“It is better to be safe than sorry,” Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) president Merere Gonzales declared, while also revealing that a decision on the bona fide status of St Benedict’s College footballer Derrel Garcia, will be made before the year ends--that is within the next 20 days.
“I am saying very, very soon,” Gonzales said. “I don’t know an official date. All I can say is that very soon the world will know what position we take on the matter. It is going to be done before the end of the year.” he added.
Question has been raised about the legality status of Garcia, 17, as a St Benedict’s College student. Garcia, aka “Zoom Zoom” has scored a season-best 25 goals this season, 17 of them coming in the boys Premier Division.
Garcia’s goals have led St Benedict’s to a sweep of both the SSFL Premier Division and Coca-Cola InterCol titles, but they may lose some of their silverware based on the decision of the SSFL Disciplinary Committee.
Now a fourth former, Garcia left St Benedict’s College at the end of second form seeking an overseas football opportunity, prior to resuming playing this season. The matter was sent to the SSFL’s Disciplinary Committee for deliberation.
Information gathered following an official query from Ministry of Education’s (MoE) Chief Education Officer Aaron Ramrattan was insufficient for the Disciplinary Committee to proceed. The SSFL has since contracted attorney Tyrone Marcus, who is seeking further clarity from the MoE on Garcia’s status, and when the player was officially re-registered as a St Benedict’s College student.
Gonzales defended the SSFL’s way of handling the matter, stating they had a duty to be responsible, and that an official position will be relayed to all, including the media. So, why is it taking so long?
“There are processes that are being addressed along the way,” Gonzales replied. A long-serving administrator and former FIFA referee, Gonzales, also expressed concern that matter had taken so long to come to conclusion.
“I am also very concerned, like everybody else. This could have been, or should have been addressed at an earlier time. But due process does not allow us,” he emphasised.
Gonzales also refutes claims that the SSFL was dragging its feet on the matter. “Where is the empirical evidence that show that we are deliberately delaying,” Gonzales asked.
“There is a process that is being because we are trying to arrive at the best and most correct decision,” Gonzales explained. “It just happens to be taking some time.”
The SSFL president indicated that bureaucratic red tape within the Ministry of Education has prevented the SSFL from moving more quickly, despite getting the services of an attorney.
“There are processes that are being addressed along the way, with the school, with the Ministry (Education), and now, with getting a legal opinion through Tyrone Marcus, who is doing his best.”
SOURCE: T&T Express
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