While they were on the field of play hammering Ardenne High 6-0 in their Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup opener on Saturday night, the St George's College (STGC) players were being robbed of their possessions including cellular phones, items of clothing, and even football boots.

Moments after leaving the field of play after recording the biggest margin of victory of all the games played across both the Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup, the players discovered that their personal belongings had been taken by thieves.

The STGC changing room was on the ground floor of the Kingston Cricket Club. It was to have been guarded by private security, however, a person or people were able to gain access to the room and remove the items valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. At press time, the extent of the losses was still being assessed.

St George's Head Coach Neville "Bertis" Bell was left distraught.

"We are very disappointed that this has happened. Apparently, the room was accessed through a back door while we were on the field of play and a few items stolen.

"Upon returning to the changing room after the match players discovered that cellular phones, boots, personal items such as slippers and shirts were missing," Bell said.

"They were unable to enjoy the victory after a very good performance on the field," said a disgruntled Bell.

The Jamaica Observer has learnt that investigations are still going on as to how the thieves were able to access the room when it is reported that only one person had a key to the changing room. It is said that that person denied responsibility for the theft.

Bell said he was told by a member of the Ardenne coaching staff that it was apparent that the persons involved in the robbery were trying to gain access to their dressing room, but failed because it was padlocked from inside.

When contacted, ISSA President Keith Wellington declined to provide details, but said: "We express our disappointment in the actions of those who committed the act and confirm that the matter is now in the hands of the police."

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