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The Unified Football Coaches of Trinidad and Tobago (UFCTT) has defended Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-17 Team head coach Shawn Cooper against supposed “unclear and ambiguous allegations”, in the wake of Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) sanctions against the coach.
On Saturday, TTFA Safeguarding manager Gary St Rose announced an indefinite ban on Cooper, which prohibits him from working with minors.
(via TTFA Media.)
Not only does St Rose’s ruling block him from continuing as a national youth coach, a position he has held for over a decade, but it also means he cannot operate as coach at Presentation College (San Fernando)
Feasibly, the ruling might also impact on his job as a security guard at Presentation—should his employers become concerned that a national body does not think Cooper fit to work with children.
Remarkably, according to the UFCTT, the TTFA might have arrived at this decision without interviewing Cooper.
“The Unified Football Coaches of Trinidad and Tobago (UFCTT) acknowledges the recent allegations circulating regarding Mr Shawn Cooper, a highly respected coach with an exemplary track record spanning over two decades at youth, senior, and international levels,” stated the UFCTT release.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
“We urge the public and the media to avoid speculation and premature conclusions. To our knowledge, the investigation remains ongoing, and Mr Cooper has not yet been interviewed.”
Five days since St Rose publicly communicated his decision to prohibit Cooper from working with minors, TTFA president Kieron Edwards is yet to make any statement—whether to clarify or simply acknowledge a decision that his technical director, Anton Corneal, described as “unheard of”.
Wired886 requested a comment from Edwards on Cooper on Monday morning. Thus far, the president’s only response, which he delivered on Tuesday, was that he would speak on the matter: “soon”.
Cooper has also not spoken publicly, although he is believed to be seeking legal advice.
Photo: TTFA Media.
In the week after Trinidad and Tobago’s completion of their Qatar 2025 Fifa U-17 World Cup qualifying series, St Rose relayed, through team manager Vernetta Flanders and via WhatsApp, a survey for all players involved in Cooper’s pool—whether selected on the final squad or not.
Questions ranged from: “what is your level of satisfaction with the organisation of the accommodation” to “what is your level of satisfaction with the environment created by the coaching staff” and sought to ascertain the mental wellbeing of players during their time with the team.
Wired868 is unaware of any follow up investigations conducted by St Rose. Instead, it appears that the TTFA Safeguarding unit felt the answers from the survey to be compelling enough to take the drastic measures that followed.
(via TTFA Media.)
Section III, Article 29 states: ‘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 persons or organisations 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.’
Notably, UFCTT president Jefferson George was goalkeeper coach of the National Under-17 team and part of the same tour. He is also goalkeeper coach at Presentation College, where he has worked closely with Cooper for years, and serves on the TTFA technical committee which is headed by Edwards.
(via TTFA Media.)
The local coaching body, thus far, has expressed concern over the process followed in sanctioning Cooper rather than the personalities involved.
“The UFCTT is deeply concerned that these allegations, presented in an unclear and ambiguous manner, have reached the public domain before the investigative process is complete,” stated the release.
“While we fully support the crucial work of the Safeguarding Unit in promoting a culture of trust and accountability, it is essential to ensure the process respects the principles of natural justice and due process.
Photo: PUFA.
“The UFCTT stands firmly behind Mr Cooper and remains hopeful for a swift, fair resolution.
“We are committed to working alongside all stakeholders to foster an environment that upholds integrity, fairness, and the well-being of everyone involved in the sport.”
The UFCTT is the second body to defend Cooper since the TTFA sanction, with the Presentation College San Fernando Past Students’ Association (PCSFPSA) urging the TTFA to resolve the issue in “a timely manner” yesterday.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/ Wired868.)
The executive arm of the local football has not seen it necessary to comment so far, even as its own coach squirms publicly.
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