honesty that is why they only received a warning…..well that is the most amount of BS I hear in a while “due to his honesty” hah….he heard the talk and tried to take in front but the Credentials Comm were already on it …they knew fully well what was the situation….So Sakal gih we a break nah…..Honesty you say ….give me a ……..Break
A 19 yr old in Form 5, is that even possible? lol
Yes it is around the country!
Update:
Murphy sat the SEA examinations in 2012 and passed for East Mucurapo Secondary before eventually transferring to Malick and then Naparima. Already on his third secondary school, Murphy is yet to sit the CXC exam and is not a form five repeater.
“He is a form five transfer student,” Naparima team manager Percy Samlalsingh told Wired868. “He never wrote CXC.”
Wow.. .3 schools in 6 years. He real like school ? good for him
He getting real schooled.hahaha..Manage….
Never wrote CXC and he is nineteen really. Naps have no shame nah.
Lmfao
Based on what I have read seems that Naps okay since the rules don’t clearly address all the specifics of Murphy’s situation. I hope Naps are exposed though for using players without caring about their education welfare. They boast about all the scholarships they win to distract from the real problem. Ask them how the non scholarship students perform. Also ask them how they handle the scholarship situation in regards to get the best resources and how they treat the students without scholarship potential.
The SSFL needs to tighten the rules to avoid students being exploited.
Well that’s a discussing where points can be made on both sides. Because there will always be students who go to school and don’t perform academically. Getting an ‘A’ in football and failing everything else is probably still better than just failing everything.
We should just ensure that enough attention is paid to things like their attendance and so on. I know one school had its players training at 9am on school days. That can’t be good. Unsurprisingly, it is the same school where a lower sixth form student didn’t even know what form he was enrolled in!
I agree that it is better getting an “A” in football and failing everything else versus failing everything. The long term problem is football not going to feed your family in most cases. Even the big ballers don’t play in a foreign league and end up playing in local Pro league, that is no guarantee of feeding your family. Some local ‘Pro” teams not paying their players much or paying them nothing.
These youths need to understand they need a little education as well. Some of them thinking they good enough to get scholarships. That is great but a lot of them SAT scores are so bad the only option is community college first then hope to transfer afterwards. They may end up graduating because the school wants to play but imagine you graduate with a 2.0 GPA and decide to stay in the US. You think your chances of getting a decent job are high?
So naps have no problem with a 20 year old next June sitting exams with 16 year olds
Not the only school where this happens and it is not against the rules sir.
I am not saying it is its just embarrassing for school and student I left school at 16
Not an embarrassment to many. Glad some schools are giving kids a chance to get their certificate at that age. Hope kids take the chance seriously. It is what it is.. Murphy can use the school to get his education, just as they can use his football talent.
That’s the problem Brian he not learning shit
Is he going to his classes?
Yes Brian they must make use of their chances but they also need guidance….
Brian the boy was not going to class in compre or malick he will go in naps get real
Dion…sometimes we have to ease up on these boys…they need help
Hassan these boys need to wake up and stop letting these ego maniac coaches keep exploiting them for ssfl glory and take school seriously
Hassan, do parents and guardians not need to step up?
yeah but they are young….adults tend to fool and dupe them that is why I will say again…they need guidance and sometimes we come down on them too much
I am coming down on parents and guardians mostly
BTW, at 18, you can vote and drive, so we have to also understand the young adult responsibility as well..
Yes…but some of them not around or busy enjoying their lives…
yes Brian they may be 18 19 but the minds if they cant think for themselves they will be in a mess
It is possible. The latest you can enter secondary school (form 1) is 15
true…I have heard about 15yr olds in form 1
True but wrong on so many levels. MOE needs to fix that. Imagine a 15 year old boy in form 1 with your 12 year old daughter in form 1. This problem much bigger than football.
I’ve definitely raised that concern before!
It has changedwith csec, there problem would be cape
True the Cape probably wont fit because it was made for Superboy not Superman. ….Hahaha
Subject to correction- a student cannot be 19 year before writing CXC based on Ministry of Education rules not so John Trinipelvic Patterson
Now people find the league should shut down? Where are Carlos Lee and Travis Mulraine to tell them they’re being too harsh? ♀️
LoL. Still wont say shut it down Chabeth’iron lady ‘Haynes lol. But i hope things are put in place to mitigate this crap in the future
Iron Lady yes lmao
Ryan time for you to go . You want to win game in a office . Coach , Coach. Dexter was doing that until Sakal f up and bring you . Bring Nigel Laakhan from Fyzo and you go have Pogba .
Allyuh mean the “TIGERS” right.
Well at least if things go on as plan finally a Port of Spain school will win the league its a pity that it will take fraud and protest to.be crown champions
You know what is sad the are penalizing teams now but I wonder how many teams in the pass have won the league doing the same wrong things and who knows a team might win this year who is just as guilty but was never caught its so sad when you point a finger and 3pointing back at you
you never know they may both lose….yeah I know Wishful Thinking….
This is not something new its being going on for a while but the old people have a saying one day for police one day for thieves
What miss yuh dont pass yuh. .
I love it. Pot telling Pot it’s bottom black.
Scrap the league.. clean it up and start over…
Too many dishonest people in this space…
These people have no shame. I have seen enough for this season. Cancel the rest of the games and start to clean it up because I am sure there is more.
oh yes …you forget this is trini. of course there is more.. .SSFL acts on info before they it out if they choose to…
What about the other schools who did no wrong? Why punish them for playing by the rules? I still remember Grovey’s wired868 interview before season start “QRC different to other schools, you need to have passes here”. I now understand why he find that was so strange
It has been like that since I was in school I am now 34 and I am sure it was going on before.
ENT!!!!
ok folks …we spoken alot ..we have all been appalled by the league..as always the best way to ensure change is to hit them in the pocket…so lets either cancel our sportsmax subscription or refuse to watch
A can of worms has opened. Its now he say, she say, tit for tat. Now who should be held accountable for this longstanding fiasco. Using young men to give the winning school a name and to whose expense? Aspiring young men’s future, How many made it out? We can see by the number of arrest of players within the last few month. Where was the guidance, they were used abused and misused for selfish gains by those in authority and who knows better,That’s why even in cricket they have to seek their fortunes abroad, A set of corrupt, greedy and egotistical friends and family at the helm. We see the same persons playing musical chairs as administrators,coaches, managers etc while simultaneously filling their pockets. Lord put ah hand
Brent Bennett from pro to amateur back to pro….only in T&T
Ridiculous…. for people to think that is acceptable is egregious
well. .only in trini….
Lasana, which SSFL players have played in the Pro or Super League this season? I can think of:
Kierron Mason (Shiva Boys, Marabella Family Crisis Centre)
Che Benny (St. Anthony’s College, St. Ann’s Rangers)
Judah Garcia (Shiva Boys, Point Fortin Civic FC)
Rushawn Murphy (Naparima College, Club Sando)
Any more?
There are tons who’ve played in the super league…
Anthony, and probably zonal football as well?
Yes definitely…
Nigel Saleem Henry (Trinity Moka/Santa Rosa), Akeil Holdford (Signal Hill/Bethel)…
But there are many like Tony said.
That is total nonsense. Shows how badly off the country’s top two divisions are; both in quality and finances for player numbers.
Nicholas on the contrary… If u can’t make a pro league or super league team in a small country like t&t by 16/17, u might as well study your books instead of hoping for a football career
Kion good point. I’d say 18 or 19 though. But fair enough.
Why don’t they just cancel this season and do a audit and demote who they have too
Ridiculous situation. Obviously the influx of money has had an effect. It appears the concept of fair play, one of the core educational principles of school sport, has disappeared. Two immediate changes could be made: maximum age for school football – 17. If a student fails exams or has to repeat he should not be included in school sports programmes as his primary reason for attending school is education, not so?
you mean 18 …it is normal in upper 6 to be 18 so no football for them….but a gpa could come into play
1. I’m assuming that a student is in upper 6 because he is focused on education. If, at 18, he is interested in football, play zonal or super league at weekends.
2. I don’t believe that 18 year olds should be playing alongside or against under 16’s. It’s ok for a talented 15 year old to play above his age group but it should not be the norm. The disparity in height and weight could be dangerous.
that is why there is a 16 and under . 14 and under and 1st form league. U20 is for the older schoolboys
before it was actually U19 and you had to be under 19 most teams were made up of 5th and 6th formers
What criteria are used to select our national under 21 squad? School football or club football or both?
This is gonna turn out to be the worst year in the history of school football, what a shame
if this is what it takes to sanitize the league so be it ….lessons to be learned…
Exactly what I am thinking Hassan they are embarrassed into fixing this now. Public shaming works sometimes……well I pray that is what will happen
Fixes you say. What was fixed after last year? Smh
I think it’s quite the opposite ! Expose the mess and revamp. Hopefully clean it up for future
Murphy’s law at Naparima. More protests coming then? How many more?
Good one Bruce!
It would appear so Bruce
This is really a total mess. According to a friend “Thing to cry for we laughing at”
real trini drama