Harlem Strikers were declared Central Football Association treble crown winners after it was awarded the Premier Division “Big-Six” title via protest action earlier this week. Strikers which had already won the CFA Ramsingh’s Sportworld FA Trophy and Sanitank League Cup lodged a protest on December 10, 2011 to the CFA’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) against Caroni Samba for the use of three players whom they claimed were not rightfully transferred from their previous clubs before playing in the competition. The players were Kwame Wiltshire, Nigel Daniel and Kemo Narcis. On December 23, 2011, the CFA’s DC agreed to accept as evidence a second letter from Strikers on the basis it referred to information in the first letter that three other players, Aaron Downing, Trevon Forbes and Fabian Lewis were identified only by facial recognition while verbal submission to include another player, Devon Drayton by the complainant was not accepted as it was ruled unconstitutional by the DC. In its response the DC which comprised Lennox Smith, Jimmy Henry and Michelle Williams noted it considered evidence as provided by both clubs and other evidence provided by the association’s records. In its ruling the DC said it was evident that at the day of the match involving both clubs, which Caroni won 4-1 (December 10), the quintet of Daniel, Wiltshire, Narcis, Forbes and Lewis were duly registered to play with Caroni.
However, the DC in reviewing the registration of Downing noticed some irregularities. These included: The player registration form showed a tick “yes” for the question: Is this your first registration with the CFA? The form remained blank for subsequent questions: Last association registered with; and Last club registered with. The player registration form was signed and dated July 26, 2011 while written submissions from Caroni Samba by way of W Connection letter dated January 5, 2012 indicated Downing last played for W Connection as a professional player in April 2009. In making its final decision on the registration of Downing to play for Caroni, the DC said it considered the completed player registration form from W Connection and noted: 1. That due to the fact Aaron Downing indicated on his signed form that it was his first registration with the CFA, that he was not previously registered in any other association or any club and further evidence revealed that he played for W Connection in 2009, an offence was committed. 2. At the date of July 26, 2011, stated on his player registration form, Aaron Downing was not duly transferred to play for Caroni Samba as no Transfer Certificate was provided by the T&T Pro League where he was still registered in accordance with the CFA constitution, T&T Football Federation and FIFA Statutes.
Hence, the DC recommended Caroni Samba be penalised and the match be awarded to Strikers. In addition, Downing is not eligible to play until a Transfer Certificate is issued to Caroni Samba from the T&T Pro League and that he receive a five-match suspension from the date that he is sanctioned to play. The DC also noted that both Downing and Caroni Samba reserved the right to appeal the decision, something which seems unlikely. For its belated victory, Strikers will collect the $10,000 and league trophy along with a spot in the T&TFF “Champion of Champions” competition, a qualifier to the bmobile National Super League which kicks off later this year.