Fatima College and its head coach Hutson “Baba” Charles parted ways on Friday morning, less than 24 hours after the team recorded what was arguably the schools best year in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL).
Coach Charles took the school out of relegation in 2018 before leading them to five titles between 2022 and present in the top-flight Premier Division.
On Thursday, the Mucurapo Road school was beaten in the final of the National Coca-Cola Intercol by St Benedict’s College 2-0 at the Ato Boldon in Balmain, Couva.
Charles hardly had time to absorb the loss, when he was approached by manager Stephen Williams after the match, to be informed that he was summoned to an important meeting at the school at 10 am on Friday, Charles told Guardian Media Sports on Saturday.
He was not the only staff member called to the meeting as his assistant Russell Sutton was also summoned. The remaining members of the technical staff are assistant coach Hisham Gomes, trainer Dean Tuwitt, physiotherapist Nathan Rullow, manager Williams, and goalkeeper coach Declan Squires.
During the meeting, Fatima College was represented by Christian Flemming, president of the school Old Boys Association and Father Gregory Augustine whom Charles said was present as a witness, as Flemming conducted the proceedings.
“Flemming thanked us for the work we did over the years and the achievements the school has had, however, he said moving forward our services would not be needed. He did not give us a reason for the decision and we did not ask for one either,” Charles explained painfully, beneath his usually cheerful personality.
“We instead thanked him for the opportunity we were given and then we left. As far as we know though, we were the only ones fired as the other members of staff told us they did not know about the meeting,” Charles said.
Contacted for a comment yesterday, Flemming said he had no comment to make on a decision taken by his school and the board.
“Whatever is in the space there can stay, but I have no comment as it pertains to the decision taken by Fatima College and its board,” Flemming said.
Charles though appeared unusually comfortable as his achievements at the school lifted them to their best-ever showing. In 2018, the school was relegated under then-coach Wayne Sheppard before Charles’ arrival at the College in 2019 lifted them back to the Premier Division.
Like all other sports, football could not be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, and thereafter the school’s return to the premier division produced the North Zone Intercol title, the national Intercol title and the second-place finish in the League.
The very next year, 2023, Fatima claimed the League title that eluded them the year before, however, it was the only title they won that year, as they went down to Queen’s Royal College (QRC) in the semifinal of the north Intercol.
With the 2024 season nearing its end, Fatima College, despite a second-place finish in the League and its loss to the La Romaine Lions of St Benedict’s College last week, could still be elevated to the League title because the SSFL is still deliberating on the legitimacy of its instrumental striker Derrel Garcia as a student/athlete, having been out of the school system for more than a year.
The SSFL has sought legal counsel on the matter before they make a decision on the matter.
Fatima could also benefit from a protest by Signal Hill Secondary for the illegal movements of St Benedict’s goalkeeper Thane Devenish in a penalty shoot-out with them in the semifinal of the national Intercol last week.
Devenish saved two penalties in the match that led to his team winning 4-3 after a 1-1 result at the end of regulation time.
Charles was also dismissed as part of the coaching staff of T&T Premier Football League campaigners, Defence Force, earlier this year.
