Excelsior accepts ISSA ruling, denies seeking unfair advantage

Defending Manning Cup champion Excelsior High School has admitted that it erred in playing a student deemed ineligible by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), but insists that it never sought an unfair advantage.

In a statement, the school said one of its footballers was ruled ineligible for the Manning Cup after being classified as an international transfer student.

As a result, Excelsior has been placed on two years’ probation, deducted six points in the Manning Cup, and removed from the Champions Cup.

Principal Deanroy Bromfield said the school’s error was that it did not consider the student to be an international transfer.

He explained that the player had become part of the Excelsior community and had represented the school for three years before his departure.

However, Bromfield said the school accepted ISSA’s ruling and acknowledged that greater due diligence was required to ensure compliance with the association’s eligibility rules in the future.

He maintained that the school had never sought an unfair advantage by playing the student, saying its only consideration was the development of the student-athlete.

Excelsior apologised to its school community for the distress caused by the ruling and appealed for continued support as the season progresses.

In its ruling on Tuesday, ISSA urged the school to ensure strict compliance with all applicable academic, attendance and player eligibility requirements throughout the probationary period.

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