Opposition has become Government, but has anything changed? In Trinidad and Tobago football, that Government is the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).
On April 14, 2024, the new TTFA executive took charge, led by president Kieron Edwards, with vice-presidents Colin Murray, Osmond Downer, and Jameson Rigues.
Edwards’ Team Progressive had campaigned on promises of “transparency, good governance, financial prudence, and a membership-first approach.” Yet it could be argued that the changes are more cosmetic than structural.
Communication blackout
During his time in charge, deceased former TTFA president David John-Williams was vilified as a dictator, tyrant and bully; one who liked to have his own way — keeping TTFA members in the dark.
Yet, John-Williams was always a phone call away, even if he didn’t really want to speak to you and responded answered with one-word answers when you angered him.
Similarly, local businessman Robert Hadad, who was installed as chairman of the FIFA-imposed Normalisation Committee between 2020-2024, was similarly vilified for being unreachable and also keeping members in the dark. See any parallel lines with the current TTFA regime?
It has never been as bad for local media than under the current incarnation of the TTFA. The Association engages only favoured media — the I95FM team and sometimes Guardian Media. The rest frequently report, “efforts to contact TTFA president Kieron Edwards proved futile.”
Put directly to Downer that he, as a former champion of free speech and justice, has now become muzzled, his response was that FIFA rules only allow president Edwards and the elusive general secretary Kareem Paul to issue information.
Downer’s own words: “(In) the executive, there’s a decision in keeping with the statutes (where) only the general secretary or the president is entitled to make any release, interview, press interview etcetera, unless authorised to do so.”
I put it to him, “that is a nice way to hide, if you cannot get onto either the general secretary or the president even once” — to which Downer admitted, “that is a hell of a problem”, while still mostly staying mum.
Then there is the tightly controlled communications arm which leaves fans informed only by sanitised press releases. Gone are the days of open interviews with coaches and players. Even national women’s coach Damian Briggs needed permission to release his contact details during a recent friendly international against Jamaica, asking the TTFA media officer if “is it okay to give (me) his number,” before being prevented from so doing.
Transparency and accountability
Concerns over transparency remain. Has the current TTFA executive ever been transparent with its recent appointment of national coaches? Was a list of candidates ever offered before the appointment of Dwight Yorke, Damian Briggs or Under-17 coach Ronald Boyce?
Although he is not everyone’s cup of tea, it now makes one realise the value of a dissenting voice, such as former Super League president Keith Look Loy, similarly Michael Awai and, back in the day, Brian Ghent of Airports Authority.
Although he can be abrasive at times, Look Loy kept John-Williams on his toes. Who is keeping Edwards and the current TTFA administration on their toes?
Closed-door coaching appointments
While John-Williams held press conferences for the appointments of coaches such as Denis Lawrence, Carolina Morace, and even Tom Saintfiet’s short stint, has the current TTFA executive ever been transparent with its appointment of national coaches?
The TTFA issued a vacancy for a new TTPFL CEO after doing away with Colin Wharfe, then appointing an in-house employee, Yale Antoine. Who were the candidates? Who were candidates along with Kareem Paul, who vied for the post of general secretary, replacing Amiel Mohammed, who served under Hadad?
Is transparency putting out a public advertisement… then making one’s own choice, without ever providing a list of candidates?
Local professional league
There is also a belief that the local professional League should — like most major leagues, including the English Premier League — not be run by the TTFA.
National associations in the world’s major leagues, and even the MLS, sanction and oversee regulations but do not manage day-to-day operations. It is a model that could prevent many current issues.
It did not take Steve David’s protest on behalf of Point Fortin Civic to know how badly the Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) is being run. The TTPFL is a very poor cousin to the former TT Pro League, run by Dexter Skeene and Julia Baptiste as former CEOs.
Issues range from constant fixture changes, incomplete competitions, outdated social media updates, unpaid player salaries, and a car raffle which no one knows who won. And like the TTFA itself, it’s almost impossible to get info from the TTPFL.
Recently, Prison Service FC even temporarily withdrew from the 2025-26 season while leading the league due to funding issues, before being enticed to return.
Conversions with local coaches revealed the same problem, most being reluctant to speak out publicly. However, Civic’s technical director focussed the issue. “I am going to be campaigning very publicly with this, because there is too much crap going on in this TTPFL,” David had told the Express.
Technical director controversy
The firing of well-regarded technical director Anton Corneal and the shock appointment of Devin Elcock as acting technical director also raises eyebrows. Despite a Master’s Degree in Sports Management, Elcock has no experience as a head coach at a high level, having previously served as assistant coach to two local clubs and to suspended Shawn Cooper on the national Under-17 team.
Questions remain about the selection process. Who were the candidates? What criteria was used?
Shawn Cooper case
The case involving Shawn Cooper, which the Express confirmed is still unresolved, exemplifies concerns over the TTFA’s handling of disciplinary and safeguarding matters.
The extended suspension period in separate matters for both Cooper and the Next Level Community League raises questions about fairness, accountability, and efficiency.
On March 15, 2025, the TTFA announced that U-17 men’s national coach Cooper was “suspended” from coaching minors indefinitely, while the TTFA Safeguarding Department investigated a complaint.
Still unresolved after almost ten months, the suspension prevented him from coaching Presentation College San Fernando in the 2025 Secondary Schools Football League, directly impacting his livelihood. What are the charges against Cooper? Does it take nine months to do interviews?
Whether Cooper is innocent or guilty, it should have been resolved within a certain period or else it amounts to abuse. This is why prisoners win large sums of monetary compensation in our local courts, when their matters are heard after long periods of incarceration.
Cooper is put in a precarious position because, as a coach, under FIFA’s protection of its Associations, he will likely face a lifetime ban if he takes the TTFA to court. And the TTFA knows this.
This mirrors the prolonged suspension of the National League Committee Limited (NLCL) when the TTFA’s department suspended it for almost a year, then made the suspension look like it was just 90 days. Without explanation or apology, Gary St Rose, head of the TTFA Safeguarding Department, simply informed the NLCL it was cleared.
“The period for the provisional suspension has come to an end and there will be no further action by the TTFA at this time,” he stated via electronic correspondence.
So, has anything changed with the TTFA, despite executives preaching change when trying to get into power? A new year is upon us; maybe that change is on its way.
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