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Three Premier Division seasons, four major trophies—and then the axe.
Coach Hutson “Baba” Charles’ era at Fatima College came to an abrupt end yesterday when he and assistant coach Russell Sutton were dismissed from the staff, just hours after finishing second in the 2024 Coca Cola National Intercol competition.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
In 20 matches this season, Fatima won 14 in regulation time and had one victory through the penalty shootout route, while there were two draws and three defeats—two losses to St Benedict’s College and one to St Anthony’s College.
St Benedict’s 2-0 triumph in Thursday’s National Intercol final, with a double from captain Derrel Garcia, pulled the curtain on Charles’ time at Fatima.
Yet, ironically, this could still be Fatima’s best-ever season in the history of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division.
At present, the swanky northern outfit have the North Zone Intercol title to show for in the 2024 top flight. Yet, bizarrely, the SSFL executive still has two open disciplinary matters which could impact on the Premier Division and National Intercol title holders:
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
One involved the bonafide status of Garcia as a student-athlete this season, the other on a controversial penalty shootout win by St Benedict’s, which the SSFL promised to replay if Signal Hill Secondary succeed in the protest room.
“I thought this season we did well,” Charles told Wired868. “We had some concerns in pre-season. We had a limited squad because a lot of the players who could have been eligible to play this season, about five or six of them, went abroad on scholarships, etc—so [we] were left a little thin.”
Charles identified defenders Jaden Williams and Darius Jordan, midfielders Kade Collier, Logan Maingot, and Steven Griffith, flanker Christian Bailey and goalkeeper Thor Fletcher as players who potentially had an additional year with Fatima but opted to migrate.
“We worked with what we had,” said Charles. “Our target was four trophies: we won two (including the exhibition SSFL NGC Cup), and there are still question marks over the league [winners].
At his side are assistant Hisham Gomes (right) and manager Stephen Williams.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“So we targeted four trophies, but we won two—and the two other tournaments, we finished runners-up. As I told the fellas after the Intercol final, this is nothing to hang your heads about. We did well.
“I am proud of their efforts. It was good. We fell short in two tournaments: the league and the Intercol. But to me, I always felt it was a good season.”
On Friday morning, Charles and Sutton were summoned to a meeting before the Board of the Holy Ghost Fathers’ head, Father Gregory Augustine, and Fatima Old Boys Association (FOBA) president Christian Flemming. And, within roughly 10 minutes, they were dismissed.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Charles said he was neither given a reason for a dismissal nor asked any questions about the season.
“Flemming did all the talking—he started off [by] thanking us and mentioned all the accolades that we brought to the school, and the school was proud,” said Charles. “I asked him to get to the point. He said going forward, you all wouldn’t be with the team as coaches.
“He didn’t explain the reason why. He just said we wouldn’t be with Fatima anymore. To be honest, Sutton and myself didn’t ask him why.
At left is match official Charlize Hood.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“Father Gregory didn’t have anything to say, and I guess he was just there as a witness. We thanked Father Gregory and Flemming for giving us the time with Fatima, and that was it.”
Flemming told Wired868 he had no comment to make on Fatima’s decision to sack Charles. FOBA basically oversees Fatima’s football programme on the school’s behalf, including raising the funds for its operations.
The departure of Williams, Bailey and company from Fatima for other opportunities was not Charles’ only awkward moment during the preseason.
Photo: Ramsey Prentice/ DPP/ Wired868
On 6 September, Fatima kicked off the Super Cup without Michael Chaves, Seth Hadeed, Caden Trestrail and Tom Decle after the school chose to discipline the quartet for playing in an unsanctioned football event, which Charles described as a fete match at the time.
Fatima won 2-1 against Presentation College (San Fernando), but Charles complained that the decision to suspend the players was made without his involvement.
Flemming’s response was blunt:
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
“[…] Our coach might have felt that it was harsh, but we did not have to consult him because this is with regards to upholding the rules of the college. All he has to do is coach the boys who are present and in front of him—and he did it, and they won the game.”
Charles, a former Strike Squad standout and Soca Warriors head coach, said his relationship with Flemming was never the same afterwards.
“Since after that incident, he hasn’t spoken to Sutton or myself,” said Charles. “[…] I don’t want to say that or anything else caused [my dismissal] because I might be wrong. But since that incident he hasn’t spoken to myself or Sutton.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“After we won games, he used to come and congratulate us in the past—but that never happened this season. If you have to get the story behind it (my firing), he is the only person you could call.”
It is Charles’ second high-profile dismissal in 2024, after he was replaced by Defence Force—a team he led to multiple titles as a player and then coach.
“I don’t know if the ‘Army’ and the president of FOBA were talking,” he said with a laugh.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Charles said he planned to retire after the 2025 season anyway.
“A lot of people don’t know that next year would have probably been my last with Fatima because I want to take some time away from the game,” he said. “I need a rest. I have been going for years non-stop with Army and the colleges league.
“Being dismissed from the Army and Fatima might be a blessing in disguise. I think I deserve a rest and some time away from the game.”
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Fatima had just been relegated to the North Zone Championship Division when the school hired Charles in 2019. He won the zonal second-tier title in his first season before returning upstairs after the Covid-19 pandemic to claim the 2022 National Intercol and North Zone Intercol trophies, the 2023 Premier Division crown and the 2024 North Zone Intercol title.
“As I told the [FOBA] president and Father Gregory, I truly enjoyed my time at Fatima,” he said. “Since we brought them back up from the second division, I think every year we were able to bring a trophy to the school.
“I thought myself and Sutton were pretty successful because every year we brought trophies to the table. Our little spell at Fatima was successful.”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
And what about if Fatima are belatedly awarded more silverware for 2024 due to the ongoing SSFL disciplinary matters?
“Knowing the individual, he still wouldn’t change his mind—he would stick by his decision,” said Charles. “For me, I would feel proud knowing I left the institution in a good position, so whoever is taking over doesn’t have to start all the way at the bottom. They can build from what I left.
“[…] I wish Fatima all the best in the future.”
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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.
Well done, ” Barber” Congratulations to you and the COACHING STAFF.
I am a St Benedicts Old Boy.
Pity the story doesn’t tell us where FOBA was, what was its role when Fatima was still in the Championship Division. How are we to know which of the two management groups brought more to the table?