The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has long been a cornerstone of Trinbagonian football, nurturing young talent and captivating the nation. The SSFL undoubtedly remains the most popular football league in the country. As a proud alumnus of Fatima College, I’ve always held a deep affection for the SSFL, as it is a league that has produced countless talented players and provided endless hours of excitement for passionate students and alumni across the nation.
As a player, coach, and now commentator, I’ve witnessed numerous thrilling matches, celebrated victories, endured heartbreaking defeats, and experienced the highs and lows and the triumphs and tragedies that make the SSFL so captivating. Naturally, I get riled up when I see the league embroiled in a scandal or controversy, especially if I believe it could have been avoided.
Historically, the SSFL has faced the occasional question mark over player eligibility, where the legitimacy of a bona fide student comes into question.
However, I have always known the physical education teacher, or ‘Games Master’ in the not-so-old days, together with the principal, to deal with these matters efficiently and resolve them within a day or two. The school must ensure the student is registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE), and therefore he/she can register with the SSFL to represent the school for the season.
It seems straightforward without too many complications, but if you have 15 schools with 25 students registered to play football for each school, you have 375 students that the MOE must go through to ensure they are registered. Is that the job of the MOE or the SSFL once all their registrations come in to ensure all the students are bona fide students of the school and can therefore represent the school?
This brings me to the matter of the day, Derrel ‘Zoom Zoom’ Garcia’s eligibility issue that is grabbing all the headlines, rather than praising this talented individual for scoring 17 goals and his school for winning the championship. The crux of the issue is that Garcia was registered at St. Benedict’s College in September 2021 following his S.E.A. exams.
He missed the entire 2023-2024 academic year from September 2023 to July 2024 while he pursued a football scholarship in Spain.
Garcia’s parents requested and received approved study leave for him during this time. On 30th August 2024, the St Benedict’s College principal submitted Garcia’s registration form for the SSFL, indicating that Derrel was a bona fide full-time student of St Benedict’s College.
There is a rule that exists that states students must be formally reinstated after a term or more away from school. On 25th September 2024, the parents of Garcia wrote to the School requesting his reinstatement, and Garcia resumed attendance at St. Benedict’s College on 8th October 2024, as verified from the attendance register at the school. During the period from 25th September to 8th October, Garcia played in three SSFL matches before he resumed attendance at St. Benedict’s College.
The SSFL Constitution, under the procedure for registration, states that students must be duly registered according to the existing rules and regulations of the MOE and on the official attendance register of the school presenting the team. These students must attend classes at that school during normal school hours. The MOE has provided information that Garcia does not meet all, if any, of these criteria.
The question is, did Garcia’s parents’ letter to the school on September 25, 2024, requesting reinstatement suffice to make Garcia a bona fide student, or is it that Garcia only became a bona fide student when he first attended school on October 8, 2024? The potential penalty of infringement for the violation of that rule in the Constitution is a suspension of the school from further competition in the division for the remainder of the season, but correct me if I am wrong, isn’t the season over?
The SSFL has referred Garcia’s matter to its disciplinary committee for a ruling today (Thursday, November 14, 2024) where potentially the 2024 Premier Division Champions could be decided. The timing of the investigation, unusually initiated without a formal protest after the conclusion of the season, has further added fuel to the fire. The charges against Garcia may very well be true and authenticated, but the SSFL executive has bizarrely waited until the end of the season to now refer the matter to its disciplinary committee for a ruling that would decide the fate of the 2024 Premiership. The potential penalties, including point deductions, the stripping of the title, or even the school’s right to remain in the competition, have far-reaching implications for St. Benedict’s College. Such a severe punishment raises questions about the proportionality of the offence and the impact on the young athletes involved.
I am hearing from sources that the most likely outcome is that St. Benedict’s College will be deducted 9 points, which would place them in third position behind Presentation College San Fernando, which would then hand Fatima College the title on goal difference. While I would love nothing more than to see Fatima College lift the trophy, I cannot condone a victory that comes under such dubious circumstances. That is not how I would want to win the league. St. Benedict’s College was the best-playing team and defeated all of their closest rivals. ‘Zoom Zoom’ was absolute magic. What a player he is! If he works hard, he has a bright future. In the end, I am hopeful good sense can prevail, and even if points have to be deducted, why not apply that penalty at the start of next season in 2025? We see that happen in the English Premier League, where a team starts a new season with minus points for a breach of rules.
It’s important to note that this situation is not the fault of Garcia himself, or the talented young St. Benedict’s players who have worked tirelessly throughout the season, or the dedicated students and alumni who have supported their team throughout. They should not be punished for the actions or inactions of a few individuals. However, the rules are in place for a reason, and they must be adhered to. I am not sure why all of this with young Garcia happened at the end of the league. It is obvious that somebody out there does not want the best-playing football school to win the league, and something like this should never happen again as both the SSFL and MOE must get their house in order. They must work together to establish a more robust and transparent eligibility verification process. This could involve stricter documentation requirements, regular audits, and even third-party verification. Additionally, the league should consider implementing a timely dispute resolution mechanism to address eligibility concerns promptly.
In closing, let me welcome Dwight Yorke, the new T&T senior national head coach, and wish him all success in his new role. Yorke will be well supported by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association (TTFA) as he has a huge task ahead of him. As fans, let’s rally behind Yorke and his team as they embark on their journey to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Under his guidance and with the country’s support, the Soca Warriors can once again make their mark on the global stage. Today, the TTFA officially welcomes Yorke in his new role at the Ato Boldon Stadium. Good luck, Dwight!
SOURCE: T&T Guardian
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