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ISSA decided the game, says Ferguson
December 03, 2024
Following his team's 3-1 loss against Glenmuir High in the ISSA WATA Champions Cup final on Saturday, Jamaica College (JC) head coach Davion Ferguson has insinuated ISSA's ruling to suspend goalkeeper Tawayne Lynch played a crucial role in his team's defeat.
JC were handed their first defeat of the season when they fell in the Champions Cup final as Glenmuir marched on to their second consecutive hold on the prestigious knockout schoolboy football title.
JC conceded early in the contest through a free kick from O'Neil Headly, but quickly found parity when first-half substitute Amarlie King pulled them level.
Headly would return to complete his brace from another free kick in the second half, and then Nyron Allen scored a third to close out the night's proceedings for Glenmuir.
In his post-match interview, Ferguson made a tongue-in-cheek jab against the competition's ruling body who he felt played a role in the result.
"Congratulations to Glenmuir, but congratulations to ISSA," he quipped.
"It's disappointing when you lose any match. As I said before, congratulations to Glenmuir, they played a good game and I think our boys also played a good game against the odds," Ferguson said. "As I said, congrats also to ISSA because the game was not lost here tonight."
Ferguson was making reference to ISSA's recent disciplinary actions against their goalkeeper Lynch following an incident in their Champions Cup fixture against McGrath High.
Lynch was shown a red card in the match, earning him a one-match suspension from ISSA competitions.
After the fact, ISSA handed a further two-match suspension on the player having been adjudged to have used 'foul, abusive and insulting language to the match officials'.
In response, 16-year-old goalkeeper Adriano Kitson was given the nod in the custodian's absence.
Ferguson comments follow in the same vein of his statements leading up the match where he stated he felt Lynch, and JC, were being targeted by the powers that be.
Lynch had previously been forced to miss out on the entirety of last season's campaign having been deemed ineligible to compete.
"This is a blatant block on this youngster and that is the concern that we have," Ferguson told STAR Sports in the lead-up to the pivotal fixture.
"This will not break us. It is sad when we miss a youngster because for us, it is more than just a football game."
ISSA has declined to comment on the statements made by Ferguson, but has cited their letter written to JC confirming Lynch's suspension as their final say in the matter.
JC will next be in action on the Manning Cup semifinals against St Catherine at the National Stadium today.
