ISSA questions Excelsior narrative

There are contrasting views between Excelsior High School and the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) regarding the sanctions imposed on the school for using an ineligible player in the Manning Cup and Walker Cup competitions.

Reigning Manning Cup champions Excelsior High were placed on probation for two years and docked points from two matches in which the player featured by ISSA on Tuesday. A third match in the Walker Cup also resulted in the school losing its place in the Champions Cup.

The player fell afoul of the association’s academic and attendance regulations governing this season’s Manning Cup and Walker Cup competitions.

However, in a statement issued yesterday morning, Excelsior principal Deanroy Bromfield said the school did not regard the player as an international student and accepted ISSA’s ruling.

“Our error was that we did not regard the student as an international student and we allowed him to play as he had established himself as a part of the Excelsior community, and had played for the school for three years prior to his departure,” the release read in part. “ISSA has ruled otherwise and we accept their ruling in the matter,” the principal said.

“We also accept that more due diligence must be done by us in the future with regard to these matters,” he added.

However, speaking with The Gleaner yesterday afternoon, ISSA Competitions Officer Ewan Scott said the student had left two years ago and only recently returned.

“We do not know of him being an international player, so I can’t make any further comment on that,” Scott told The Gleaner. “That was not put forward at the meeting in terms of any defence,” the ISSA competitions officer added.

The school also maintained that it had never sought an unfair advantage.

“At no time was an unfair advantage being sought,” the principal stated.

“The only thing in our consideration was the development of the student-athlete.”

The school said ISSA had ruled otherwise and that it accepted the decision.

However, Scott said the facts presented to the disciplinary hearing were clear.

“In any case, no exception or whatever was asked for the player. It was like he was just returning from the form below, like he was just in school, so it was an error on their part,” Scott said. “…and they admitted it, so I don’t understand the narrative,” he added.

Meanwhile, in the Manning Cup, St Jago High and Calabar High have each been awarded 3-0 victories and three points from their respective matches against Excelsior.

In the Walker Cup, Wolmer’s Boys’ School and Kingston Technical High School will contest a play-off to determine which team advances to the Champions Cup in Excelsior’s place.