St Clair Coaching School recently won their appeal against the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Disciplinary committee's decision to kick them out of the 2004 Super League Qualifying tournament for defaulting a game. However, the victory is a hollow victory because it does not make them eligible to compete in this year's Super League.
In 2004 Coaching School was unbeaten in the Qualification tournament and was almost certain to capture one of the three qualifying berths from the six-team tournament to compete in the 2005 Super League when they ran into trouble with the League.
Coaching School was schedule to play San Juan East Mediane in their penultimate game but because they could not get confirmed return reservations to Tobago they informed the chairman of the tournament committee verbally that they would not be able to fulfill their engagement and gave their reason.
However, the tournament committee subsequently awarded San Juan the game based on a claim from San Juan that confirmed reservations were available for Coaching School to come to Trinidad, but San Juan only focused on the School coming to Trinidad and not on their return.
Coaching School protested the decision and the matter was sent to the disciplinary committee which ruled against them.
They subsequently appealed the committee's decision and judgment was eventually given in their favour almost a year after the appeal.
Coaching School's request to play in this year's Super League because of the judgment in their favour was denied, though they were well on course for qualifying for the 2004 Super League when the wrong judgment was made against them.
Coaching School's veteran player Terry Joseph told the Tobago News that they are convinced that if they pursue the matter further they will be successful but they have decided to let sleeping dogs lie.