As reported by the Guardian newspaper on November 5, 2024, St Benedict’s College is at risk of being stripped of several points and goals over the registration status of star striker Derrel Garcia during the 2024 season of the Secondary School Football League (SSFL) during the Premiership Division programme.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) wrote the SSFL following its request for information about Garcia’s bona fide status with St Benedict’s College, just before St Benedict’s College won the title with 41 points after an unbeaten run that saw drew two matches from the 15 the school contested, six more than the 2023 champion Fatima and Presentation Colleges.
Guardian Media Sports understands that the MOE conducted an investigation last month that involved both the acting principal Gregory Quan Kep and the acting vice principal Haymatee Jaleel, and the findings were shared with the SSFL.
According to the MOE investigation, the following were revealed:
- Derrel Garcia was assigned to St Benedict’s College through the SEA 2021 placement and registered at the school on September 14, 2021;
- Garcia’s parents requested study leave from August 2023 to May 2024 for him to proceed on a football scholarship;
- For the academic year September 2023 to July 2024, he was absent for the entire period;
- On September 25, 2024, the parents of Derrel Garcia wrote requesting his reinstatement;
- Derrel Garcia resumed attendance at St Benedict’s College on October 8, 2024, verified by the Attendance Register at the school.
Based on the above, the SSFL via a press release said that its Disciplinary Committee will meet on Thursday to decide on Garcia’s registration status.
Based on the findings of the MOE, St Benedict’s College faces being deducted nine points and six goals for the matches on October 2 in which St Benedict’s defeated San Juan Secondary 1-0, on October 5, when St Benedict’s whipped Fatima College, 3-1 and on October 7 a rescheduled fixture which St Benedict’s also won against St Anthony’s, 2-1. He did not score against San Juan but scored twice against Fatima at Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin and once against St Anthony’s in Westmoorings.
For a student-athlete to participate in the SSFL that student and the school must comply with Article 16 of the school rules as outlined by the Ministry of Education.
SSFL Article 16 Criteria for Registration states: Before students can be accepted by the League to be registered as players to represent any team playing in the League the following criteria must be fulfilled: (1) Students must be duly registered, according to the existing rules and regulations of the Ministry of Education and on the official roll of the school presenting the team. These students must attend classes at that school during normal school hours.
The penalty for infringement of the above is suspension of the school from further competition in the division for the remainder of the season.
Last month, the SSFL wrote to the MOE about Garcia’s student eligibility status for 2023/2024 in keeping with its criteria for registration after rumours were swirling around that he was not attending school because he was one of several young talented footballers from Trinidad and Tobago who were enrolled in a football internship programme at an academy in Spain in 2023/2024, and his status at St Benedict’s College for this academic term is in doubt.
While St Augustine Secondary was penalised because of a protest by Signal Hill Secondary, no school protested St Benedict’s College use of Garcia, however, the public concerns raised was enough for the SSFL general secretary Azaad Mohammed-Khan, who is also chairman of the Credential Committee to write the Ministry of Education to confirm if Garcia was a bona fide student of St Benedict’s College.
Garcia, who is now in Form Four, was not in school for all of Form Three and did not feature in any of St Benedict’s first five matches played on September 11, 14, 18, 21, and 28 2024. However, the match against St Anthony’s on September 25 was rescheduled to October 7.
Garcia, who scored in almost all of the nine matches he played in October and is the leading contender for the League’s Golden Boots Award with 17 goals, is also facing having his goal-tally reduced to 14.
The SSFL disciplinary committee will have no choice but to strip St Benedict’s of nine points and nine goals which means Fatima College will move from 35 points to 38 and will be crowned the 2024 champions. San Juan will also improve its position on the standings.
Current SSFL Boys Premier Division standings
Pld Teams P W D L F A Pts
1 St Benedict’s 15 13 2 0 36 7 41
2 Fatima 15 11 2 2 46 14 35
3 Presentation 15 11 2 2 33 10 35
4 St Anthony’s 15 10 0 5 36 20 30
5 Arima North 14 6 6 2 24 11 24
6 Naparima 15 6 4 5 26 19 22
7 QRC 15 6 3 6 22 21 21
8 Malick 15 6 2 7 30 32 20
9 San Juan North 15 6 1 8 24 28 19
10 Signal Hill 14 5 3 6 22 26 16
11 St Mary’s 15 5 1 9 17 29 16
12 St Augustine 15 4 3 8 11 32 15
13 Trinity East 15 4 1 10 19 29 13
14 Speyside 14 3 3 8 19 30 12
15 East Mucurapo 14 3 0 11 10 25 9
16 Miracle Ministries 15 2 1 12 8 51 7
SOURCE: T&T Guardian
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