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St Benedict’s College assistant coach Lindsay Rondon received the dubious distinction of becoming the first football coach to be suspended twice by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Safeguarding Department, on Tuesday.
Rondon, according to a TTFA release, is suspended “in accordance with section III article 29 of the TTFA Safeguarding Policy and Framework […] from all football related activity for a period of 90 days, commencing on 21 July 2026 and ending 19 October 2026”.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Section III, article 29 reads: “Where a person and/or organisation is being investigated for abuse, a breach of the Safeguarding policy, or for a criminal offence, the TTFA shall impose conditions on that person’s or organisation’s license to work with children, youth players and vulnerable groups.
“These restrictions would include but not be limited to the following:
- Supervision requirements;
- Reporting requirements;
- Age group restrictions;
- Restrictions to specific groups;
- Provisional Suspension.
“Persons or organisations found in breach of the conditions imposed on their license, shall be suspended from all football related activity until such time as all their disciplinary matters have been concluded.”
Rondon previously ran afoul of the Safeguarding bylaws in April 2024, when he also received a 90-day suspension. At the time, Rondon was assistant coach at Malick Secondary.
Then, two years ago, the Safeguarding Department suspended Rondon in accordance with section III, article 76, paragraph one, which stated:
“At any time during an investigation, the chief of investigation may apply provisional sanctions in order to ensure that investigation proceedings are not interfered with, or when a breach of this Policy appears to have been committed and a decision on the merits of the case may not be taken early enough.”
Safeguarding Department manager Gary St Rose declined to give any details regarding what led to Rondon’s suspension in 2024, due to confidentiality clauses.
Wired868 understands that there were concerns within the Malick football programme regarding Rondon’s private interaction with their teenaged players.
However, at the conclusion of his suspension, Rondon resurfaced at another school: Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division bigwigs and ex-champs, St Benedict’s College.
He was a member of their technical staff as the La Romaine Lions won the 2024 National Intercol crown and South Zone Intercol title, although the school was stripped of Premier Division honours due to captain Derrel Garcia’s prolonged absence from class.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Wired868 asked St Rose why Rondon was given the same period of suspension for his second alleged violation as he was for his first. The official noted that the 90-day suspension is actually the maximum penalty which can be imposed at that stage.
Safeguard protocols dictate that the TTFA, headed then by president Kieron Edwards and general secretary Kareem Paul, would use the 90-day period to create a tribunal to hear the concerns related to the coach. (Paul replaced Amiel Mohammed as general secretary in June 2024.)
However, as was the case with another suspended official, Daniel Henry, the TTFA did not act conclusively. And, after roughly three months, Rondon was free to work with young footballers again—with neither innocence nor guilt properly established.
Edwards is the current managing director of Central FC.
(via TTFA Media.)
St Rose said he was unable to give any details as to why Rondon was not brought before a tribunal, due to confidentiality guidelines.
And, just two years later, the coach has been fingered for inappropriate behaviour again. St Rose said the Safeguarding Department would not rule out the possibility of extending Rondon’s suspension this time, if it is deemed necessary.
“The investigation is ongoing, so at the end of the 90 days, we can extend it or apply other sanctions,” he said, “based on if the investigation is completed and ready to be sent to the [TTFA] Secretariat, for them to forward to the Ethics or Disciplinary Committee.
Team manager and teacher Ravi Ramgoolam is fifth from right in the back row.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
“It’s an administrative action where the investigation is ongoing… We have the option to extend as needed.”
Wired868 asked St Benedict’s manager and teacher Ravi Ramgoolam for his school’s position on Rondon’s suspension by the Safeguarding Department, and how it might affect their preparation for the 2026 season.
Ramgoolam did not comment up until the time of publication. Wired868 was also unable to reach Rondon for comment.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Meanwhile, Presentation College (San Fernando) are preparing to enter their second successive SSFL season without their own head coach, Shawn Cooper, who was banned from coaching minors in March 2025 “until further notice”.
Cooper, unlike Rondon, is free to continue coaching adult teams.
Although the TTFA is yet to reveal the reason for Cooper’s suspension, Wired868 understands that it stems from a complaint of verbal abuse—made by at least one player—during his stint as Men’s National Under-17 Team head coach in 2025.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
At present, the issue between Cooper and the Safeguarding Department is before the local courts.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
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