Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
El Dorado West Secondary’s chances of winning promotion to the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership Division was dealt a major blow in Tobago today, with officiating in the “Sister Isle” again under the spotlight.
Roxborough Secondary attacker De’quan George capitalised on a defensive mix-up to put the hosts ahead, against the run of play, in the 55th minute. However, El Dorado West had the lion’s share of possession and were pushing for an equaliser, when disaster hit in the 85th minute.
- Referee Ashton Baptiste awards Roxborough Secondary a late penalty against El Dorado West Secondary in Tobago, which is followed by the visitors abandoning the Big Five contest on 11 November 2026.
(via Tobago Sports Live.)
A speculative free kick from distance ricocheted off the bar and, in the subsequent melee, referee Ashton Benjamin pointed to the penalty spot.
Replays showed that El Dorado West defender Kayden George jumped in the direction of Roxborough attacker Ezekiel Samuel at the same time that the player kicked the ball.
George’s arms were raised, but he was jumping at the time.
It is uncertain whether the ball made contact with George’s hands or arm, and, notably, the Roxborough players did not appeal for a penalty. But, if it did strike his hand, Fifa guidelines suggest referees should take into consideration the closeness of the player from the kicker, and whether his hand was in “an unnatural position”.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Handball rule: “a player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation”.
Referees were advised, before the 2026 World Cup, that it would be unnatural for a player to jump without raising his arms for balance.
El Dorado West head coach Dave “Hoghead” Quamina, who is also head coach of TTPFL Tier One club La Horquetta Rangers, responded by calling his players off the field.
By the lawbook, Roxborough would be awarded a 3-0 win now. And, after opening the tournament with a 5-0 win away to Pleasantville Secondary, El Dorado West’s Big Five campaign now looks to be in tatters.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Today’s loss was preceded by a 4-1 defeat on their own ground against East Mucurapo Secondary last Thursday.
Quamina said he called his players off the field for two reasons.
“The reason we came off the field is, firstly, because of the [biasness] of the referee, where he was very [biased] throughout the game,” Quamina told Wired868. “And the second one is we felt the atmosphere was getting uncomfortable for the staff and players. It was getting aggressive and they (spectators) were coming close to the bench, and there was no proper security.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“We decided to do that for the safety of the players, as I have to protect the players at the end of the day. We left Trinidad safe and we want to reach back safe.”
Quamina coached away to Tobago clubs with Rangers before. However, in the TTPFL, Trinidad referees are flown across the seabridge to do inter-island games there.
Today, he said, was his first experience of playing in Tobago with an official from the Sister Isle.
- Presentation College (San Fernando) captain Tyrese Harding is penalised for a handled ball, in second half stoppage time against Signal Hill Secondary in Tobago.
Ackim Duncan converted the penalty to give Signal Hill a 3-2 win.
(via Tobago Sports Live.)
“We got information before that this is how it goes in Tobago with Tobago referees, but I didn’t know it was so bad,” said Quamina. “In the future, in a competition where you have teams are fighting for promotion, there should be more experienced individuals doing these games.
“If Tobago have experienced, competent referees, then yes—let them do it. If not, then it is the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, so bring Trinidad referees.
“[…] Right now, it is ridiculous. You cannot beat a Tobago team in Tobago with their referees, when you are getting calls like this. They are bringing the game into disrepute!”
- Referee Keon Yorke awards a controversial late penalty for Signal Hill Secondary, although attacker J’meke Watkins’ cross appeared to strike Naparima College defender Elijah Edwards on the head.
(via Tobago Sports Live.)
There have been several controversial calls against Trinidad schools in Tobago already this season, with Naparima College and Presentation College (San Fernando) both suffering hotly contested late penalties in narrow defeats to Signal Hill.
Arima North Secondary also complained about their players being struck off the ball by opponents, without sufficient intervention—if any at all—by referee Benjamin, during their 2-0 loss away to Signal Hill last month.
Arima North did not lodge a protest, after being advised that video evidence is not admissible by SSFL rules. Naparima did not protest to the league either.
- Arima North Secondary midfielder Jaeden Samuel is kicked from behind by Signal Hill Secondary midfielder Ackim Duncan in a SSFL Premiership encounter on 28 October 2026.
Duncan repeated the act later in the match and was spotted by the assistant referee. Referee Ashton Baptiste opted to show him just a yellow card.
- Arima North Secondary midfielder Kadeem Farfan was knocked off the ball by Signal Hill Secondary defender Kisean Grant during their SSFL Premiership contest on 28 October 2026.
Referee Ashton Baptiste did not even award a free kick.
And Quamina said that El Dorado West also would not lodge a formal protest, whether against the officiating or security.
“It was a scary sight—for the whole season we haven’t encountered anything like this,” said Quamina, who claimed he was verbally abused by fans during the game and confronted by a supporter after the contest. “It would look like we came off the field because of the penalty, but the main reason is because the environment began to get toxic and aggressive… We felt threatened.
“[…] If I felt I had a chance to protest, but I don’t think we have a chance of winning a protest. I have no confidence in the system.”
Mucurapo won 4-1.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
In today’s other Big Five fixture, Presentation College (Chaguanas) kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 home win over Pleasantville Secondary, with both goals coming from forward Kafense McKell.
The result eliminated Pleasantville from Premiership contention, while Presentation leapfrogged El Dorado to third place—with only three teams set for promotion.
Roxborough, who defeated Pleasantville 2-1 in Tobago last Thursday, have almost certainly won promotion with two games to spare.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Once Roxborough avoid heavy defeats in their two games on the road against Presentation and East Mucurapo respectively, there will be three Tobago schools in the Premiership for the first time in 2027.
El Dorado West need a win against Presentation on Saturday 28 November to give themselves a chance of promotion, but, even then, they would need other results to go their way.
Quamina was Arima North head coach when they qualified for the inaugural Premiership competition in 2014. However, he was fired midway through the first season of the new competition, with the “Dial Dynamos” eventually relegated.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
He has not coached in the SSFL top flight since then, although he eventually came to local prominence at the helm of Rangers.
Still, Quamina said qualification for the Premiership—which would be a first for El Dorado West—would rank among his top achievements as a coach. That dream took a big hit today.
He said he did not consider the implications to their promotion campaign when he ordered his players to leave the field, which made a further dent to their goal difference and improved Roxborough’s outlook.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“I wasn’t thinking so far ahead,” said Quamina. “At the point in time, I just wanted to get out of there. I wasn’t thinking about the [loss by] three goals—I was thinking about survival and the safety of my players.
“We didn’t even warm down. We went straight into the maxi with our gears.”
El Dorado have not given up on the 2026 Big Five campaign yet. “Anything is possible,” said the coach of the East Zone Championship winners.
For now, Roxborough, East Mucurapo and Presentation are in charge of their own destinies, though.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Big Five results
(Wednesday 11 November)
Roxborough Secondary 1 (De’quan George 55), El Dorado West Secondary 0 at Roxborough;
*–El Dorado West players walked off the field with six minutes remaining, after Roxborough were awarded a penalty kick;
Presentation College (Chag) 2 (Kafense McKell 64, 71), Pleasantville Secondary 1 (Riyaz Noel 85) at Presentation ground;
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Upcoming fixtures
(Saturday 14 November)
Pleasantville Secondary vs East Mucurapo Secondary, 3.30pm, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
Presentation College (Chaguanas) vs Roxborough Secondary, 3.30pm, Presentation ground;
(Saturday 21 November)
East Mucurapo Secondary vs Presentation College (Chaguanas), 3.30pm, East Mucurapo ground;
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
(Saturday 28 November)
East Mucurapo Secondary vs Roxborough Secondary, 3.30pm, East Mucurapo ground;
El Dorado West Secondary vs Presentation College (Chaguanas), 3.30pm, El Dorado West ground.
“[…] Kevin Molino, Cornell Glen, Clint Marcelle, and the dread dribbler, Ian Clauzel, who is the epitome of what East Read more
St Mary’s College finally enjoyed some breathing room at the top of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Sportt Premiership Read more
Defending champions Naparima College made a sizzling start to their 2026 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) campaign this evening, as Read more
The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) executive committee has abandoned four outstanding games from the 2025 season, with a significant Read more
Pleasantville Secondary, the reigning 2025 Girls National Intercol champions, swept aside a weakened St Joseph’s Convent (Port of Spain) team Read more
Another Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) match day, another postponement. There was more farce today in the 2025 schools football Read more
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.
