Fatima College was crowned the new champion of the Premier Division of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) after a report from the League's Disciplinary Committee on Monday revealed that St Benedict's College had forfeited four matches that striker Derrel Garcia played in while he was unregistered.
Garcia had been the subject of St. Benedict's College action all season after he was allowed to miss more than a year in school without the knowledge of the Ministry of Education. Before his return on October 8 to classes, he was allowed to play against San Juan North Secondary and won 1-0; Fatima College, which was a 3-1 victory; St. Anthony's College, which was a 2-1 triumph for the Southerners; and against Queen's Royal College (QRC), they prevailed in a 2-1 victory. The matches were contested on October 2, 5, 7, and 9, respectively.
According to the report, "Based on the Disciplinary Committee’s Report, St. Benedict’s College will forfeit all points for the undermentioned games, and three (3) points and three (3) goals will be awarded to the respective schools/teams."
On November 7, the Ministry of Education, through its CEO Aaron Ramrattan, wrote to the SSFL secretary Azaad Khan questioning the status of Garcia as a student at St. Benedict's College, noting clearly that Garcia was assigned to St. Benedict's College through the SEA in 2021; he requested study leave from August 2023 to May 2024 for a football scholarship; for the academic year September 2023 to July 2024, he was absent for the entire period; on September 25, 2024, the parent of Garcia wrote requesting his reinstatement; and the fact that Garcia resumed his attendance at the school on October 8, 2024, was verified from the attendance register at the school.
The ministry again wrote to the SSFL secretary on December 9, making it clear the expected protocol at the ministry is that any request by a student for a leave of absence or reinstatement must be forwarded to the school supervisor for approval; however, they stated that no information was given to the school supervisor.
Attorney Tyrone Marcus, in his submission, said by October 8 the player had also missed eight matches played by the school against Arima North (0-0 tie), Speyside (3-1 to SBC), Trinity College (2-1 SBC won), Naparima College (1-0 SBC won), Malick (2-1 SBC won), San Juan North (1-0 SBC won), Fatima (3-1 SBC won), and St. Anthony's College (2-1 SBC won).
According to Marcus, "Based on his first date of attendance on October 8, 2024, Garcia became eligible to play for St. Benedict’s from Wednesday, October 9, 2024, when they defeated Queen’s Royal College (QRC) 2-1. However, Garcia played in three of the eight matches highlighted in the above table, namely, the games on October 2nd, 5th, and 7th against San Juan North Secondary, Fatima College, and St. Anthony’s College, respectively.
The final determination as to whether St. Benedict’s breached any provisions of the SSFL Constitution is beyond the mandate given to the author of this opinion. That authority rests with the Disciplinary Committee."
Following the forfeit, the Southerners dropped to fourth in the standings with 29 points while Fatima College moved to the top to retain the title they won last year with 38 points. Meanwhile, Presentation College San Fernando secured the runner-up spot on 35 points, with the Tigers of St. Anthony's College sealing the third position on 33 points.
St. Benedict’s College has until Friday, 3rd January 2025, to appeal the decision of the Disciplinary
Committee.
5. Findings of the SSFL Disciplinary Committee
• St Benedict’s College submitted a registration list which included Derrell Garcia knowing that he was not attending classes and that he was not in physical attendance at the school at that time.
• Uploaded information for Derrell Garcia online at the time of registration showed an incorrect birth paper upload.
• St Benedict’s College played Derrell Garcia in a game on the 2nd October 2024 against
San Juan North Secondary School knowing that he was not attending classes at the time.
• Derrell Garcia’s name was entered on the school’s roll on Wednesday October 2,
2024 but his first day of attendance was six days later on Tuesday October 8, 2024.
This was confirmed by the Ministry of Education’s letter dated November 7, 2024
addressed to SSFL General Secretary, Mr. Azaad Mohammed-Khan.
• Garcia was never deregistered as a student at St. Benedict’s College.
• The school’s Principal was aware of the request for leave of absence.
• Garcia’s parents followed the expected protocol in requesting the leave.
• The usual procedure for a request for leave of absence or a request for reinstatement
involves forwarding the request to the School Supervisor.
• The School Supervisor was not in receipt of such a request.
• Although Garcia’s name wasformally entered on the school’s roll on October 2, 2024,
he first attended school that term on Tuesday October 8, 2024. By that date, St.
Benedict’s (SBC in the table below) had already played eight matches. The dates,
opponents and results of those matches are as follows:
FINAL 2024 SSFL PREMIERSHIP DIVISION STANDINGS
P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*PTS
1*Fatima College*15*12*02*01*50*11*39*38
2*Presentation College*15*11*02*02*33*10*23*35
3*St. Anthony’s College*15*11*00*04*38*18*20*33
4*St. Benedict’s College*15*09*02*04*28*16*12*29
5*Arima North Secondary*15*06*06*03*26*13*13*24
6*Queen’s Royal College*15*07*03*05*24*19*05*24
7*Naparima College*15*06*04*05*26*19*07*22
8*San Juan North Secondary*15*07*01*07*28*27*01*22
9*Signal Hill Secondary*15*06*03*06*26*28*-02*21
10*Malick Secondary*15*06*02*07*30*32*-02*20
11*St. Mary’s College*15*05*01*09*16*29*-13*16
12*St. Augustine Secondary*15*04*03*08*11*33*-22*15
13*Trinity College East*15*04*01*10*19*30*-11*13
14*Speyside Secondary*15*03*03*09*21*34*-13*12
15*East Mucurapo Secondary*15*04*00*11*13*27*-14*12
16*Miracle Ministries Pent. High*15*02*01*12*08*51*- 43*07
