Wellington addresses spectator blunder at STETHS Complex

Western Bureau:

ISSA President Keith Wellington has sought to justify the large crowd present for the ISSA Ben Francis Cup and daCosta Cup finals at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Sports Complex in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, last Friday.

The double header last Friday saw the hosts STETHS up against Edwin Allen High School in the Ben Francis Cup, and The Manning's School facing Garvey Maceo High School in the daCosta Cup final.

Wellington said many were not aware that each school was allowed only 25 fully vaccinated supporters by the Government.

"I don't think people are aware that each team was allowed 25 persons outside of the 22 players and eight staff," Wellington told STAR Sports. "We got permission for that from the quarter-finals on. They were fully vaccinated people with accreditation by ISSA.

"We didn't send out the other teams when the first game finished, so that was another 60. Also, it was a live production game. There were a lot of media and sponsors and if you add to that, the fact that we had school in session with almost 12,000 students and 200 staff, what we saw was not surprising."

Wellington said marshals tried their best to remove spectators who entered illegally, but said they could have done a better job of managing the groups of people.

"There were a few persons who got in that were not supposed to be in, but not many," he said. "Those that we realised came in illegally, through the back gate at the school farm when the buses were leaving, and who jumped the wall, were sent back out.

"What I think was an issue was the fact that the school groups were huddled together when there wasn't enough space. I think we didn't manage spreading them out properly, which was challenging because when 25 persons come to a football game, they want to watch it together. Even though they weren't mixing with the other people, the Garvey Maceo and Manning's people were too close to each other."

The Government declined ISSA's proposal earlier this month to have a limited number of vaccinated spectators at games, while allowing the schoolboy football season to finish.

Other major sporting events such as international cricket matches and FIFA World Cup qualifiers were also denied approval for spectators in attendance.