Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Mona's Prince Shand (left) and Kingston Technical's Latroy Vincent tussle for the ball in group A action of the ISSA/Pepsi/Jn Manning cup at Kingston Technical playfield on Wednesday. Mona won 2-1. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
YALLAHS TECHNICAL'S appeal to overturn a decision by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) ruling, which cost them a second-round berth and a year's probation, has been thrown out by an independent arbitration committee.
Yallahs, Zone L (b) winners of the daCosta Cup, had their season cut short without playing an integral game against Zone L (a) runners-up Happy Grove.
Yallahs interpreted the match as a home fixture to which ISSA differed. ISSA sent a fax to Yallahs the day before the game, stating that the match should be played at York Oval.
TRAVELLING CONFUSION
According to Yallahs principal, Headley Moore, his team had already put measures in place for a home game and requested of ISSA that Happy Grove travel to Yallahs.
However, a disputed discussion between Moore and ISSA competitions coordinator George Forbes led to confusion as to the venue, which the Yallahs principal said was only cleared up 40 minutes after the game was scheduled to start.
Moore claimed phone calls were made on behalf of both the zone chairman and George Forbes, requesting that his team travel to Yorke Oval at 3:20 p.m. - 10 minutes before the scheduled start of the game.
At minutes to four, referees informed Yallahs that the game was, in fact, at York but Moore said by that time it was too late to make it to the game.
After a ruling by the disciplinary committee and an independent arbitration committee, it was found that Yallahs had enough time to play the game and should be penalised.
OTHER CONTROVERSY
In another controversy this week, Excelsior against Kingston Technical was adjudged null and void after coach Lebert Halliman had a request for postponement turned down.
In that same group, an earlier game between Kingston Technical and Mona was replayed after Mona failed to turn up, raising questions of inconsistency.
"We prepared for the game and while we were at the field, there weren't any referees and we got a phone call that ISSA had told them that the game was off," Kingston Technical coach Clive Anderson explained before complaining about having to play Mona after they failed to turn up for a game earlier in the season.
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS
According to ISSA president Clement Radcliffe, the difference between the two cases showed how his organisation dealt with the issues case-by-case and in a fair manner.
However, Yallahs principal has refuted that claim saying: "I think they are too arrogant. All we were asking was that the game be replayed."
Anderson said ISSA was playing with schools spending their money and players sacrificing their time.
As it stands, the Excelsior case will be sent to the disciplinary committee to give Halliman a chance to appeal the case.
