Arima retain East Zone title

ARIMA have retained the East Zone title in the 2003 British Gas Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL).

The title will stay in the eastern borough after nearest challengers St Augustine suffered a six-point deduction from their tally by the SSFL Disciplinary Committee. Entering yesterday’s round of matches, the “Dial Dynamos” had 29 points from 11 matches with the “Green Machine,” who have 18 points with two fixtures remaining. St Augustine registered a 6-0 thrashing of Hillview on September 8 followed by a 6-3 whipping of San Juan two days later. But according to a release from SSFL general secretary Azaad Khan, St Augustine fielded an unregistered player in both matches, forcing the Disciplinary Committee to deduct the points and award the matches to Hillview and San Juan by 3-0 margins respectively.

Another team to suffer were defending champs “the Westmoorings Tigers” St Anthony’s, who will have to play the rest of the season without strikers Keon Trim and Christopher Sam. Trim, Sam, fellow forward Dwight Critchlow and midfielder Akeem Hutchinson were withdrawn from the Tigers lineup to face Fatima at the St Anthony’s Grounds on September 8. Following the match, which the hosts lost 1-0, team coach Nigel Grovesnor lodged a protest, highlighting the unprofessional manner in which the matter was handled. But the Discplinary Committee ruled that the result of the match will stand with Trim and Sam sitting out the rest of the season. And four rescheduled matches will be contested on October 14 and 16. The Central Zone fixtures between Tabaquite and Union Claxton Bay will take place at Tabaquite on October 14 from 3.45 pm while the Carapichaima-Presentation battle will be played simultaneously at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. The St Anthony’s-Malick contest on and the Mayaro-Vessigny battle will now be staged on October 16.