National team defender Kentoine Jennings? ejection from Tuesday night?s match against Trinidad & Tobago is becoming a case of ?he said, he said?.

In Jennings? case, he is adamant he never punched or head-butted opposing player, Cyd Grey, after they fell to the ground and were entangled in a keen tussle following a corner kick in the visitors? half.

The veteran footballer sought to clear the air yesterday on what led to his red card 15 minutes before the match ended 1-0 in Trinidad & Tobago?s favour but still openly admitted he did wrong and was sorry.

?We went up for the ball and we fell on the ground. He (Grey) was over me, talking and saying a lot of stuff and I told him ?get away from me? and I pushed my chest into his chest. That?s what I did to get sent off. That was it and I just walked away.

?He dramatised it and went down like somebody hit him. I even asked the referee what did he see and first he said I head-butted him then he said he thinks I attempted to head-butt him.

?I told him what I did and that was that.

?Some people thought I hit him with my left hand and that?s what was reported in the paper and on the radio people were saying I head-butted him.

?It?s not true, so I?d like to get that straight. I?m not trying to defend anything because I did bump him with my chest but there was no (use of) hands or anything like that.

?I take responsibility for what I did but I?m just getting it sorted out as far as what exactly happened,? explained Jennings, speaking to .

By contrast, Communications Officer for the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation Shaun Fuentes confirmed yesterday that Grey said he was head-butted by Jennings. The game was held up for a few minutes as referee Lyndon Raynor expelled the Bermudian and allowed Grey to seek medical attention.

Those seated at the fourth official?s table thought Jennings had punched his opponent while many in the stands felt he head-butted the Trinidadian.

In hindsight, Jennings says he is furious with himself because, had he done nothing at all, none of these charges could have been made against him.

?Oh yes, I?m most definitely mad at myself. The game was intense. A lot of things were going on and going wrong for our team. We felt we could have won but things were not going 100 percent our way and we got a bit emotional.

?I made a mistake and I did a very stupid and unnecessary thing to get sent off. It was immature but it happened and I?ve learnt from it and I?m going to go on from here.?

What also concerns him is that, as the player entrusted with the captain?s armband for the international friendly, he set a bad example.

?That behaviour is not in my character. I coach kids and that wasn?t something I was pleased with. I have apologised to the team and I have to look at myself. I don?t like to set a bad precedent.?

That he is ineligible to play in the second and final fixture against the Caribbean team tonight also rankles the 32-year-old.

?I?m very disappointed. This is the pinnacle of my career and I?m starting to really find myself as far as my football. After last night (Tuesday), everybody is so pumped up and enthused about tomorrow?s game (tonight), that not to be taking part, it?s going to really kill me just to watch the game.?

Asked about a second scenario ? when he returned to the bench instead of heading straight to the dressing room after his expulsion ? Jennings said he went to retrieve his track-suit and the changing-room keys.

However, he spent a few minutes seated among his team-mates. This drew objections from the Trinidad & Tobago camp who asked that he be removed in accordance with football regulations.

?Once I got my things I left. They just made a big fuss about it,? said Jennings.

Regarding some people?s view that he should not have gone to the bench at all, the North Village star said: ?If that was the case, then the fourth official should have done his job and escorted me from the field from the beginning.

?He didn?t make a big deal ?He didn?t make a big dealabout it until the visitors? bench started making a big deal.?

As for Bermuda?s performance in the thrilling encounter which they dominated to no avail, he termed it ?uplifting to see us play so well?. Like everyone else, though, he lamented the goal drought.

?We should have taken our chances. That performance was first class and I don?t think anybody would say they were disappointed with the performance, especially after the games we played against Barbados.

?The team is really starting to come together and click and find good fitness and form. Now, we just have to start putting the ball in the back of the net so we don?t keep having these situations of losing 1-0 in games that we should win.?

Jennings said he looked forward to a successful World Cup campaign with the new-look Bermuda squad and that his emphasis is on team ? and not personal ? glory.

?Coming back to the national squad wasn?t about individual goals. It?s about helping out any way I can.

?I?m getting towards the twilight of my career and I just want to help the team because we?ve stumbled so much in our international football. So this is about collective goals for the country and the team.?