St Anthony’s hold Shiva Boys 2-2; Ryan laments SSFL “politics” as defending champs stumble again


In a mouth-watering clash that was fit for a final, Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division powerhouses St Anthony’s College and Shiva Boys Hindu College left it all on the field in a 2-2 draw at Westmoorings.

It meant a second straight winless outing for Shiva Boys, who also lost two important decisions in the SSFL boardroom—the defending champions lost three points for using Kierron Mason in their opener against Naparima College and were forbidden from using their Lachoos Road home ground owing to security issues.

Photo: Shiva Boys HC coach Hayden Ryan (second from left) celebrates his team’s third goal while St Mary’s College coach Ryan Shim (stooping) looks on at Serpentine Road during the 2015 SSFL season.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

“Everybody is trying to make sure in every way that Shiva can’t defend the title,” Shiva Boys head coach Hayden Ryan told Wired868. “But I’m the type of man who will fight down to the last. What’s the prize for the title […] for them to be behaving so and doing all of that?!

“One setta politics taking place!”


Shiva Boys were first before Naparima College successfully protested their use of Mason. Now, the “Penal Princes” are fourth in the standings and can even drop to fifth place if St Augustine Secondary win their match against Trinity College Moka, which was postponed today owing to the underfoot field conditions.

Presentation College (San Fernando) continue to lead the pack, as they came from behind to edge 15th placed QRC 2-1 at Guaracara Park while Naparima leapfrogged St Anthony’s to second place after a 2-0 triumph away to Signal Hill Secondary.

Elsewhere, sixth-placed San Juan North remained the Premier Division’s only unbeaten team albeit with their sixth draw of the season, as they were held 3-3 by tenth-placed Carapichaima East. Table-proppers Speyside Secondary, meanwhile, faced another haunting evening as they were crushed 6-0 by St Mary’s College, who moved up two places to ninth as a result.

Photo: Speyside High goalkeeper Jonathan Thomas looks on in despair as St Mary’s College captain Gabriel Nanton collects the ball in a dangerous position during SSFL action at Serpentine Road, St Clair on 7 October 2017.
St Mary’s won 6-0.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)

At St Anthony’s school ground, the conditions were far from ideal, as intermittent rainfall created a sodden playing surface in the lair of the “Westmoorings Tigers.”

Shiva Boys were clearly up for the challenge on a gloomy afternoon though, as attackers Quinn Rodney and Tyrell “Sexyman” Baptiste scored twice inside the first seven minutes, after exploiting a weakness on the right side of the St Anthony’s defence.

First, the speedy Rodney calmly beat Augustin from close range after latching on to a sweet diagonal pass from utility player Yohannes Richardson. Then Sexyman tucked home from a similar angle three minutes later after profiting from a booming Richardson header and a Rodney flick on.

“That’s it, boys. Time to get hungry!” shouted a Shiva supporter, as the visitors jumped on the back of the Tigers.

But when twinkled-toed former National Under-17 player Tyrese “Boy Boy” Bailey snuck in uncontested to bury a Haile Beckles cross in the 11th minute, Ryan and company knew they had a game on their hands.


Photo: St Anthony’s College winger Tyrese Bailey (right) accelerates past Naparima College midfielder Justin Sadoo (centre) during SSFL action at Westmoorings on 15 October 2016.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

“How you will leave that man open dey?!” Ryan asked his defender, Simeon De Bourgh, who was struggling to contain Bailey. “That come like you leave a man in your house and your sisters alone home.”

Ryan turned his guns on the referee, Larry Lalchan, for supposedly failing to protect his custodian, Denzil Smith, when Tigers defender Nkosi Salandy equalised with a header just before halftime.

“He pushed the goalkeeper and got the ball in the back of the net,” said Ryan. “Every time we come here, we does get that.”

St Anthony’s coach Ronald Daniel was concerned with his own players after they were left in the starting blocks again—just as they were two weeks ago against ‘Naps.’

“The game started off kinda slowly for my team and I think Shiva caught us sleeping,” said Daniel.  “But when the boys woke up we upped the tempo in the game and we levelled the scores at two all and I think we should have been the winners of this game here…

Photo: Shiva Boys Hindu College winger Quinn Rodney runs at the Fatima College defence during SSFL action at Mucurapo Road on 30 September 2017.
(Courtesy Annalisa Caruth/Wired868)

“We should have been successful but I didn’t set it this way. Whoever set it this way—if it’s the Lord—we have to settle with the draw.”

Slow start notwithstanding, St Anthony’s seemed to adapt better to the adverse conditions as they often chose long punts towards the nippy duo of Bailey and Beckles, whereas Shiva Boys, led by the duo of Mason and skipper Judah Garcia, overplayed through the middle at times and were left spinning top in mud—much to Ryan’s chagrin.

“After leading 2-nil we gave up the style of play that was working for us and that broke the whole rhythm and brought them back in the game,” Ryan said. “We changed to playing the ball in the mud […] I think it boils down to the attitude of the players and we didn’t do what we were supposed to do throughout the game.”

The second half action was relentless and God alone knows how the scoreline read 2-2 at Lalchan’s final whistle.

Shiva inserted Junior “Barry” Asson in the 68th minute and the lively striker, who was their top scorer last season but is just returning from injury, combined with Sexyman to give Shiva more bite with their timely runs.

Photo: Shiva Boys Hindu College attacker Tyrell “Sexyman” Baptiste takes the ball during SSFL Premier Division action at Bourg Mulatresse on 27 September 2017.
(Courtesy Annalisa Caruth/Wired868)

Mere seconds after coming on, Asson forced Augustin into a sharp save from a tight angle while, five minutes later, he sprinted past Salandy and looked sure to give his team the go-ahead goal, only to lose his footing and collide with a relieved Augustin.

The lanky Augustin, who can be eccentric between the sticks, pulled off a brilliant stop in the 85th minute to keep out a meaty, angled effort by Sexyman. While, at the other end, the woodwork was doing the business for Shiva Boys as the dangerous Benny rocked the goal frame twice within the space of five minutes.

First, in the 72nd minute, the playmaker bent a wicked left-footed free kick off the bar from the edge of the area. Then,  Benny spanked a right-footer—yes, a right-footer!—against the bar from point blank range after selling an opposing defender a sweet fake.

On both occasions, substitute Shiva Boys goalkeeper Akiel Henry did not have a prayer.

“We know Benny can strike the ball well but if the day is not on for you—sometimes that’s how football is—it’s not on for you,” Daniel told Wired868.

Photo: St Anthony’s College maestro Che Benny (right) whips a free kick towards goal during SSFL action against Fyzabad Secondary at Westmoorings on 2 October 2017.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)

It meant a share of the spoils for both teams.

The Presentation College Lions will not mind that result one bit.

(Teams)

St Anthony’s College (4-2-3-1): 22.Oba Augustin (GK); 18.Shakir Clapham, 4.Nkosi Salandy, 27.Derron John, 6.Khiesa Granger; 23.Sowande Prieto (7.Krishon Alexander 70), 5.Jesse Williams; 11.Haile Beckles (8.Jodel Brown 63), 9.Che Benny, 10.Tyrese Bailey; 19.Jaydon Prowell.

Unused Substitutes: 1.Jabari Brice (GK), 25.Elijah Shade (GK), 13.Quinn Frederick, 21.Jameiq Pierre, 30.Shurland Augustine.

Coach: Ronald Daniel

Shiva Boys HC (4-2-3-1): 22.Denzil Smith (GK) (13.Akiel Henry (GK) 47); 16.Simeon De Bourgh, 19.Yohannes Richardson, 5.Anderson Peters, 14.Matthew Beal; 10.Judah Garcia (captain), 15.Kierron Mason; 17.Ronaldo Edwards (24.Jabari Graham 90), 8.Jude Phillip (11.Junior Asson 67), 7.Quinn Rodney; 9.Tyrell Baptiste.

Unused Substitutes: 2.Atiba Lewis, 21.Aaron Rodney, 23.Jeremy Williams, 32.Ronald Charles.

Coach: Hayden Ryan

Referee: Larry Lalchan

Wired868 Man-of-the-Match: Oba Augustin (St Anthony’s College)

Photo: Presentation College defender Mylz Barrington (left) and Naparima College winger Ronaldo McIntosh chase the ball during SSFL action at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on 27 September 2017.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

SSFL Premier Division results

(Saturday 7 October)

St Anthony’s College 2 (Tyrese Bailey 11, Nkosi Salandy 43), Shiva Boys HC 2 (Quinn Rodney 4, Tyrel Baptiste 7) at Westmoorings;

St Mary’s College 6 (Tyrese Spicer 4, Trey La Motte 15, 16, Seon Melville OG 53, Devon Charles 81, 90+3), Speyside High 0 at St Mary’s;

Signal Hill 0, Naparima College 2 (Ronaldo McIntosh 23, 35) at Signal Hill;

St Benedict’s College 2 (Reuel Tyson 63, Kyjuan Sampson 71), Fyzabad Secondary 0 at Barrackpore;

Presentation (San F’do) 2 (Jordan Riley 71, Darnell Hospedales 73), QRC 1 (Miguel Williams 39) at Guaracara Park;

Carapichaima East 3, San Juan North 3 at Carapichaima;

St Augustine Secondary v Trinity College Moka, DNP, St Augustine;

Trinity College East v Fatima College, DNP, Trincity.

SSFL Standings

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

  1. Presentation        9-7-1-1-22-922
  2. Naparima             9-6-2-1-20-10-20
  3. St Anthony’s        9-5-3-1-31-14-18
  4. Shiva Boys HC     9-5-2-2-21-10-17
  5. St Augustine        8-5-1-2-20-13-16
  6. San Juan N          9-3-6-0-22-915
  7. Trinity East          8-4-1-3-15-913
  8. Fatima                 8-4-0-4-7-11-12
  9. St Mary’s             8-3-2-3-19-16-11
  10. Carapichaima E  9-3-2-4-14-16-11
  11. St Benedict’s       9-2-3-4-14-18-9
  12. Fyzabad Sec       8-3-0-5-10-16-9
  13. Signal Hill           9-2-1-6-7-15-7
  14. Trinity Moka       8-2-0-6-8-24-6
  15. QRC                    9-1-2-6-10-21-5
  16. Speyside High    9-1-0-8-4333
More from Wired868
Big 5: Miracle Ministries coach, Cupid, gets 3-match ban for assaulting player

Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (MMPHS) head coach Kern Cupid has been banned for three Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Read more

“David vs Goliath!” Eve speaks on Canada’s Copa challenge and his 23-man squad

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve hopes an organised defence will give his team the Read more

Big 5: Blanchisseuse, MMPHS face disciplinary hearings; Signal Hill star “banned” from Trinidad

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will hold three disciplinary committee meetings in relation to the recently concluded Big Five Read more

Dear Editor: Will SSFL act on Miracle Ministries’ six substitutions against Moruga?

“[…] On Monday 4th March 2024, in a Big 5 match for promotion to the top flight (Premier League), six Read more

T&T and Jamaica finish goalless, Denzil and “Natty” shine

Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica played to a goalless draw at the Larry Gomes Stadium today, in the second and Read more

A significant misstep!” SSFL apologises to Moruga and Miracle Ministries

“[…] The decision by our Arbitration Committee and the reactions of distress from the parties and supporters in recent days Read more

About Roneil Walcott

Roneil Walcott is an avid sports fan and freelance reporter with a BA in Mass Communication from COSTAATT. Roneil is a former Harvard and St Mary's College cricketer who once had lofty aspirations of bringing joy to sport fans with the West Indies team. Now, his mission is to keep them on the edge of their seats with sharp commentary from off the playing field.

Check Also

Big 5: Miracle Ministries coach, Cupid, gets 3-match ban for assaulting player

Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (MMPHS) head coach Kern Cupid has been banned for three …

39 comments

  1. As a person who was involve in SSFL I read all the comments by various individuals. Some make sense and the other are just express clear ignorance. So let me provide some valuable information.
    For the past five years the opening of the college’s league always held on a Friday with a double heads and the rest of the team’s play on Saturday. So the league never start on a Saturday. The rules are registration of players must be done 72 hrs before match day . So Shiva you violate the rules. If you don’t know Mason went to his former school on Wednesday Ministry Tranfer form to get it sign off which was done mid morning. Mason was also advise that he can’t play on Friday.
    The 2nd issue with Mason again is he played a super league game after the 31st August. Again the rules was violated. All these rules are in black and white in the League booklet. We must remember rules are to be obeyed and records are there to be broken.
    Next major issue administrators from schools submitting false CSEC Cert documents to the Ministry for students to either repeat form 5 or go into form 6.
    The rules are a child must have at least 2 subjects for a transfer repeat and 4 or more subjects to enter form 6. Presently Fyzo banned a student from the football because he cànnot provide a CSEC Cert with 4 subjects. This child would be blamed but is the school have the responsibility to see the original and certify the photo copy of the cert before submitting documents to SS3 and SSFL.
    Another major problem that the Ministry of Education must investigate is where school taking transfers and put the child in a way higher form. E.g. the child suppose to go in form 2 but instead put in form 3 because no room in form 2.
    As a former St Benedicts coach i must admit that Mr Ravi and his staff always abided by the SSFL rules and regulations.
    So my friend it has nothing to do with prestige school but is about administrator or Principal reading the rule book and ensure your school so the correct it. Say went people blasting and don’t know the inside story.
    Hope I clear some unknown knowledge.
    I think the schools in question know the penalties for these wrong doing is banned and their sponsors would definitely distance themselves from these illegal act.

  2. Fuh real Malona Thick Darkie Samuel fuh real ??

  3. Antonia Christchild Johnson Carol John he ain’t even worth it….. Lift him along with those other idiots in prayer

  4. They MC victimizing shiva cause we is champs and we invincible at home.. They know they can’t come to penal and get points… They running scared…

    We cut naps ass again.. They can’t beat us on the field so they protest and got the win off the field… shit hungs…

    Can’t wait for the pres vs shiva encounter… WE gonna beat their ass to the pulp….

    #SHIVANATION ???

  5. He really is ah fool u know all shiva games banned we never had fight or nothing as caps ,n pres ,pres n naps fight n police had to b called in ,fyzo n pres fyzo player slap d reff ,san juan cussing d reff ,n no band n o d ground ent fit to play on ,moca ground like ah damp n no band ,but your band shiva ,but i praying for these wicked people so what is this ,what would u call this Kenneth

    • so when the crowd surrounded the ref and linesmen after the agme against stbc in 2015…. the game where 2 goals where scored to tie the match in the rain and mud… honestly speaking your grounds are unsafe for away fans…(i am a St.Benedict’s Supporter BTW) so it aint hav no scene with me talkin bout allyuh ground….#wehavenone

  6. No matter what they do or try to do shiva will defend their title… I Have fate on the boys…

    #SHIVANATION…

  7. As I said earlier the SSFL did not move the game and ALL schools knew the schedule long before hand. Shiva was not victimized and they should have followed the rules . Any school no matter who it is should be penalized for misconduct. I myself think the Ssfl is incompetent but this one they got right. And I guarantee you I am not a Naparima College supporter

  8. Naps couldn’t beat us on the field.. shit hungs lol…

    Teams know they can’t come to penal and get points hence the ban on the home game’s….
    We invincible at home…

  9. That’s the only way they could beat shiva this year and that’s off the field… They trying everything off the field to hamper shiva progress in defending their SSFL title…

  10. They moved the game.. Clear case of victimization.. Remember Shiva Boys is not one of the elite prestigious schools

  11. ..HAHAHAHA. Ent? Not me nah. We like rules that don”t apply to us..

  12. KEITH dem woman ketch yuh is beat down lol.

  13. ..I gone yes. LOL. But rules is rules..

  14. Rules meh rass clat rules is only for d dash hindu school

  15. But way this next fool come out from look here all i say fight down if what pres naps u would not here nothing n if shiva was on d dam bottom of d table these two fool would not b commenting so say out if Keith Look Loy if u doh know nothing about shiva only ah set ah one sided stories Carol John way he come of from

  16. The school an club transfer is for the same player…

  17. Ryan , come on ,build your team Dexter’s team executed in 2016 and early 2017. You need to start coaching and stop complaining for things that you have controlled over. Mason eligibility and the expectations for “Dog Patch”

  18. ..And I have no dog in this fight..

  19. ..Rules is rules. They are there for all. In fact, there is yet another Shiva player in question. He did not receive a transfer from the club he was playing with. They are seeking the transfer now. Rules is rules..

  20. If this was the fool school n they was victamizing his team he would not say that so doh study this fool Kenneth,,,, Carol John

  21. Doh study that fool nah is fight down every year ,it liking telling ah mad u will give him blood to save his life n he put the trust in that man n then he say he is not giving u it again ,its the same this shiva got the green light to play mason from SSFL n because is naps prestiage school the turn against Shiva ,y last year pres played a child who was not to play n he play in pres vs shiva, also naps vs pres d child played but when naps n shiva protested naps won the protest n came back in d big four n shiva did not win d same protest that both school protested about ,when ask y naps get to come back it was something else naps protest about up to this god given day no body knows y naps came back in d big four , told u is sick wicked evil force who trying to fight down this one hindu school i am so disgusted n sick of them

  22. Had the fixture remained the same we would not have this promblem

  23. Antonia Christchild Johnson hear Mr lee nah… them good wi

  24. The schedule was long set and Shiva knew they were playing on the Friday weeks before.
    If they had read the rulebook properly and the coach knew what he was doing they wouldn’t have gotten into the mess in the first place. It was their own doing.

  25. An FYI the matter is not concluded its up for hearing on Tuesday..ok

  26. If the board give u permission to play a player becuz they themselves would have change their rules what wud u do Sir

  27. Carol, once they moved the game it became less than 72 hours though. Right? And that put Shiva Boys in breach. It is a case Shiva Boys have already lost.

  28. SBHC didn’t need Mason for that game we could have beaten Naps with 2players an a goalie… the board has to take responsibility becuz it was an error on their part to move the game from its official opening day Saturday to Friday

  29. They clam that there was a 72hr breach ?? Dont get caught up in the politics of SSFL run by the prestigious ole boy…

  30. Not everything u read is factual… Mason was very much legal.. the entire team was registered at the same time what is in question fyi is whether his transfer was

  31. ..Using a player who was not registered in time..

  32. What rules have they broken might i ask

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.