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Scarborough Secondary have appealed against the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Disciplinary Committee’s decision to overturn their 1-0 win over San Juan North Secondary and instead give the East Zone school a win by three clear goals.
The Disciplinary Committee’s ruling effectively relegated Scarborough to the Championship Division, just a year after they won a historic promotion to the SSFL Premier Division.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
The SSFL decision followed a protest by San Juan North against Scarborough’s use of midfielder Johan Elliot, who represented Tobago Football Association (TFA) team Eagles FC a week prior to their rescheduled outing.
Under the SSFL Constitution, a player loses his registration for the remainder of the season once he plays in another TTFA competition, such as the TFA Premier Division. And teams will automatically lose any matches in which that invalid player is used.
Wired868 understands that Scarborough’s protest is centred on three grounds.
First, they argued that the Disciplinary Committee punished Elliot for playing in a game outside of the period for SSFL matches.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Scarborough’s fixture against San Juan North was played during the December school vacation. However, it’s worth noting that Article 10 of the SSFL Constitution states: “the playing season [runs] from September to December”—and does not specify a cut-off at the end of the term.
The second limb of Scarborough’s protest is that the disciplinary process was “significantly compromised” by the “overlapping of roles of its members”.
Disciplinary Committee chair Essiel Seecharan and member Gerald Elliot are both members of the SSFL Disciplinary Committee, whose members—in particular, assistant secretary – administration Laurance Seepersad and vice-president Syandene Blackman-Walsh—were identified as playing significant roles in Scarborough’s decision to field Elliot.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Scarborough manager and sixth form school teacher Salisha James told Wired868 that Blackman-Walsh told her she could play Elliot, based on a conversation with Seepersad.
James alleged that Seepersad subsequently told her Scarborough were free to play Elliot.
Scarborough’s third point is the presumed precedent set by the SSFL when players were allowed to take part in a rescheduled Big Five competition, despite playing for their clubs.
In that case, the Big Five kicked off the following January—over two months late—and ended in March, due to a registration scandal involving Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School and Moruga Secondary.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Incidentally, Blackman-Walsh resigned her position on the SSFL executive on Friday 30 January citing “an unavoidable conflict of interest between the role of second vice-president of the SSFL and my continued service as Tobago secretary”.
“After careful consideration, I determined that holding both positions simultaneously is inconsistent with sound governance practices and the ethical standards expected of those entrusted with the administration of schools’ football,” stated Blackman-Walsh, who is also a teacher at Signal Hill Secondary.
“At a time when transparency, fairness, and accountability are of paramount importance, I believe it is necessary to remove any circumstance that could reasonably give rise to perceptions of bias or compromised decision-making.
Blackman-Walsh is also the Tobago Zone secretary.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“My resignation is therefore guided by principle, professional integrity, and a commitment to protecting the credibility of the League.
“I remain fully committed to the development of student-athletes, schools football, and the advancement of the sport within Tobago, and I will continue to serve in that capacity with diligence and integrity.
“This decision was taken independently and in the best interest of schools’ football.”
Blackman-Walsh declined the opportunity to comment on her resignation and whether it was influenced by Scarborough’s ongoing case.
- Scarborough Secondary defender Jaheim Toney pounces on a spill from San Juan North Secondary goalkeeper Elijah Lawrence to score the game winner at Shaw Park on 15 December 2025. However, this result was subsequently overturned.
Thus far, neither SSFL president Merere Gonzales nor Seepersad have commented on the Scarborough debacle, which according to their teacher and coach, left players, parents and their football community “distraught”.
At present, there is still one outstanding match from the 2025 Premier Division season between Signal Hill and St Augustine Secondary, which is due to be played in Tobago and could have a profound impact on the standings.
If Signal Hill triumph, St Augustine will be relegated. However, if the “Green Machine” win or draw, Malick Secondary will be demoted instead.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Signal Hill, who were initially awarded the three points when St Augustine did not show up, have so far refused to play the rescheduled contest until they are paid $7,500 by either St Augustine or the SSFL—as reimbursement for money spent on meals during their three-day preparation for their clash on 17 November.
Scarborough’s own attempt to survive the drop back to the zonal game is not over yet.
SSFL 2026 Premier Division
Returning schools: Arima North Secondary, Fatima College, Naparima College, Presentation College (San Fernando), Queen’s Royal College, Signal Hill Secondary, St Anthony’s College, St Benedict’s College, St Mary’s College, Trinity College East, Trinity College (Moka).
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Promoted schools: Hillview College, Mucurapo West Secondary, Speyside Secondary.
Relegated school: Carapichaima East Secondary.
Relegation threatened schools, who are awaiting a SSFL ruling or rescheduled result: Malick Secondary, San Juan North Secondary, Scarborough Secondary, St Augustine Secondary.
Editor’s Note: There is precedent of the general membership voting to overrule the Premier Division standings to save San Juan North, who should have been relegated due to a rejig of results following a successful protest by Naparima College against illegal Presentation College (San Fernando) player Kori Cupid during the 2016 season.
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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.
