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 tournament over the next six days, as the organisation tries to get a grip on a competition that was mired in controversy even before kick-off.

St Augustine Secondary emerged as Big Five champions and automatically claimed promotion to the 2024 SSFL Premier Division, while, at present, Signal Hill Secondary and Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (MMPHS) would expect to follow them as second and third place finishers respectively.

However, the SSFL Disciplinary Commission must first wade through protests made on games between Signal Hill Secondary and Miracle Ministries Pentecostal and Blanchisseuse Secondary, while there is also the issue of a “query” on an incident during Moruga Secondary’s clash with MMPHS.

In the latter case, MMPHS head coach Kern Cupid made six substitutions during their 4-0 win over Moruga at Tompierre Trace. Cupid told Wired868 that he was given permission by match commissioner Austin Perilion to make an additional change as his first substitution was listed as a concussion/trauma sub.

Miracle Ministries midfielder Shevon Lallo was replaced by Keon Codrington in the first half, after suffering a broken arm. Fifa allows for a concussion sub but not a “trauma sub”.

Cupid subsequently claimed that Lallo hit his head on the ground after suffering a broken arm. Wired868 understands that the respective match officials offered a similar report on the incident.

As it stands then, the Miracle Ministries head coach—and the match officials themselves—look to be cleared of breaching the rules of the game. And the significance of that ruling cannot be overstated.

MMPHS will play in the 2024 Premier Division on the back of that win. However, if the ruling had gone against them, Blanchisseuse would have been promoted instead.

Cupid is not totally in the clear. From 10am on Friday 15 March, the former W Connection and TT Pro League stand-out must answer for his behaviour on 20 February when he appeared to have a physical altercation with Signal Hill defender Imanhi Forbes.

The physical clash led to a flare-up between both teams and might see representatives from Signal Hill and Miracle Ministries facing disciplinary charges.

The match between Signal Hill and MMPHS ended in a goalless draw and the delay in the disciplinary committee was allegedly due to the late submission of the match report by referee Tricia Des Vignes.

On Tuesday 19 March, there will be a further two Disciplinary Committee meetings to address issues arising from Signal Hill’s contest with Blanchisseuse in Tobago, which ended in a 2-1 win for the home team.

Arguably, “ended” is not the right word. One of Blanchisseuse’s contentions is that the game never actually came to a conclusion—as referee Keon Yorke blew the match off before it could be restarted.

“Our biggest contention is that the game was never blown off,” said Blanchisseuse team manager and teacher Kevon Palmer. “In light of that, based on our knowledge—even though Signal Hill were leading 2-1—the game did not have a clear-cut winner.”

Signal Hill principal Arianne Garcia-D’Abreau countered that it was the behaviour of the Blanchisseuse players and supporters which prevented the restart of the match.

Blanchisseuse only needed a draw to clinch promotion to the Premier Division and lead 1-0 up until the 90th minute, even though their star attacker Roger Kirk was ejected from the match in the 79th minute.

However, Forbes scored twice in second half stoppage time. His second item—in the fourth of five stoppage time minutes offered by the referee—was followed by another red card to a Blanchisseuse player, Kirk’s cousin Zakiyus Kirk. And the match spiralled quickly out of control at that stage.

“Before the resumption of the game, the referee, Mr Keon Yorke, issued a red card to a Blanchisseuse Secondary School player and it was at that time when all hell broke loose,” stated D’Abreau. “It was at that moment, the management, staff and players of the Signal Hill Secondary School felt as though their lives were in danger, as they were threatened by the players and supporters of the Blanchisseuse Secondary School.

“[…] The game, which was now beyond control, was blown off by the referee Keon Yorke.”

D’Abreau alleged that two Signal Hill players and a member of staff were physically assaulted in the melee while their goal scorer, Forbes, received death threats from Blanchisseuse players and supporters.

“Imanhi Forbes, received verbal death threats from [Blanchisseuse #2] Romeo Fraser, captain Abraham Kirk and #9 Roger Kirk, after which [Signal Hill players] were attacked by the Blanchisseuse Secondary School,” said the school principal.

“Before the attack, the Blanchisseuse Secondary #7 removed his captain’s armband and threw it to the ground in rage and proceeded to kick away the ball to the stands. The Signal Hill # 14 player Kyen Anderson and # 2 Jediah Phillips were kicked in their backs and the team manager / physical education teacher Mr Bronson Roberts, was violently pushed by the Blanchisseuse captain Abraham Kirk.

“At this point in time, the management, referees and MTS security personnel tried to shield the Signal Hill boys from this gruesome attack.”

Wired868 understands that match commissioner Kurt Jack also reported that fourth official Merville Wallace was assaulted by Roger Kirk, who allegedly grabbed the official by the neck.

Palmer admitted that the Blanchisseuse contingent lost their cool but said he did not see any violent incidents in the confrontations that happened around the field at the time.

“Yes, there was a standoff at the end,” said the Blanchisseuse team manager. “With everything that happened and emotions that high because both sides knew what the game meant—and both were seeking to get the promotion to the Premiership.

“[…] Plenty of our supporters were guys who played for the school for years and when they saw some of the calls… things did escalate to the point of face-offs; but we were able to get our supporters and players back into control.

“But by the time that happened, everyone had come off the field.”

Palmer said he could neither confirm nor deny the Signal Hill principal’s allegations. He said he did not get a chance to ask the players as he is home with the flu at present.

“From where I was, I did not see either happen—so based on my own observations, I cannot say if that is true or false,” he said. “I don’t believe either happened. I heard about the Roger incident and I am only now hearing about the Abraham one.

“What I do know is in the standoff, a lot happened.”

Palmer and head coach Brent Rodriguez suggested too that the behaviour of the Blanchisseuse players and supporters should be seen through the context of the match itself, in which they felt targeted by “dubious calls”.

“Some of the calls […] seemed to target our star player Roger Kirk,” said Palmer. “He received a second yellow card but […] when we looked at the video footage, it was a soft call and, in our mind, it did not merit another yellow.

“And he didn’t get a warning. Most times when a player is on a yellow (card) he is warned, especially if it is not a serious foul. We deemed his second yellow to be unwarranted.”

Video footage, in this case, showed that Roger Kirk deliberately prevented a Signal Hill player from taking a quick free kick. It was, by the letter of the law, a bookable offence.

Rodriguez, who was seen trying desperately to placate his players and supporters during the heated exchanges, also said he did not discuss the rowdy aftermath of their clash in Tobago with any of his players, due to mobile connection issues.

“This [allegation against Blanchisseuse captain Abraham Kirk] is something new to me,” he said. “I don’t know how true it is. He is my captain so I would want to know what is going on and I will have to get the truth.

“If it is true, he is wrong. He is a young man who is always honest with me, so I will ask him.”

The Blanchisseuse coach said he did not see the incident that led to Roger’s red card while the video angle he saw was inconclusive. However, he disputed the referee’s claim that Zakiyus used offensive language to him.

“I was disappointed by the second red card because I was there when the referee threw the ball at him and [Zakiyus] kicked the ball away,” said Rodriguez. “I didn’t hear him say anything. One of the Signal Hill players ran towards the referee and towards Zakiyus and said give him a card and the referee pulled out his two cards but gave him a straight red card.”

Is it possible that the Blanchisseuse technical staff members were not close enough to hear what Zakiyus told the match referee?

Palmer and Rodriguez stood their ground.

“When we reviewed the video footage (of Zakiyus’ dismissal), we said it was an offence but not an offence that warranted a straight red,” said Palmer. “What you see in the video footage is that the player was taking instruction from the coach and when he went back on the field, the referee threw the ball at him—and he kicked away the ball and got a red from that.

“It is clear he didn’t say anything to the referee. It raises one eyebrow as to why did this player get the red card. The player was stunned and asked his coach after what I got a red for.”

Here, video footage showed that Rodriguez had his back to the field and was speaking to the match commissioner when Yorke ejected Zakiyus. It seems unlikely that he could have heard any exchange between the referee and Blanchisseuse player.

However, there were several debatable officiating calls during the 10 minutes of the match seen by Wired868.

In the closing minutes, Signal Hill left back Mario Pereira tried to pass beyond pressure from the visiting team when the ball struck the hand of Blanchisseuse midfielder Ozia Danclair.

Danclair’s hand was at his side and so close to Pereira at the time that it would have been impossible for him to get it out of the way. And the loose ball ricocheted to Blanchisseuse right back Jesus Bailey who immediately looked to launch an attack for the North Coast side.

However, Yorke gave a free kick to Signal Hill.

More crucial was the free kick that produced Signal Hill’s equaliser. A Pereira shot saw the ball loop into the air off an opponent and Blanchisseuse winger Johan Bleasdell leaped after it to head clear.

Signal Hill midfielder Ackim Duncan stood between Bleasdell and the ball but made no attempt to play the sphere himself. Bleasdell’s momentum took him crashing into Duncan and both players fell in a tangled heap.

Who fouled who?

Yorke gave Signal Hill the free kick and Forbes produced a brilliant kick to pull the hosts level.

Then, four minutes into stoppage time, Zakiyus lost possession in his own half and a Signal Hill player sent a hopeful diagonal ball for Siel Mills to chase.

Blanchisseuse left back Allister Noreiga was alert to the danger and looked to be preparing to clear when Mills knocked him aside with a strong shoulder challenge, before the gliding past the same player to deliver a cross that eventually led to Forbes’ winner.

Was Mills using his superior strength legally? Or had he fouled his opponent?

In each case, Yorke ruled in favour of the home team. Maybe he was right on all calls. But they were subjective and fuelled Blanchisseuse’s feeling of injustice.

As far as D’Abreau is concerned, the Signal Hill players were the victims. They were not responsible for the officiating. They simply won a high stakes football match and, as a result, were physically and verbally attacked.

She said her captain, Forbes, received a message on his Instagram page, hours after the match, that read: “You ban from Trinidad, don’t say I never tell yuh.”

“While I understand the plethora of emotions as a result of such a critical game for both teams, I do believe that this type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and unbecoming,” said the Signal Hill principal. “If this behaviour is allowed to continue, it will bring the League into disrepute.

“[…] As the principal of the Signal Hill Secondary School, I commend my staff, players and supporters for exercising restraint and demonstrating a high level of professionalism, despite the incident.”

She is now urging the SSFL executive committee, headed by president Merere Gonzales and general secretary Azaad Khan, to take urgent action.

Blanchisseuse, meanwhile, are insisting their push towards the Premier Division was prematurely ended by Yorke, one way or the other.

“It has been a history-making season for the Blanchisseuse players and fans,” said Palmer. “It is the first time that Blanchisseuse has won the north zone, our first time into the Big Five, our first time to try and get that promotion to the premiership.

“Nobody thought we would have been in this position to be vying for the premiership. We were written off. We were supposed to be sure three points for everyone else.

“And here we are on the verge of promotion…”

The 2023 Big Five competition was delayed for three points, due to legal wrangling over administrative errors committed by Moruga and Miracle Ministries, which were not picked up by the SSFL Credentials Committee until the conclusion of the Championship Division season.

Next Tuesday, the Big Five returns to the boardroom. And, no matter the conclusion, everyone will not be happy.