TTFA appoints more Safeguarding Officers
TTFA appoints more Safeguarding Officers
Twenty-one football administrators have been appointed to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) safeguarding department.
Each member received their instruments of appointment from TTFA President Kieron Edwards and TTFA’s Safeguarding, player care and wellbeing manager Gary St Rose at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
Safeguarding is the action taken to ensure that all vulnerable persons are safe from harm when involved in football. It means proactively doing everything possible to minimise risk and prevent poor practices and abuse.
Seven of these appointees would be charged with the responsibility for enforcing the policy throughout the six regions in T&T.
Additionally, during his address, Edwards was pleased to announce that the TTFA was selected by FIFA as one of their case studies for safeguarding best practices.
As a result, St Rose will spend three months in Zurich, Switzerland, later this year, and be part of all the safeguarding heads around the world, who are excelling in this field.
“We’d also be given a grant by FIFA to educate the public even more, and pushing on, in terms of what we do with regards to safeguarding,” Edwards said during his address to those appointed.
In February 2024, the TTFA launched its revised Safeguarding Framework and Policy and was hailed as, “one of the most elaborative and complete safeguarding framework,” by FIFA Head of Safeguarding and Child Protection Marie-Laure Lemineur.
Since its implementation, TTFA has suspended the Next Level Consulting Limited (NLCL) Community Cup for three months (November 2024 to February 2025) because one of the coaches of a team who participated in a previous NLCL tournament, was allegedly involved in the abuse of a player.
With the new safeguarding department set up, the TTFA is also planning an award ceremony for academies and coaches who implement best practice.
“We saw it fit as the FA to go on a social media campaign to educate the public on what are the policies, what are the responsibilities of coaches and some of the rules around safeguarding,” Edwards said.
“We are pushing to reach more people to understand safeguarding, whether it’s either suspension or we use it as a tool to explain to persons of the line they don’t cross when it comes to safeguarding. “
“Persons think when we talk about abuse it’s only sexual or physical but there’s mental abuse as well. The mental side of things is the biggest aspect when it comes to football. Top athletes in the world talk about their struggles with mental health as youths when they’re coming through football.”
With FIFA’s support, Edwards wants the TTFA to push to become the region’s leaders in safeguarding and an exemplar to other global football associations.
TTFA Safeguarding Department
Everton Alfred – Deputy safeguarding, player care and wellbeing manager/chief compliance officer
Raquel Russell – TTFA female programme safeguarding officer and concerns team
Lystra Lara – TTFA club licensing safeguarding officer
Zones
Lincoln Charles – North zone lead officer, and education and training team
Magdeline Bunting – North zone officer, administration
Mark Wilson – North zone officer, communications and events team
Shenelle Ashton – North Zone officer, administration
Stacey-Ann Augustus – East zone lead and concerns team
Merere Gonzales – East zone officer, communications and events team
Sascha Williams-Goddard – East zone officer, concerns team
Bevin Alexander – East zone officer, concerns team
Jenice De Coteau – East zone officer, education and training team
Marvin Singh – Eastern counties lead officer, administration
Shawn Dindial – Eastern counties officer, video content creator
Jeaniffer Long – Central zone lead, education and training team
Derwin Vallie – Central zone officer, education and training team
Anthony Wolfe – South zone lead and concerns team
Caesar Mitchell – South zone officer and external organisations relations
Aldwin Junior Ferguson – South zone officer, compliance team
Joseph Douglas – South zone officer, concerns team
Andre Barnard – South zone officer, concerns team
