By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE INTER-SECONDARY Schools Sports Association (ISSA) yesterday cracked down on seven schools including former daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College for breaching player eligibility rules in the Manning and daCosta Cup football competitions.
The seven schools, three from the Corporate Area Manning Cup and four from the daCosta Cup, forfeited points following a meeting of the executive council of ISSA in Kingston.
The schools are: Kingston High, Jose Marti Technical and Haile Selassie High from the Manning Cup and Clarendon College, Fair Prospect High, Frome Technical and Christiana High from the daCosta Cup.
Investigations have not been completed however as a release from ISSA also stated that "at present one other school is under investigation regarding the eligibility of players".
When pressed, chairman of the daCosta Cup committee Mr. Elroy Ricketts would say only that an announcement would be made "very soon" and refused to say which competition the school was taking part in.
The docking of points from the daCosta Cup teams will not affect the inter-zone qualifiers.
Clarendon College withdrew from the competition last Friday but were still included on the teams list yesterday. Clarendon were the second team to withdraw from the competition since the start of the return round after former Zone B leaders Anchovy Comprehensive also pulled out when found in breach of the rules regarding repeating grades.
According to a release issued following the meeting yesterday, all the schools had used ineligible players, contravening the rules of the competition.
While not specifying which schools had contravened which particular rule, the release said "competition rules require that all schools in registering players ensure that students:
Have an acceptable academic standards, four subjects at a minimum 0f 45 per cent or CXC results of grade 5 or better (general level).
Have attendance of 80 per cent or better. For players on national duty, the requirement is waived for those periods of national duty only.
Have a birth certificate and register a copy with ISSA".
The release said schools using ineligible players would forfeit points from the games those players took part in and would face other sanctions. The release did not state what other action would be taken.
The teams will be allowed to complete their schedule of matches without the ineligible players.
Meanwhile, former champions Rusea's Comprehensive were confirmed as the winners of Zone B yesterday after a 2-0 win over Frome in a rescheduled game at the Frome Sports Ground. Ricardo Facey and Huntley Campbell scored for Rusea's.
In a Zone H game, Edwin Allen drubbed Central High 4-0 to pull alongside Vere Technical on 19 points. Vere however have a better goal differential and will advance as zone winners.
Twenty-three of the 24 inter-zone places have been filled with only second place from Zone I to be decided. Glenmuir, who will complete their schedule against Kemps Hill today, have already qualified.
Old Harbour who have an outstanding game against Bustamante are on 13 points and must win if they are to advance ahead of Lennon who have already completed their schedule on 14 points.
RESULTS
Zone B: Rusea's 2 Frome 0
TODAY'S GAMES
Zone H: Edwin Allen 4 Central High 0
Zone I: Kemps Hill vs. Glenmuir
