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The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Disciplinary Committee is expected to meet early this week to deliberate on a post-game fracas involving supporters of St Mary’s College and Fatima College on the final match day of the 2023 Premier Division season.
Fatima College, the newly crowned schoolboy champions, emerged 1-0 winners at the St Mary’s College ground on Serpentine Road, St Clair. However, the result was overshadowed by a post-match brawl—some of which was captured by drone footage.
In the clip, Fatima goalkeeper Tristan Edwards appears to be confronted by rival supporters in the immediate aftermath of the Premier Division match. Wired868 understands that the parent of a St Mary’s College player was involved.
Subsequently, a Fatima employee, who is not a member of the team’s technical staff, is seen chasing an opposing supporter.
During the match, St Mary’s College player Kristian James was ejected by referee Crystal Sobers for his alleged role in a flare-up between the two teams, which involved an altercation between “Saints” captain Kyle Phillip and the Fatima goalkeeper. (Phillip was not the player sent off as incorrectly stated in first draft.)
Emotions spilled over at the final whistle between supporters.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
SSFL president Merere Gonzales shared his discomfort with the footage of the incident.
“It certainly is not something that I or the league will condone, especially when [it involves] persons who are not directly involved in the game,” Gonzales told Wired868. “[…] When you have elements outside of the game getting involved and getting physical, it really is not acceptable or permissible. It is a discredit to what we are attempting to do collectively as a League, which is to create a platform to showcase the best of our local talent.
“We want the athlete to display discipline on the field and it is expected that the same will be done by the spectators.”
Gonzales noted that the incident occurred on Friday evening, after the SSFL office was closed and said his body needs time to address it.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“At this point in time, we are gathering information from the various stakeholders and the expectation is to make a statement on it soon,” he said. “We are trying to get more to the nitty gritty of it… The understanding is that is it should go to the Disciplinary Committee, but the various documents that come in will have bearing on that.
“We will follow due diligence and process.”
St Mary’s returned to the SSFL top flight this year, after being relegated in 2019, and finished in 13th place—one spot above the relegation zone. They start their North Zone Intercol campaign on Monday 6 November with a Preliminary Round match-up against Belmont Secondary at Serpentine Road.
Fatima, who are also the reigning National Intercol champions, kickstart their knockout title defence on Friday 10 November when they host the winner between Trinity College (Moka) and Tranquillity Secondary on Mucurapo Road.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
National Intercol Preliminary Round
(Mon 6 Nov)
El Dorado West vs Five Rivers Secondary, East, 3.30pm, El Dorado West;
QRC vs Diego Martin Central, North, 3.30pm, QRC;
St Mary’s College vs Belmont Secondary, North, 3.30pm, St Mary’s College;
Blanchisseuse Secondary vs Mucurapo West Secondary, North, 3.30pm, Blanchisseuse;
Trinity College (Moka) vs Tranquillity Secondary, North, 3.30pm, Moka;
Siparia West Secondary vs Princes Town West Secondary, South, 3.30pm, Palo Seco Secondary;
Point Fortin East vs ASJA Boys (San F’do), South, 3.30pm, M/Ramjohn Training Field.
2023 SSFL Premier Division
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fatima | 15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 8 | 42 | 40 |
| 2 |  St Benedict's | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 51 | 10 | 41 | 35 |
| 3 |  San Juan | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 15 | 22 | 33 |
| 4 |  Presentation | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 8 | 17 | 31 |
| 5 |  Naparima | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 48 | 14 | 34 | 27 |
| 6 |  Arima North | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 26 |
| 7 |  St Anthony's | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 34 | 21 | 13 | 26 |
| 8 |  Malick | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 42 | 27 | 15 | 20 |
| 9 |  Trinity East | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 18 |
| 10 |  Mucurapo | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 28 | 40 | -12 | 18 |
| 11 |  QRC | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 17 |
| 12 |  Speyside | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 29 | -11 | 17 |
| 13 |  St Mary's | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 40 | -14 | 17 |
| 14 |  Bishop's Tobago | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 45 | -36 | 4 |
| 15 |  Chaguanas North | 15 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 64 | -59 | 4 |
| 16 |  Pleasantville | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 72 | -60 | 4 |
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