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Arima North Secondary technical director and Premier Division team head coach Wayne Sheppard has blamed a Presentation College (San Fernando) supporter for provoking a stand-off with members of the East Zone Intercol champions at Mahaica last Thursday, in the immediate aftermath of his team’s 1-0 National Intercol semifinal defeat.
A bizarre stoppage time winner for the “Pres Lions”—Arima goalkeeper Isaiah Diaz fell back into his own goal after catching a Kaielle Elliott free kick, before incorrectly claiming he was pushed by opponents—meant emotions were running high at the final whistle.
Photo: Brian Miller/ Arima Araucans Academy
Without the benefit of an immediate replay, the Arima contingent complained about the winner. According to Sheppard, a Presentation supporter reacted by taunting the parent of a “Dial Dynamos” player; and things escalated quickly.
Sheppard, who was captured on video yelling at an opposing supporter, sought to offer context to the footage, which he stressed had nothing to do with the result of the match.
“I went on the field [after the final whistle] to console my players, who I thought had played their hearts out and lost in tragic circumstances,” Sheppard told Wired868, “and, two, to congratulate the Presentation players for taking part in what I thought was a very good game and for coming out on the right side of the result.
“Whilst coming off of the field, I saw an adult with what appeared to be his hand around the neck of one of my players and there was a commotion going on. So I ran off the field to understand what was going on and to take my players away—because, as I saw it, my player was in harm’s way.”
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Sheppard continued.
“When I got there, I was informed by my players that a spectator who was supporting the other team had come up into the face of the mother of one of my players and was taunting her about the result,” said the coach. “And one of my players went to her defence and that supporter ran off. He followed him and that is where the gentleman intervened and had his hands on my player. And I was told the player was being choked by the gentleman.
“So, the video had me shouting: ‘how can an adult have his hands on a schoolboy’. I was upset at that and at the same time I was trying to keep my players away. But I kept asking the guy how he could be behaving like that with a schoolboy.”
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Dev Ramjit, one of the leaders of the Pres Tailgate (an alumni support group dedicated to the school’s student-athletes), was also on the scene at the time.
Ramjit was near to the playing field when he sensed the mood in the crowd change. And he ran towards a group of Arima players to see whether there were any Presentation players who “needed to be extricated”.
However, there were no Presentation players or staff members involved.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“When I got there, I saw ‘Sheppy’ arguing with a tall gentleman with glasses and a green jersey,” said Ramjit. “[…] Sheppy was telling the man how a big man like you can be involving yourself in a fracas with a schoolboy; how can a big man be attacking a schoolboy. But I didn’t see anything.
“And then police came and the whole thing dissipated after. I really didn’t see what started it. What I heard after, which I can’t corroborate, is an Arima player started to get into it with a Pres supporter and the tall guy tried to part it. And that is where the whole thing started to go bad.
“I really didn’t see the start of the whole thing. But at no point can I say it got to the stage of being considered dangerous behaviour from the Arima players… They were all bunched up behind Sheppy but I wouldn’t call that dangerous; that is normal team behaviour.
The Dial Dynamos won 8-1.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“I also noticed some of the Arima staff were trying to calm down the situation and ensure it didn’t get out of hand.”
Sheppard suggested that the incident further demonstrated the shortcomings of security at high profile Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) matches.
“While I was shouting at the person, two police officers who were there all the time then intervened to tell me to calm down,” said the Arima North technical director. “They never intervened to stop the Presentation fans from going in the area with the few Arima fans or to stop them from taunting our fans.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“And, two, they never intervened to try to get hold of the person who allegedly choked our player, although he was only a few feet away and still hurling words in our direction. Their approach to the whole situation in my opinion was unprofessional and didn’t help at all.
“The video captures me telling the police officer you now coming on the scene when this was going on all the time and you were right there, and asking the spectator how could you be choking a schoolboy.
“[…] There wasn’t any crowd disturbance or altercation between Arima fans and Presentation fans and it certainly wasn’t about Arima fans not being able to handle the loss. It had to do with one idiot who found it fit to come into the personal space of a player’s mother and taunt her in full view of other players and staff members.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“[…] In addition, I found out the following day the said person is on social media boasting about his actions. I have the greatest respect for Presentation College but if this person is a member of their alumni or whatever, they should really try to get their real supporters to distance themselves from people like that—because it taints their achievements on the field.”
Sheppard suggested that there was hypocrisy at play when the Arima contingent were referred to as “ghetto”, although they were ones “subjected to ungentlemanly behaviour” from a Presentation supporter.
“This is now the third incident this season with spectators interacting with players in an absolutely incorrect manner,” he said. “One thing I want to point out about the narrative is that a St Mary’s College supporter went on the field and confronted an opposing player—nobody from Arima ever went on the field to confront or improperly interact with a member of the opposing team.
“Yet we were placed immediately in a certain type of light, which for me reeks of classism. We are like low-hanging fruit.
“The Arima North Secondary football team, staff and its supporters came to Mahaica Oval to win a national semifinal versus a worthy opponent. We did not win, we accepted our loss—as disappointed as we were—and we were prepared to leave the venue to lick our wounds.
“This incident was sparked by the behaviour of one supporter of the opposing team. I may have initially assessed the situation incorrectly based on [Presentation coach Shawn] Cooper’s explanation (that the spectator was trying to play peacemaker), which I take from him without reservation.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“But as a coach I am in charge of the welfare of all my players and staff. I am not going to watch anybody put their hands on my players without getting a proper explanation of what is going on.
“The video captures me being irate and angry and I was. But I was angry at seeing an adult with his hands on my player after being informed that another player’s mother was verbally abused. It had nothing to do with the loss.”
Before the Dynamos returned to Arima, they accepted an invitation for doubles from the Pres Tailgate and the night ended peacefully between both camps.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“Sheppy was extremely agitated, but in the cold light of day it was understandable,” said Ramjit. “[…] There are a few people (Presentation College supporters) who made disparaging remarks on Facebook. I understand where he is coming from.
“That Arima/ St Benedict’s match in 1991 made the news with the crowd trouble then. But there is no current trend of thought that Arima people are dangerous.
“There will always be outliers talking nonsense and anyone can say garbage on social media, but I don’t agree that there is a narrative that Arima people are dangerous. I really don’t think so.”
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Sheppard explained his team’s immediate reaction to Presentation’s winning goal.
“At the time when the goal occurred, in the heat of the battle, my players’ reaction seemed to indicate to us that there may have been a foul in the play,” he said. “In addition, our goalkeeper Isaiah Diaz has been nothing short of outstanding for us during the season, so it was easy for us to believe he was fouled.
“Immediately after the game I spoke to Caston Cupid of CNC3 who said they immediately reviewed the incident and they found the goal was legitimate. I also spoke to Brian Jordan who echoed the sentiment. These are two people whose footballing opinions I give credence to. So at that point, I embraced the fact that the goal was legitimate and it was a case of an error on my player’s part.
Elliott helped his team advance to the National Intercol semifinal with a late free kick that troubled Arima North goalkeeper Isaiah Diaz.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“[…] Presentation won the game and there was no foul play; and I went so far as to send a message to the officiating staff (led by referee CJ O’Brien) telling them that I thought they did a very good game and it was probably the best officiating we had for the season.
“I sent a message to Shawn Cooper and his staff indicating the same and wishing them best of luck for the final. We at Arima know how to win and we know how to take our losses as competitors in the right manner.
“So I would really appreciate it if people stop drawing conclusions without the facts and stigmatising our team.”
Arima’s 2-0 loss to Fatima was their joint highest defeat of the 2023 season.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Despite the defeat, Sheppard expressed pride in Arima North’s first season back in the top flight for roughly a decade—as the Dial Dynamos finished sixth in the league and won zonal titles in the East Zone Intercol, Under-16 and Under-14 categories.
“If anybody told me at the start of the year that Arima would place at the top half of the table, in touching distance of Naparima and Pres and win the East Zone Intercol final and lose in stoppage time in the National Intercol semifinal,” said Sheppard, “I would have signed up for that immediately. I think to say we had a good season is an understatement.
“People know about our success in the Intercol and our competitive showings in the league; but in all of our age groups we have done more than average. It is a testament to proper planning, talented boys, hard work and organisation.
Photo: Brian Miller/ Arima Araucans Academy
“We battled with Presentation on two occasions and on both occasions, we gave them a run for their money. (Arima drew goalless with Presentation in the regular season.)
“Having won the East Zone and reached the semifinal we would have loved to go all the way but we are okay with that. We are a young programme […] and we now understand how far we can go […] and we have a better understanding of what we have to do to get there.”
Editor’s Note: Wired868 managing director Lasana Liburd is also sporting director of the Arima North Secondary football programme.
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This is the most balanced reporting (and comprehensive) we can ever hope to find on this incident.
The fact that Lasana is an exposed party, with the potential for biased interpretation of the facts as were presented, was always an opening that could lead to skewed reportage.
That never happened.
And, once again, I am compelled to proclaim that Lasana is the best sports writer in the country—by a mile!
Sad to see the lads fall on their swords, so to speak, because that keeper is the best I’ve seen for a long time. Composure and talent. Hope the lads regroup. Hope the lads learn from this. Hope there is no reprisal of these old beeves in the future.
Congratulations to The East Zone Intercol Champions 2023 Arima North Secondary ,Mr. Shepard and company,coaching staff,players and supporters on a successful return to the top flight following the team’s hiatus.i have been attending Secondary Schools Football yearly since 1984 and have never seen Dial Dynamos or their fans “incite violence.”To the contrary their deportment has been stellar,if not exemplary, by any standards. This is reflective of the discipline and successful instillation of morals and values imparted by the parents, residents and burgesss of the country’s oldest Royal Chartered Borough.
That said parent he’s refereeing to and the comments the supporters said are true . They are ghetto ! The person he is referring to is possibly the lady with the yellow braids , I am not certain if she is a parent or member of staff but i personally witnessed her at another game and the things coming out of her mouth were truly amazing . I am someone who don’t judge people but I will say she displayed characteristics of someone who is highly illiterate and as the article said ghetto . It amazes me that she is considered an adult at a school game but acting like a 15 year old school girl .I WAS TRULY AMAZED. She incites violence and I can go out on a whim to assume , she was the reason for the escalation . Discipline is lacking with that team I’ve witness it personally and it’s being fuelled by that lady with the peroxide braids.
You said discipline is lackng in the team and you have witnessed it personally…please indicate the incidents that you have witnessed that support your statement.
Mr . Sheppard I’ve noticed you completely ignored everything said about the lady with the braids . Is this because you are fully aware of her character.? Clearly you are . Clearly She’s there all the time , and you clearly tell her nothing . Just as you sat at a league game at the Manny Ramjohn training pitch and told her nothing while she incited violence. I have never seen such a display of ignorance and illiteracy by a grown woman In front of students in my entire life . If u want to ask questions and get a response can you start by stating who that woman is ? Why is she allowed to carry on like that, and why are you saying “don’t stigmatise Arima” but encourage and enable that woman to carry on that way at games ? Silence is consent . You are fully aware of her behaviour and she is the source of your “stigmatisation” Do better Mr Sheppard.
kerron
You know for a fact that I have not addressed that isolated incident at the Pleasantville game? Please stop trying to generalise. I am being kind by simply saying you are inaccurate by trying to say that incident repeated itself. I don’t like to accuse people of being liars just to support their argument.
At the Pleasantville game itself I addressed that parent. I have had no such issues since.
You give yourself a lot of liberties with f “your facts “. You should resist the urge to do so and comment on things that you know to be real facts.
Its the same way I havent gone around claiming that you and other supporters of Pleasantville encourage your #5 player to hit opponents off the ball and stamp them when they are on the ground.. Despite seeing him do exactly that against my player.i cannot assume that he does this every game and is encouraged to by his supporters and staff. I cant because I only saw him do that when he played against us..
It would be irresponsible for me an adult to then take that incident and label the entire staff and players of Pleasantville as indisciplined. In other words I would be adopting the same level of irresponsibility as you have with your comments about Arima being “an indisciplined team” .
Humans are infallible and make mistakes.
You by your simple generalisation of a team that played 19 games and have won and lost without any claims of indiscipline by opponents or ssfl officials are making one now..
Be careful. Your bias is way obvious..
Channel that energy into helping Pleasantville get back to the discipline they showed when we played them under coach “Biggie” in the preseason and when I coached against them in 2016.. And not what they displayed this year stooping to the level of the #5 hitting players off the ball to win a game. Its football not boxing..
As the old folks say wet your house before you try to put out a perceived fire next door.
Have a good day
You making assumptions based on emotions when I observed you and that woman personally. Here you are again on tape with same said display of indiscipline. Your excuse or attempt of alter casting using an on field incident involving players has no bearing on your off field incident shown on video involving the same woman that was soo distasteful at that said game you mention . You can talk and try to take yourself out but here you are on video displaying the same behaviour you displayed then . Said you addressed her, doesn’t seem like it worked from the video . You enjoy your day as well Mr Sheppard .
You somehow seem to think that I have to justify myself to you?, you think way too highly of your opinion… way way too highly. My actions were explained and corroborated by the Pres supporter who spoke in the article and had the facts. What makes you feel I need to explain further? What makes you feel I need to explain to anyone who holds a bias like you do against Arima?
As I said before go help Pleasantville.. We will do ok over here.
Respond if you feel the need but I don’t have anymore time to waste on a biased mind like yours.
Suggest you take your “high standards” back to your team.
Those same standards weren’t evident the last time I saw them or their supporters and staff who were not correcting them. Maybe as you are a self appointed expert on discipline you can try to teach them now.
Good day and Good bye
The SSFL lacking proper security since the 80s.