Dear Editor: Is Cooper guilty until proven innocent? Is his TTFA treatment not a threat to all coaches?

“[…] How is it acceptable, that the person who is head of the Safe Guarding Unit, was able to institute a ban on a national coach with no timeline for resolution, expiry date, and cannot yet, six months later, seem to generate any opportunity for a defence to be filed and heard on the part of the coach?

“[…] You can’t protect youth development by destroying it. The longer this ban hangs without clarity, the more damage it does—to Cooper’s reputation, to school programs, to national youth football, and to trust in the TTFA itself…”

The following Letter to the Editor on the ongoing Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Safeguarding suspension of former Presentation College (San Fernando) and Trinidad and Tobago national youth team coach Shawn Cooper was submitted to Wired868 by Lion Hearted:

Presentation College, San Fernando, dropped a serious statement in the evening of 17^th of September 2025 as they kicked off their annual quest for school football glory.

While posing for their team picture, they unfurled a banner that stated “Presentation College San Fernando Supports Coach Cooper”.

Shawn Cooper—the much-storied and, as of now, former coach of Presentation College—was seated in the stands of the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, no longer allowed to be next to the team he has spent almost two decades building. He probably doesn’t even remember what the viewing angles are from the stands any more, it’s been that long.

What was more poignant, and a bit more touching, was that after scoring the second of three goals against Trinity College East that day, skipper Isaiah ‘Baby Hulk’ Jacob gathered his teammates and ran to the corner flag nearest to where ‘Coachman’ was sitting—and the entire team saluted Cooper with raised fists and heart signs.

Seated near to him myself, I don’t mind telling you that when Shawn Cooper feels something deeply, he either makes his mind known rather loudly, or stays quiet and bows his head.

He bowed his head this time.

I think all would agree that if these young men were under so much abuse and emotional damage via Cooper, as is bandied about by the TTFA in their well-spoken drivel in the charges against Cooper, then they had a pretty bizarre way of showing it.

There is, again, a bigger picture at play here, and with the length of time that has passed with no resolution in sight, one wonders if the general footballing public recognizes the gravity of the situation.

This isn’t about SSFL, per se. This is bigger, and sadly, worse than we realise.

Certain facts need, of course, to be restated here to give context.

On 15 March 2025, the TTFA Safeguarding Department imposed an age‑group restriction on Shawn Cooper, effective immediately. Under Section III, Article 29 of the TTFA Safeguarding Policy & Framework v3.0, Cooper is barred from coaching youth players 18 years and under “until further notice”.

Article 29 allows for action when a person is being investigated for abuse, breach of safeguarding policy, or a criminal offence. Among the possible restrictions are age‑group bans, supervision requirements, reporting conditions, or provisional suspension.

The TTFA has reportedly declined to disclose what specific allegations have triggered the measure. Gary St Rose, head of the Safeguarding Unit, has declined to provide details, citing legal implications and policy confidentiality.

According to multiple reports, including the Unified Football Coaches of TT (UFCTT), Cooper has not yet been interviewed or given an opportunity to respond formally to the allegations.

Technical director Anton Corneal was reportedly not informed before the restriction was enforced.

The sanction is open‑ended—there is no specified end date or criteria for reinstatement. This is unlike prior restrictions or suspensions which had clear timelines (eg the NLCL competition).

Now let’s really throw some pitch-oil on the fire, shall we?

How is it acceptable, that the person who is head of the Safe Guarding Unit, was able to institute a ban on a national coach with no timeline for resolution, expiry date, and cannot yet, six months later, seem to generate any opportunity for a defence to be filed and heard on the part of the coach?

Furthermore: how is it in any way acceptable, that the Head of the Safe Guarding Unit, was once a business partner of a person who is currently awaiting adjudication on charges of arms smuggling?

Has the company they founded been struck off the companies register? Has he even been investigated to see if any malfeasance occurred?

If I was TTFA president Kieron Edwards (thank God I’m not, I have something called “principles”), I was holding St Rose at arm’s length. Silverback gorilla arm’s length, to be precise.

Article 29 speaks to “investigation” or rather, “being investigated”. Hollywood dramatisations aside, an investigation in any matter, big or small, criminal or civil, demands that the person being accused of something gets a chance to answer questions or allegations.

How else does one investigate without asking questions from ALL parties concerned? With a trench coat and magnifying glass?

It seems the TTFA Safeguarding Unit broke biche the day that they went over that topic in Safeguarding school. Hope they had fun.

Shawn Cooper was banned from coaching on 15^th March 2025. The first recorded, or publicised, instance of any Safeguarding committee being appointed was on 30^th March 2025.

This begs a few questions: firstly, was there no committee discussion or decision regarding this action against Cooper? Was St Rose acting, with full permission from TTFA higher ups, as a lone sniper or The Punisher?

Secondly, let’s say there was a Committee—were they even appointed? Is their decision now challengeable?

Will they even deign to look down from their heavily-sponsored, boarding pass festooned ivory towers and let us ever know what’s happening? One can hope—but you probably have a better chance of winning a Cash Pot draw.

We are in a very strange place right now, globally. Something is quite off, more so than normal.

We have people who are in leadership positions around the world, doing whatever they want and expecting applause for it from the gibbering idiots who got fooled into voting them into power. Us.

We now see, across approximately 1700 miles over thataway, famous faces getting yanked (no pun intended) from public view based on them airing their views, which are contrary to the ruling party’s doctrines.

This kind of feels similar—it’s almost like no one is allowed to question what goes on in the secret halls of Trinidad football. When did we let this happen?

The deeply troubling aspect of this TTFA bungle is multifaceted. There is somehow a presumption of guilt without transparency. To impose this level of restriction without stating what is alleged undermines public trust and harms the accused, even before any finding of wrongdoing.

As far as I am aware, Shawn Cooper has not been interviewed by the TTFA, nor given a meaningful chance to respond to allegations. In any fair disciplinary system, the accused must have the opportunity to present their side. That is the most basic premise of any coherent and organised body of people.

Okay, I get it. I should have known after I typed “coherent” and “organised” when I am dealing with something quite different.

Let’s be clear: protecting young people must always come first. But safeguarding cannot become a blunt instrument used to ruin reputations without transparency, fairness, or accountability.

Cooper has spent decades mentoring schoolboys and national youth players. If there are legitimate concerns, they must be investigated—but with proper procedure. That includes informing the accused, giving them a fair hearing, and setting timelines for resolution.

So far, TTFA has failed on all fronts regarding this. Miserably. They haven’t told the public what Cooper is alleged to have done. They didn’t inform technical leadership before banning him.

Most disturbing: Cooper was reportedly not even given a chance to respond before the ban was enforced. That’s not justice. That’s weaponised bureaucracy.

You can’t protect youth development by destroying it. The longer this ban hangs without clarity, the more damage it does—to Cooper’s reputation, to school programs, to national youth football, and to trust in the TTFA itself.

When the need to speak out rears its ugly head, do we now have to scuttle away in the dark like a cockroach in Independence Square because we are afraid we get Cooper-ed?

As you can probably tell from reading this, I am a proud ‘Presman’. So too was my son, and now my nephews.

Presentation’s history in Trinidad and Tobago is embedded in the national tapestry by now; two prime ministers and a president, Kes The Band, Machel, are a fraction of what we lay claim to.

Football? The most recent names like Marvin Phillip, Jerron Jackie, Darnell Hospedales, Dantaye Gilbert, are the latest in a long line of Presmen who, like Cooper, answered the call when national duty knocked at the door.

But ask yourself: what if you were a ‘Royalian’ and it wasn’t Shawn Cooper, but Kenwyne Jones? Or a ‘Napsman’, and it was Angus? A Fatima man, and it was Stephen ‘Bison’ Williams or Kerdywn Moe? Over in Arima, would you be placid if it was Wayne ‘Sheppy’ Sheppard?

Would we still be okay with all of this?

I haven’t even touched on the fact that the current SSFL president, Merere Gonsalves, is the eastern division officer for the TTFA Safeguarding Unit. Should he say something?

Well, judging from last year, Gonsalves is not playing with his bread for nothing and nobody. Trust me on that.

Shawn Cooper is not a fringe coach, languishing in the doldrums of 7^th tier football in rural Trinidad. He has decades under his belt with both national, and schools’ football. He has led two of the strongest football schools to titles and co-curricular glory repeatedly (time to speak up, Naps—we’re watching).

Past students of one, and present and past students of the other can attest to three things about Cooper: academic concern, mentorship, and discipline. The same things we lament for when the news headlines show yet another young man lost to the shadows.

We cannot be nonchalant when a person like Cooper isn’t given the right amount of fairness. Football in Trinidad and Tobago deserves leaders who protect both children and due process. Cooper deserves no less.

I am under no delusions here. Edwards and Company could read this and laugh their heads off—safe in the knowledge that whatever they give us, we will most likely Oliver Twist it with both hands and say: “please sir may we have some more”.

Unless we speak up. The ball, dear reader, is in your half too.