St Benedict’s College will continue their fight to overturn a 12-point deduction, as they filed for their matter to go before the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Arbitration Panel today. The “La Romaine Lions” were docked 12 points by the SSFL Disciplinary Panel for using captain Derrel Garcia in four …
Read More »St Benedict’s appeal SSFL decision, insist Garcia was active student before he attended class
St Benedict’s College have appealed the decision of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) to strip them of 12 points—and, effectively, the 2024 Premier Division title—due to their use of an invalid player, captain Derrel Garcia, for four matches. The appeal was lodged on Friday 3 January and Wired868 understands …
Read More »Dear Editor: Arrogant, inept SSFL execs disrespected Signal Hill and spoiled the Intercol competition
“[…] The bigger problem here, is twofold. Firstly, Signal Hill Secondary is a former footballing powerhouse since the days of its Senior Comprehensive moniker, has decades under its belt of producing dazzling football, and, arguably, the most successful Trinbagonian player to have ever taken the field: Dwight Yorke. “SSFL seems …
Read More »SSFL 2024: The St Benedict’s case: three parties made different rulings on Garcia—and none followed the Constitution
Article 16 of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Constitution explains the criteria for eligibility in its competitions. “Before students can be accepted by the League to be registered as players to represent any team playing in the League,” states the Constitution, “the following criteria must be fulfilled: “Students must …
Read More »SSFL strips Benedict’s of Premier title, but won’t relegate southern giants
St Benedict’s College are set to be stripped of 12 points and, by extension, their claim to the 2024 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division title for their use of captain Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia. However, the “La Romaine Lions” will not face the ultimate sanction of being relegated …
Read More »Big Five 24: Travel issues ground tournament, with all five schools still in hunt for promotion
The fate of the five teams chasing promotion to the 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division competition will not be known until next year—as the competition will finish months behind schedule for the second straight year. There are three games outstanding in the 2024 Big Five competition and, …
Read More »SSFL 2024: Have Gonzales-led execs destroyed credibility of 2024 season?
Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) president Merere Gonzales has, uncharacteristically, kept a still tongue in the past two weeks. During that period, Gonzales has not taken or returned calls from Wired868 to address pertinent matters related to the competition he heads. There are multiple disciplinary matters from the current season …
Read More »Intercol 24: Signal Hill protest semifinal loss; claim Benedict’s goalie breached law six times
The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) is facing another protest involving St Benedict’s College, as Tobago Zone champions, Signal Hill Secondary, are claiming that referee Crystal Sobers allowed clear rule violations by opposing goalkeeper Thane Devenish. Devenish saved two penalties in St Benedict’s 4-3 shootout win over Signal Hill at …
Read More »Big Five 2024: Scarborough-Pleasantville fixture ends without result, as issues mount
The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big Five competition suffered another blow yesterday evening as a fixture between Pleasantville Secondary and Scarborough Secondary ended without a result in Shaw Park, Tobago, due to a lighting issue. The score was 1-1 at the time—but there were 20 minutes plus stoppage time …
Read More »Dear Editor: SSFL delay over Benedict’s has brought Intercol into disrepute
“[…] The SSFL has brought the Premier League and the Intercol competitions into grave disrepute. “The 2024 Coca-Cola Boys Intercol competition should have never been started without resolving the bonafide status of Derrel ‘Zoom Zoom’ Garcia…” The following Letter to the Editor on the Secondary School Football League (SSFL) Executive’s …
Read More »Now SSFL asks attorney to determine if Garcia is a “bonafide” student
The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has asked attorney Tyrone Marcus for help in determining the “bonafide status” of St Benedict’s College captain and star forward Derrel ‘Zoom Zoom’ Garcia. Marcus’ legal advice, according to SSFL general secretary Azaad Khan, will then be “submitted to the disciplinary committee for its …
Read More »Dear Editor: Why Colin Murray is wide of the mark in SSFL – St Benedict’s debacle
“[…] Colin Murray suggests that if St Benedict’s College [are] found guilty of breaching the rules, the punishment should not impact this year’s competition. Instead, the college should start the next season with a nine-point deficit. “[…] A decision to penalize next year’s team effectively shifts the consequences onto a …
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