The Barbados Football Association (BFA) was founded in 1910
and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010.
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association (BFA) today announced the 2025
BFA Youth Football Tournament will return this weekend for the Under-13s, Under-15s, and Under-17s
teams.
The action kicks off on Saturday 3rd May from 8.30am –
2pm in five locations island-wide:
The
BFA additionally confirmed that the Under-9s and Under-11s age groups will
resume play on Saturday 10th May, as well as Under-16 Girls to
commence in the coming weeks.
BFA President Randy Harris said he was
pleased to see youth football officially returning for 2025, reaffirming the Association’s
commitment to nurturing the next generation of local footballers.
“The BFA Youth Football Tournament is a critical
development platform that enables our young players to get out onto the pitch,
week after week, and refine their skills against a variety of other young
players and clubs,” he said. “The BFA remains committed to providing our youth with
opportunities that help them to thrive and reach their full potential, and to
continuing to create sustainable pathways to develop youth and grassroots
football in Barbados.”
2025 BFA Youth Football Tournament Clubs
Atlas FC
Barbados Soccer Academy
Cave Hill FC
Deacons FC
Eden Stars FC
Evans Maughn Academy
First Touch Soccer Academy
FM Four Pillars
Kickstart Rush
King Park Rangers FC
Mavericks
National Sports Council
Notre Dame FC
Paradise FC
Pinelands FC
Potential Ballers FC
Pride of Gall Hill
Pro Shottas
RF Prime
St. Philip Football Academy
Technique FC
United Stars Alliance
UWI Soccer Bim
Valerie Football Youth Club
Whitehall Academy
The 2025 BFA Youth Football Tournament will
continue until November.
###
Caption: Youth football begins for 2025 this
weekend at five locations island-wide.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has announced a new partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness HIV/STI
Program Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness
Adolescent Health.
The partnership was officially launched
on Wednesday at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey, with BFA President Randy
Harris, BFA FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) Manager Dale Rudder, Senior Medical
Officer of Health with responsibility for the HIV/STI Program Dr. Dale Babb,
and Community Health Education Consultant in the Ministry of Health and Wellness
HIV/STI Program Sade Leon-Folkes.
The collaborative HIV/STI Sexual
Reproductive Health (SRH) Community Outreach Program is expected to begin in
the coming weeks and is designed to improve awareness about SRH, as well as increase
access to SRH information and services such as check-ups, HIV testing and STI screening,
and mental health support.
The Program’s outreach activities will include free
and confidential HIV testing and STI screening, distribution of HIV/STI educational
materials, condom demonstrations
and distribution, and the facilitation of open discussions and community
dialogue surrounding HIV/STI transmission, prevention, care, and support.
Dr. Babb explained the partnership
with the BFA was chosen due to the inherent bonds that exist within football
teams and within the local football community, which will assist the Ministry
in sharing health education messages on a wider scale, given the breadth and
reach of the football fraternity throughout all parishes across the island.
BFA President Randy Harris put his
full support behind the partnership and thanked the Ministry of Health and
Wellness for the opportunity for the BFA to be part of such a pivotal community
engagement initiative.
“National health education is a shared
responsibility and the BFA is pleased to be offered the chance to play our part
to assist in not only educating and empowering our players as it relates to
sexual and reproductive health, but to use football to help spread these
important messages further out into the broader community,” he said. “Given
that football is such a fundamental part of the fabric of Barbadian society, the
synergy between the two entities makes great sense and the BFA looks forward to
strengthening this relationship as we seek to create and build more corporate
and social partnerships that can contribute to transformational development within
both football and society at large.”
###
Caption: (left
to right) BFA FIFA Talent Development Manager Dale Rudder, BFA President Randy
Harris, Senior Medical Officer of
Health with responsibility for the HIV/STI Program Dr. Dale Babb, and Community
Health Education Consultant in the Ministry of Health and Wellness HIV/STI
Program Sade Leon-Folkes (image courtesy of Barbados Today).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) yesterday launched its Coaching C-License Course at the BFA Technical
Centre in Wildey.
BFA Acting Technical Director and National
Senior Men’s Head Coach Kent Hall, in his capacity as a qualified Coach
Educator, will be facilitating the initial instruction period of the Course,
and will be supported by FIFA Coach Educator Developer Rajesh Latchoo as well
as Concacaf B-License Coaches Marlon Harte, National Senior Men’s Team
Assistant Coach, and Kerry Trotman, a graduate of the International Coaching
Course (ICC) Training through the Hungarian University of Sports Sciences
(HUSS), as part of their onsite mentorship component of the FIFA Coach
Educators’ Development Pathway.
Hall said the C-License Course will
give coaches from across the island the chance to hone their skills, use their experience
to positively influence local players, and ultimately continue to strengthen
the quality of football on the island.
The 24 Course participants will
undertake five days of intensive theoretical classroom and practical activities,
designed to assist with implementing a high standard of coaching throughout Barbados.
Key topics will include leadership, principles of play and coaching, and session
planning. This will be followed by a six-week supervised development period out
in the field.
BFA
President Randy Harris, who was present to officially welcome the coaches into
the Course, emphasized the Association’s philosophy of continuous improvement.
“Sustainable
football development requires us to build capacity and to continuously improve in
all areas of the sport, including coach education,” he said. “The BFA will
continue to lay a strong foundation through providing opportunities for our local
coaches to receive best practice coaching education, development pathways, and practical
training opportunities for the long-term development of football in Barbados.”
###
Caption: The
Coaching C-License Course was launched
yesterday at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Counselor Shawn Springer from Men Empowerment Network Support (MENS) joined the Barbados Football Association (BFA) and the National Peace Program (NPP) at the community football hub of the Ivy last week where he facilitated an interactive session with local boys and girls.
He used football activities to help them to understand the power of effective communication, problem solving, body language, self-expression, and conflict resolution.
This is the second session in a series of sessions designed to engage and empower young people that will be rolled out to all BFA NPP community hubs.
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today announced that General Secretary Ashley Scott-Williams has stepped
down from his position at the Association.
BFA President Randy Harris extended
his thanks to Scott-Williams for his contributions to the BFA during his tenure
and wished him success in his future endeavors.
The BFA will now commence the recruitment
process to appoint a new General Secretary, as the Association continues to
guide the development of all facets of football in Barbados.
###
Caption:
Ashley-Scott Williams has stepped
down as BFA General Secretary.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has confirmed preparations for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Girls’
U14 Challenge Series are now well underway, with some extra training opportunities
being offered to players over the school vacation period.
The Challenge Series, set to take
place across 15th to 24th August in St. Kitts and Nevis,
is a key regional youth development opportunity, providing players exposure to
a competitive environment and giving them important match experience to develop
their skills.
Heading up the current Under 14
Girls training efforts is BFA FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) Manager and former
national player Dale Rudder who said the value of the TDS, which identifies and
develops local grassroots talent, has already been evidenced through the unprecedented
success of the Under 14 Boys at last year’s CFU Challenge Series.
Rudder said the BFA is currently running
extra sessions every day this week to expand the training component of the
national development program for girls, and to give the young players the best
chance to prepare for the Series.
“Given it is now school vacation,
we have broadened our training schedule to give the girls who are available as
much time on the pitch as possible,” he said. “They have the option to come as
many days as they can to get the added experience of an intensive program. After
this, we will resume our normal training three times a week as we get to the
pointy end of our preparations.”
He additionally put the call out to
any females interested in playing football to contact the BFA.
“As we continue to develop female
football in Barbados, I encourage females to come forward and to give football
a try. No experience is necessary.”
BFA President Randy Harris said
the Association is dedicated to nurturing players from an early age and will
continue to prioritize laying the foundations for female football development.
“Giving the girls these extra
training opportunities and having them participate in the upcoming CFU Challenge
Series is just one part of our youth strategy to develop the next generation of
footballers,” he said. “The BFA remains steadfast in our mission to grow the
game from the ground up, including female football, and we will continue to be committed
to investing in sustainable initiatives for long-term football development in
Barbados.”
###
Caption: The BFA remains committed to female football
development.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today reaffirmed its commitment to providing development opportunities for
the nation’s youth through confirming the recruitment of a student intern, 20-year-old
Seth Jervier, as part of its long-standing partnership with the Barbados
Community College (BCC).
The educational partnership, which
has been in existence for over 10 years, provides interns with the chance to participate
in the daily operations of the national sporting association, as well as to gain
knowledge about specific areas of interest.
Seth, a former local football
player, is completing the internship as part of his Associate Degree in
Computer Studies, which will add to his Architecture qualification, also
through BCC.
“These kinds of opportunities are so
important for young people as they give you exposure to a professional environment,
helping to build your workplace skills and confidence,” he said. “They can also
introduce you to new career paths, and my experience with the BFA so far has sparked
an interest in me possibly pursuing some coaching in the future. I’m really grateful
for this opportunity to broaden my horizons”.
BFA President Randy Harris thanked
the BCC for its continued partnership, emphasizing the importance of offering young
people pathways for development.
“The BFA is firmly committed to
creating spaces where our young people can thrive, both on and off the pitch.” he
said. “Our vision is not only for sustainable football development, but for long
lasting community development, and we will continue to provide these kinds of opportunities
to strengthen and empower our nation’s youth through as many facets of football
as possible.”
He also put the call out to
Barbadians to consider partnering with the Association, encouraging any interested
businesses or individuals to contact the BFA.
“As we strive to use football to
make a positive contribution to the national landscape, the BFA welcomes
expressions of interest in partnering with us, especially as it relates to empowering
our next generation at a time when it is needed most.”
###
Photo
caption: BFA Intern Seth Jervier (left) with
BFA National Senior Men’s Head Coach and Acting Technical Director Kent Hall.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has announced the launch of a sixth community football ‘hub’ in the Ivy
St. Michael as part of the continued roll out of the National Peace Program
(NPP) in collaboration with the Government of Barbados.
The new Ivy
community hub will be responsible for facilitating weekly ‘on-field’ and ‘off-field’
sessions such as fundamental football skills and conflict resolution that are specially
designed to engage and empower the nation’s youth.
Five other
community hubs in Pinelands, Deacons, Eden Lodge, Passage Road, and Brittons
Hill have already been launched by the BFA, in partnership with the NPP, as
part of the football component of the multifaceted national outreach program.
Speaking
at the launch on Tuesday evening, BFA Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James
said she was pleased to see the continued expansion of the Program through this
most recently launched hub, which will use football as an agent to create positive
change.
“Launching
a sixth community hub is a very special achievement and is the result of a dedicated
team of individuals as well as the continued collaboration between the BFA, the
National Peace Program, and our local communities,” she said. “Sport is a tool that
we can use to impact people’s lives, and I have no doubt that this new hub in
the Ivy will carry the baton forward and pave the way for us to have even more of
a positive impact on Barbadian children. We are looking forward to welcoming more
participants into this new hub, especially girls, and seeing our youth thrive
and excel with football as the driving force.”
Also
present at the launch was BFA Acting Technical Director Kent Hall, BFA
President Randy Harris, NPP Acting Director Alison Roach-Plummer, the Ivy hub
Coaches and officials, and local children and parents.
BFA
President Randy Harris said the launch of the new community hub was timely,
emphasizing the power of football to unite communities and promote social
cohesion.
“In the
wake of recent tragic events and the wave of local gun violence, the continued
roll out of the BFA’s collaboration with the National Peace Program is more
important now than ever,” he said. “We remain committed to partnering with this
holistic national initiative that is dedicated to strengthening our communities
and providing opportunities to our youth through football.
Football
is a place where communities can come together and put their differences aside,
and the BFA stands firm in our zero-tolerance policy towards violence of any
kind. I commend the Government of Barbados for their commitment to this Program,
and we stand with the Prime Minister, the Government and other entities, and of
course our local communities, to working together to carve out solutions that
will foster peace and unity amongst all Barbadians.”
###
Photo caption: (left to right) BFA Acting Technical Director Kent
Hall, Ivy Hub Safeguarding and Administrative Officer Janelle Stevenson, Ivy
Hub Football Coach Bryan Neblett Blenheim, BFA President Randy Harris, BFA
Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James, and Ivy Hub Football Coach Peter
Wayne Sealy (image
credit: Nathan Goddard-McCarthy).
On Saturday, the BFA hosted the Concacaf Team Managers Workshop for national team managers, coaches, medical staff, and trainers at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey.
Facilitated by Director of Concacaf Caribbean Office Horace Reid with guest speaker FIFA Member Associations Consultant Amiel Mohammed, the intensive one-day theoretical Workshop was designed to assist to build the capacity of local team managers in their preparation and management of Barbados’ national teams.
Topics covered included roles and responsibilities, best practice team management, sports integrity, preparing for competitions, pre- and post-match analysis, and contingency planning in the case of an emergency.
Thank you to Concacaf and all participants for an informative and productive session.
The Barbados Football Association (BFA) in partnership with the National Peace Program (NPP), and in collaboration with the Government of Barbados, recently hosted a soccer festival at the Passage Road community ‘hub’.
Over 80 children from the BFA NPP local hubs of Brittons Hill, the Ivy, Pinelands, and Passage Road came together for an afternoon of football drills and friendly matches, all in the spirit of community development, social cohesion, and a love for the game.
A great time was had by all, and the event was a resounding success. Thank you to all involved.
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today announced that in a historic first, BFA President Randy Harris
has been elected to the prestigious FIFA Council.
With a career
spanning 48 years in football administration, Harris is the first Barbadian to
be elected to the Council and has confirmed that in order to fulfill his new
role at FIFA, he will not be putting himself forward for re-election as Caribbean
Football Union (CFU) President.
“It is
really an honor and a privilege to be elected as a member of the FIFA Council,”
he said. “I am looking forward to be able to strengthen the voice of the region
at the global table, and to continue to support the FIFA President’s vision in
the development of football globally.
I can
confirm that I remain firmly committed to the Barbados Football Association.
I am
humbled and grateful for this new opportunity, and I will continue to strive
for excellence at all levels of the sport that has been my lifelong passion.”
The official
announcement of Harris’ election to the FIFA Council was made today at the 40th
Ordinary Congress of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean
Association Football (Concacaf) held in St. Lucia.
The Congress
serves as the annual general meeting for the region’s governing body for football,
and was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Concacaf President Victor
Montagliani, as well as Presidents and delegates from all 41 Concacaf Member
Associations, Concacaf Council Members, and other key figures from the regional
and global football community.
CONMEBOL
President and FIFA Vice President Alejandro Dominguez, the Right
Honourable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, and the
Honourable Kenson Casimir, Minister of Sports of St. Lucia, were also in
attendance.
As part of
the 40th Concacaf Ordinary Congress, the Confederation’s Member Associations
reviewed and approved the Confederation’s 2025 budget. Elections were also conducted
for the following FIFA Council and Concacaf Council positions:
FIFA COUNCIL
CONCACAF COUNCIL
The
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the international
governing body for association football, beach soccer, and futsal.
The FIFA
Council (formerly called the FIFA Executive Committee) is the main decision-making
body of the organization in the intervals of FIFA Congress and is the strategic
body that sets the vision for FIFA and global football.
###
Caption 1: BFA
President Randy Harris was elected to the FIFA Council today at the 40th Concacaf Ordinary Congress held in St. Lucia
(image courtesy of Concacaf).
Caption 2: The 40th Concacaf Ordinary Congress was attended by key figures from the regional and global football community (image courtesy of Concacaf).
Media enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
The Barbados Football Association (BFA) is saddened to hear of the passing of Jabez ‘Jack’ Bovell, Director of the Barbados Soccer Academy and a Football Administrator for over 30 years.
Jack was a former BFA Vice President, as well as a Team Manager for both the Barbados National Junior and Senior teams.
The BFA extends heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.
|
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today announced that two BFA FIFA Assistant Referees, Abigail Brathwaite and Jaselle
Louison, will participate in the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Women’s Match Officials Course from 7th –
9th March in Antigua and Barbuda.
The three-day
regional Course will form part of the CFU’s observation of International Women’s
Day (IWD) 2025 (Saturday 8th March) and targets female Caribbean
match officials who are currently on the FIFA International Refereeing List.
Both Abigail
and Jaselle will participate in physical and theoretical training covering the
Laws of the Game, position and movement, match management, the psychology of
officiating, and the referee as a brand, as well as have the privilege of
hearing from a variety of inspiring presenters during the ‘enrichment sessions’
component of the Course. On IWD itself, all participating match officials will engage
in a daylong workshop, exploring issues intrinsic to Caribbean women referees.
BFA FIFA
Assistant Referee Jaselle
Louison said it was an honor to be
selected to represent Barbados in this regional professional development opportunity.
“It’s
always an honor to represent Barbados as a referee, and being part of a course
especially for women is no exception,” she said. “It is encouraging that as
females in a male dominated sport, we are seen for the hard work we put in and given
these kinds of opportunities to elevate to both regional and international levels.
I’m looking
forward to interacting with, and learning from, other female referees, instructors,
and mentors from across the Caribbean so that I can bring back the knowledge to
Barbados and share it with others.”
BFA Head
of Refereeing Victor Moore said he welcomed this current opportunity provided
by the CFU to further develop the skills of local referees, particularly women.
“We are pleased
to take full advantage of all training opportunities made available to our
match officials so that we can continue to strengthen our pool of referees on
the island,” he said. “Being involved in this Course is just another part of
the pathway to becoming a top international official, and not only does it
benefit the performance of our referees individually, but it also assists us to
make for better football in Barbados. It is my sincere hope that by having
local representatives participate in these kinds of noteworthy educational
programs, that we can encourage others to consider a career in refereeing,
especially females.”
BFA
President Randy Harris reiterated the BFA’s commitment to investing in all
aspects of women in football, emphasizing the Association’s holistic and all-encompassing
approach to developing the sport on the island.
“Capacity building
is paramount to the development of football in Barbados and it is critical that
we continue to provide local, regional, and international development
opportunities to every facet of football, and especially to women,” he said. “As
we seek to progress the women’s game in Barbados, the BFA remains committed to empowering
women involved in all areas of the sport to reach their full potential, and to build
on the development of females in football on the island.”
Harris additionally
noted the BFA will be participating in a fun day event hosted by the Barbados
Cricket Association (BCA) this Saturday alongside other national sporting
associations to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and to honor all women
in sport.
###
Photo caption: BFA FIFA Assistant Referee Jaselle Louison (image courtesy of Alison Ince Photography).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today announced it will play host to the Caribbean launch of the 2025
Hearts Of Many (HOM) Aviation Cup, in collaboration with the Barbados Tourism
Marketing Inc. (BTMI) and the HOM aviation charity.
Set to kick off at 4pm tomorrow at the BFA Technical
Centre in Wildey, the Aviation Cup will include a mixture of international aviation
teams and local teams from British Airways UK, British Airways Barbados, the
Barbados Defence Force (BDF), O2 Beach Club by Ocean Hotels, JetBlue, Virgin
Atlantic/Delta Airways (combined team), and Weymouth Wales F.C.
Play will take the format of a ‘round robin’ with 10
matches, each 10 minutes in duration, with the top four teams advancing into
the Semi-Final games, from which the winners will then battle it out in the
Aviation Cup Final.
The evening will also include performances by popular
local artist Biggie Irie and a live DJ from the UK, as well as a raffle draw with
the chance to win prizes such as a Segway, limited edition Nike trainers, a Nike
tracksuit, and a meal for two at L’Azure Restaurant at the Crane Beach Resort.
The inaugural
HOM Aviation Cup was launched last year in the UK with much success, and Organizer
Kurt Morlese says with the support of the BTMI and the BFA, he intends to make the
event an annual fixture on the Barbados sports tourism calendar.
“This
event is a great combination of sports and entertainment and aligns perfectly with
my passion for both football and aviation, as well as connects me with my Bajan
heritage,” he said.
“We aim to use the HOM Aviation Cup to bring
overseas visitors from all over the world to sunny Barbados each year to help
boost local businesses, the economy, and of course provide the local footballing
community something different that they can enjoy too. In addition, we will
provide local Barbadians with support in gaining aviation apprenticeships and qualifications.
We chose the BFA Technical Centre as our venue because
it is safe, secure, and the quality of the pitch is of a top international
standard. Where better to host such an electrifying event, than at the official
‘home of football’ in Barbados? We thank the BFA and the BTMI for helping us to
make this happen and encourage everyone to come out and support the event tomorrow
evening.”
BTMI Business Development Officer UK Office Cedric
Lynch echoed these sentiments, emphasizing he is delighted to be bringing the
Aviation Cup to Barbados and to have the opportunity to highlight the calibre
of the island’s footballing facilities, as well as showcase the diverse
attractions, cuisine, and atmosphere that destination Barbados has to offer to an
international audience.
“This event will continue to showcase Barbados’
facilities, infrastructure, and ability to host sporting activities at a variety
of levels, and bears testament to the faith our travel partners in the Aviation
Industry have in the island, and the diversity of our sports tourism offering,”
he said.
“There are of course also benefits to the local
football community, in that the exposure can create further opportunities for
the BFA to host even more international events and tournaments, as well as provide
local teams with the benefit of playing against different styles of international
competition and learning from our global partners, both on and off the pitch.
Given that the current infrastructural upgrades to encompass additional
facilities at the BFA Technical Centre are soon to be completed, we look
forward having even more to shout about in our overseas BTMI offices for this
sporting discipline in Barbados.”
BFA President Randy Harris thanked both HOM Aviation
Cup organizers and the BTMI for their collaboration and said he was pleased the
BFA Technical Centre was their venue of choice.
“This speaks volumes about the BFA’s continued
investment in our football facilities in Barbados,” he said. “Thanks to the FIFA
Forward Programme, our pitch now impressively meets FIFA Field Certification
criteria, enabling us to host international matches and events such as these. To
be able to say the standard of our football facility is world-class is a
tremendous achievement and the BFA is committed to developing all facets of
football in Barbados, including expanding further into sports tourism.
The BFA thanks HOM Aviation Cup organizers, the
BTMI, and all the teams and participants for choosing the home of football in
Barbados to host your event, and we look forward to strengthening our ties moving
forward to benefit all involved.”
###
Caption: HOM Aviation Cup teams arrived yesterday in Barbados to compete in tomorrow night’s event.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – Reaffirming its commitment to use
the power of football to help develop the nation’s youth, the Barbados Football
Association (BFA) hosted a community tour on Saturday to celebrate the continued
success of its partnership with the National Peace Program (NPP), in
collaboration with the Government of Barbados.
Through
this partnership, the BFA currently facilitates both ‘on-field’ and ‘off-field’
theoretical, educational, and practical sessions designed to empower young
people in five local community ‘hubs’ – Pinelands, Deacons, Eden Lodge, Passage
Road, and the newly-launched Brittons Hill hub – aligning with the
Association’s vision to use football to create positive social change for youth
in Barbados.
The community
tour was attended by BFA Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James, External
Facilitator for NPP/BFA Football Hubs Kerry Skeete, Passage Road Hub Fitness
Trainer Gillian Martindale, Passage Road Hub Football Head Coach and Hub
Coordinator Andrew Tudor, and local children aged 8 – 14 years from the Passage
Road community hub.
Led by BFA
Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James, the children were treated to a bus
ride to Paradise Nature Park for a tour of the animal and nature sanctuary, then
stopped off at King George V Memorial Park for an afternoon of football games,
a mini training session, and a picnic lunch.
James said
she was delighted with the attendance on this first community tour, confirming
that the BFA intends to host a series of community hub tours in the coming
weeks.
“It was
lovely to see the children’s dedication to participating in all of the BFA and
NPP hub activities, and it just shows how much they really enjoy all aspects of
the program,” she said. “Our mission, in collaboration with the National Peace
Program, is to continue to assist to strengthen our nation’s youth in a
holistic manner and to engage them in a variety of positive activities, using
football as the driving force. It takes a village to raise a child, and the BFA
are thrilled to be a part of such a life-changing program for Barbadian youth,
families, and our local communities.”
BFA President Randy Harris echoed these sentiments.
“The youth are the future. This is true in both
football and in wider society, and the BFA remains firmly committed to putting
youth and community outreach initiatives, such as our collaboration with the
National Peace Program, at the forefront of the Association’s agenda and to continuing
to make valuable contributions to the future of football in Barbados, and to
the future of our nation.
We live and breathe the FIFA mantra of ‘football
unites the world’, and the BFA’s participation in this program shows us on a
local level how much of an impact sport, particularly football, can have in our
communities, and these benefits extend way beyond the pitch.
I am pleased to see the BFA’s involvement in the continued
success of the football arm of the National Peace Program and commend its
multifaceted approach to national sporting and community development.”
###
Caption: (left to right) Passage Road Hub Football Head
Coach and Hub Coordinator Andrew Tudor, External Facilitator for NPP/BFA
Football Hubs Kerry Skeete, Passage Road Hub Fitness Trainer Gillian Martindale,
and BFA Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James, with children from the
Passage Road community hub on Saturday’s tour.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
The
Barbados Football Association (BFA) has today issued an official statement
regarding the passing of former BFA General Secretary, Jai Jebodhsingh.
“The
Barbados Football Association (BFA) is deeply saddened to hear of the passing
of former BFA General Secretary Jailal ‘Jai’ Jebodhsingh.
Known
as ‘one of Barbados’ football heroes of the 1970s’ and the ‘father of UWI
sports’ at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, Jai Jebodhsingh,
a French lecturer and Past President of the Caribbean University Sports
Association (CUSA), is credited as the driving force behind the inception of an
extra-curricular sports programme for past and present students at UWI.
With
a particular passion for football, in 1975 Jai established the annual
inter-faculty league and knockout football competitions. This was an important platform
for footballers to obtain playing experience and additionally allowed local women’s
football to grow, at a time where there was no competitive women’s league in
Barbados.
Jebodhsingh
was also a Coach and an attacking forward on Cave Hill’s football team.
During
his time as BFA General Secretary, he encouraged the formation of Parish
Leagues and promoted a philosophy of ‘football for all’ across the island.
The
BFA extends heartfelt condolences to Jai’s family and loved ones, and thanks Jai
for his extensive contribution and dedication to the development of football and
sports in Barbados.”
###
Caption: Former
BFA General Secretary Jai Jebodhsingh (image credit The Nation Newspaper).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today announced that two Barbadian youth coaches will participate in a new
initiative set to significantly strengthen football development in the region,
specifically in Barbados and nine other Caribbean countries.
The Argentine-Caribbean
Youth Football: Training of Trainers Programme is a partnership between the
Argentinian Estudiantes de La Plata Football Club (EDLP), the Caribbean Football
Union (CFU), the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), the Argentine Fund for
International Cooperation (FO.AR), and the Organization of American States
(OAS).
It is aimed
at building the technical capabilities of Caribbean youth football coaches
through introducing innovative coaching techniques, improving coaching standards
and best practice, and is also designed to use the unifying power of football (particularly
at the level of youth coaching) to make a positive contribution towards youth empowerment
and social advancement in communities across the region.
The BFA
will be represented in the Programme by Marlon Harte, Assistant Coach of the
National Senior Men’s Team, current football coach at Combermere School, and
past Head Coach of the National Under-15 Boys Team and local youth football coach,
as well as Kerry Trotman, a current Senior Coach at Technique F.C., and recent graduate
of the International Coaching Course (ICC) Training through the Hungarian
University of Sports Sciences (HUSS) in Budapest, Hungary, through an Olympic
Solidarity (OS) Scholarship.
Both Harte
and Trotman are additionally holders of Concacaf B-License Coaching
Certifications and are currently undertaking the FIFA Coach Educators’ Development
Pathway – the international training required to become an accredited Coach
Educator.
Argentinian Technical Partners EDLP, who are known for producing world-class players and integrating sport and education, will facilitate the Training of Trainers Programme, which will be implemented in two stages:
1. Eight-weeks virtual theoretical training including coaching methodologies and sports psychology (February - March 2025); and
2. A five-day in-person intensive football clinic held at the UWI/JFF Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Jamaica (April 2025).
BFA President Randy Harris was in Jamaica last week in his capacity as CFU President to officially launch the Argentine-Caribbean Youth Football: Training of Trainers Programme and gave his full support to the partnership between Argentina and the Caribbean.
“Regional and international partnerships such as these
are critical to sustainable football development, and with Argentina named as the
2024 FIFA/Coca-Cola top-ranked men’s football team, we could not ask for a more
inspiring and fitting collaboration to help strengthen Caribbean football,” he
said. “And, the Programme’s impact will be two-fold. Football is a powerful
tool that cuts across genders, cultures, languages, religions, socioeconomics,
and politics, so this initiative is not only a great way to collectively raise the
standard of our regional youth coaching capacity for the next generation of
footballers to excel, but it also plays a vital role in youth empowerment,
social development, and uniting diverse communities and countries off the pitch,
through the important mentoring and guidance that youth coaches provide to our
young people, and the breadth of social inclusion that football offers; leaving
no youth behind.
The BFA wishes Marlon and Kerry all the best in
their participation in the Programme and looks forward to their continued
contribution to the youth football landscape in Barbados, and beyond.”
Other countries participating in the Argentine-Caribbean
Youth Football: Training of Trainers Programme include Antigua and Barbuda,
Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent
and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
###
Caption 1: (left to right) CFU and BFA President Randy Harris, Argentina’s Ambassador to Jamaica Marcelo Balbi Calvo, JFF President Michael Ricketts, and Jamaican Minister of Sports Olivia Grange at the launch of the Argentine-Caribbean Youth Football: Training of Trainers Programme last week at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel (image courtesy of SportsMax).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has announced that five local match officials – one Referee and four
Assistant Referees – have made it onto the prestigious 2025 FIFA International
Referees List; the highest status in football refereeing.
The BFA was
notified last week by the FIFA Refereeing Subdivision that current FIFA International
Assistant Referees Kevon Clarke, Angelo Doyle and Abigail Brathwaite would
remain on the List, with the addition this year of BFA Referee Cleon Culley and
BFA Assistant Referee Jaselle Louison, who have now both also been approved by
the FIFA Referees Committee to officiate matches at an international level.
BFA Head
of Refereeing Victor Moore said he is delighted with the accreditation of the Barbadian
match officials to the FIFA International Referees List, confirming it is also the
first time since 2017 that Barbados can boast it has a FIFA-accredited Men’s
Referee.
“The FIFA Referee Badge is the pinnacle of match
officiating in the world of football refereeing,” he said. “To have five of our BFA match officials
on the 2025 FIFA International Referees
List is an outstanding achievement and it is a testament to the calibre of
referees that we have been developing through the BFA. Our ability to continue
to add more local officials to the FIFA International Referees List is the
result of the dedication of
our technical team of instructors with the support of fellow referees, especially
over the last two seasons, and we look forward to adding even more to this List
in years to come.”
Moore
explained that FIFA member countries are annually invited to nominate officials
to be considered to make the FIFA International Referees List – the annual publication of the global list of FIFA
international referees – however,
selection is based on a stringent set of criteria and match experience.
“The
refereeing pathway to reach this kind of top-level accreditation requires a lot
of hard work and commitment,” he said. “At the very beginning, the process here
really starts with local match volunteering, followed by enrollment in the BFA
Referee Recruitment Program which involves game management and match analysis
seminars, fitness sessions, and studying the Laws of the Game. Upon successful completion
of this Program, participants would meet the requirements to be qualified,
certified, and registered with the BFA as a Referee. There are then various
stages of game performance assessment, fitness testing, training, and match
officiating appointments domestically, nationally, and regionally which would ultimately
enable the Referee to be eligible to obtain a recommendation by the BFA
Refereeing Department to be nominated for the FIFA International Referees List.
To then be selected by the FIFA Referees Committee is a real honor and on behalf of the BFA Refereeing Department, I extend my warm congratulations to our successful officials and wish them every success on their match officiating journey as they continue to make the BFA and Barbados proud.”
BFA Representation on the 2025 FIFA International Referees List
Referee
Cleon
Culley – added 2025
Assistant
Referees
Kevon
Clarke – added 2019
Angelo
Doyle – added 2022
Abigail
Brathwaite – added 2023
Jaselle
Louison – added 2025
###
Caption: Assistant Referee Angelo Doyle (image courtesy of Concacaf).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today reaffirmed its commitment to investing in all aspects of women
in football through highlighting the recent professional development
achievements of BFA Executive Board Member Tricia Forde and BFA Club Licensing
Manager and Events Coordinator Stephanie Callender, as well as showcasing the recent
reactivation of local women’s football ‘on the ground’ in Barbados.
Last
month, BFA Executive Board Member Tricia Forde completed a three-day FIFA
Women’s Football Regional Workshop in the Dominican Republic, covering themes such
as leadership and capacity building, and the professionalisation and sustainable
growth of women’s football.
“The
Workshop exposed us to the FIFA Women’s Football Strategy, and it was a true testament
to the fact that there is not only just a place for women in football, but that
there is actually enormous global support for women’s football progression too,”
she said. “I found the Workshop extremely informative and inspiring, and it
reignited my passion for re-energising the game for the females here in
Barbados. I’m excited to use the knowledge I gained to support my work with the
BFA to help us to charter a sustainable path together with our stakeholders, and
to strive for excellence in all areas of football for women.”
Building
upon her experience in the Dominican Republic, Tricia additionally just concluded
the 2024 Sports Administrators Course, hosted by the Barbados Olympic
Association (BOA) and the National Olympic Academy (NOA).
Adding
further depth to the BFA’s investment in women in football, is the recent participation
of BFA Club Licensing Manager and Events Coordinator Stephanie Callender at the
2024 Concacaf Women’s Professional Football Development Seminar in San Diego,
California.
With
representatives from countries such as Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica,
Trinidad, Canada, and the USA, the two-day knowledge sharing forum covered
topics like club best practice, club licensing, league standards, leadership,
safeguarding, and stakeholder and club communications.
The BFA
have complemented these professional football development initiatives with local
recruitment sessions for young female footballers, last week’s Under 17 Girls
development ‘friendly’ matches in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and the launch last
month of the 2024 BFA Women’s Development Cup; a 7-a-side tournament that
concluded last weekend and will resume in 2025 as part of the official Women’s
Football Competition fixture.
The BFA has
confirmed it will continue to strengthen and progress the women’s game in
Barbados, and that it is fully committed to all facets of female football
development.
###
Photo
caption: BFA Executive Board Member Tricia
Forde recently completed a three-day FIFA Women’s Football Regional Workshop in
the Dominican Republic.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has announced the National Under 17 Girls Squad and their Management Team
travelled to Trinidad yesterday to compete in two ‘friendlies’ against the
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) High Performance Under 17 Women’s
team and an Under 17 Girls Schools League team.
As part of
an arrangement between the BFA and the TTFA, the BFA revealed Team Barbados are
playing two matches at the St. Joseph Convent in Port of Spain, Trinidad which
are important development opportunities for the team to obtain match experience
and gain further exposure to regional competition.
Barbados’ National Under 17 Girls were defeated 7-2
by the TTFA High Performance Under 17 Women’s team today (with the Barbadian goals
scored by Rashauna Edwards and Tekoa
Hope-Downes) and they will play an Under 17
Girls Schools League team on Friday, before returning to the island on the same
day.
National Under 17 Girls Squad
Acima Alleyne
Danika Antoine
Keanna Barrow
Gabrielle Birmingham
Siara Blackman-Oliver
Shamanda Blenman-Murray
Azariel Clarke
Rashauna Edwards
Tianna Gregg
Solange Holford
Tekoa Hope-Downes (Captain)
Yhden Layne
Adrianne Leacock-Johnson
Jadae Lorde
Janiyah Nurse
Unesty Waithe
Management Team
Head Coach/Team Manager – Fitzgerald
Carter
Assistant Coach – Rhea Holder
Goalkeeper Coach/Equipment Manager – Morrison
Taylor
Physiotherapist – Chrystal Lynch
###
Photo
caption: The National Under 17 Girls Squad played
the TTFA High Performance Under 17 Women’s team in Trinidad today.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today announced the launch of a fourth community football ‘hub’ in
Passage Road St. Michael as part of the continued roll out of the National
Peace Program (NPP) in collaboration with the Government of Barbados.
The BFA is
contributing to the NPP by conducting on-field sessions such as basic football
skills with off-field sessions such as social media awareness and conflict
resolution that are designed to educate, inspire, and empower young people
through football in various community ‘hubs’ such as Pinelands, Deacons, Eden
Lodge, and now Passage Road.
The new
hub was officially launched last week and marks the exciting expansion of the
football component of the multifaceted national outreach program.
Leading
the project is BFA Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James who said the BFA
was delighted to collaborate with the NPP and with local communities in a
unique partnership that uses football as the agent to create positive change
for youth in Barbados.
“I am very
pleased with the progress we have made. It really is a collaboration in the truest
sense of the word, and none of this would be possible without the relentless efforts
of the Hub Coordinators, Coaches, community volunteers, parents, and all staff
involved, including of course the Government of Barbados and the representatives
of the National Peace Program,” she said. “Launching this new hub at Passage
Road has been such an important step in the evolution of the Program. It
started with just two players, and within less than two weeks we now have over 20
young people keen to be part of the Passage Road Hub moving forward.”
NPP Acting
Director Alison Roach-Plummer echoed these sentiments.
“The National
Peace Program is pleased with the progress of the football arm of the project,
and it is great to see our nation’s young people being engaged in a variety of positive
activities through football,” she said. “Sport is a wonderful tool to impact
people’s lives, and the benefits go way beyond the pitch. The focus on using both
on-field and off-field activities in these community football hubs highlights
the holistic essence of our Program, and we sincerely thank the BFA for their
dedication and collaboration in ensuring it continues to be a resounding
success.”
Following on
from last week’s hub launch, the BFA and the Barbados NPP joined forces with
Pinelands F.C. and the Trinidad NPP to participate in a show of regional
solidarity in the form of a community peace march, which culminated in a
‘friendly’ football match between Barbados and Trinidad on Sunday.
In an initiative spearheaded by Pinelands F.C., each
country’s team comprised of local NPP community hubs players coming together as
one to compete for national bragging rights, of which Trinidad emerged victorious
2-1.
BFA President Randy Harris said he was encouraged to
see the BFA making a meaningful contribution to the national community outreach
program and reiterated the Association’s commitment to sustainable football
development on the island.
“What we
are seeing here is a true exemplar of the overarching FIFA philosophy that ‘football
unites the world’, and we can see first-hand at a local level that football has
the power to unite and strengthen our communities in real ways,” he said. “The
BFA remains firmly committed to long-term football development in Barbados, and
that means getting out into these grassroots communities and working with our youth
to expose them not only to the sport at a young age but also to provide them with
educational opportunities and guidance towards pathways for development. The
inclusion of football as part of the National Peace Program sends a strong
message about the importance of football to the fabric of our society, and
given it is one of the most popular sports on the island, it is my sincere hope
that this is just the beginning of a strong and fruitful partnership between the
BFA and the Government, for the betterment of all facets of football in
Barbados and for our communities at large.”
###
Photo caption: Kerry Skeete External Facilitator for NPP/BFA
Football Hubs, Amanda James BFA Special Projects Coordinator, Danico Watson NPP
Change Agent, Kent Hall National Tridents Men’s Head Coach and BFA Interim
Technical Director, Ramon Jamal Hewitt NPP Change Agent, Andrew Tudor Passage
Road Hub Football Head Coach and Hub Coordinator, and Gillian Martindale
Passage Road Hub Fitness Trainer, with local participants at the launch of the
new Passage Road Hub last week.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Georgetown,
Guyana – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today confirmed the National Senior Men’s Squad and their Management Team
arrived safely in Guyana last night, ready for their second Concacaf Nations
League Play-In match against the Golden Jaguars tomorrow at the National Track
and Field Centre at
7pm local time.
Both teams
are battling it out for a place in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims, slated
for early next year.
Head Coach
Kent Hall has made some revisions to the Squad that took on Guyana last Friday night
in Barbados at the BFA Technical Centre, and said the National Tridents are
eager to take to the pitch.
“The guys have responded really well to the
situation and are eager to take to the pitch and improve on the performance
from the first leg. We feel like the scoreline didn’t really tell an accurate
story of the match or paint a fair picture of the team so we’re going to change
that,” he said. “We’ve done a quick analysis of the match and we’re going to
see how much we can get done in the training session this evening. Tomorrow, we
approach the match like a new fixture – one goal at a time – and if we execute
well enough to give ourselves a chance at progression then we will 100 percent
go for it.”
National Senior Men’s Squad
Goalkeepers
Jireh Malcolm (Paradise F.C.)
Nashton Browne (Paradise F.C.)
Defenders
Andre Applewhaite (Captain) (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Carl Hinkson (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Jayden Goodridge (Red and White Shottas)
Mario Williams (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Nathan Walters-Harewood (Altitude F.C., Canada)
Nicoli Brathwaite (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Ricardio Morris (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Midfielders
Ethan Taylor (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Hadan Holligan (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Jaylan Gilkes – (Barbados Soccer
Academy)
Jaron Oughterson (UWI Blackbirds)
Kevon Lucas (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Omani Leacock (Wotton F.C.)
Sheran Hoyte (Britton’s Hill United F.C.)
Forwards
Ackeel Applewhaite (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Darian King (Wotton F.C.)
Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (Harnosand F.C., Sweden)
Nadre Butcher (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Niall Reid-Stephen (UWI Blackbirds)
Thierry Gale (SK Rapid Wien, Austria)
Management Team
Head Coach – Kent
Hall
Assistant Coach – Marlon Harte
Manager – Ortis Williams
Equipment Manager – Orlando Mapp
Sports Therapist – Johann Lashley
Trainer – Chad Bynoe
Goalkeeping Coach – Bernard Howell
Media Officer – Amy Goulding
###
Photo caption: The National Tridents and their Management Team
departed Barbados last night to play the second leg of the Concacaf Nations
League Play-In matches against Guyana, scheduled for tomorrow night.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today disclosed that the National Tridents and their Management Team
participated in an anti-doping presentation and Q&A session at the BFA
Technical Centre in Wildey this week.
Facilitated by Jasper Blades, Doping Control Officer at the Caribbean Regional
Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO), Dr. Adrian Lorde Vice-Chairman of the Caribbean
RADO, the National Anti-Doping Commission (NADC), and the BFA, the National Senior
Men’s players learnt about the doping control process, in and out of
competition testing, banned substances, testing procedures and options, and
personal responsibility as it relates to testing availability and fulfilling
the spirit of fair play in sport.
BFA
General Secretary Ashley Scott-Williams emphasised the importance of the
session, thanking all who participated and assisted in facilitating the initiative.
“Anti-doping
is a top priority in sports and the BFA is pleased to be able to provide our
players and management with opportunities such as these. Making this type of
information available is an important step in our commitment to developing and
professionalising football in Barbados,” he said. “We thank Dr. Lorde, Mr.
Blades, the National Anti-Doping Commission, and the Caribbean RADO for their
assistance in facilitating the session, and we look forward to further
collaborations in the future.”
National
Tridents Captain Andre Applewhaite echoed these sentiments.
“The
session was definitely important and beneficial to us as national athletes,” he
said. “It gave us more of an insight into what exactly anti-doping is, and the
international standards that apply. It was really worthwhile to hear from the
experts from the Caribbean RADO on how anti-doping fits into not only football
in Barbados, but the bigger picture of worldwide sports.”
###
Photo caption: Jasper Blades, Doping Control Officer at the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO), explaining the particulars of anti-doping to the National Tridents.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today announced the National Senior Men’s Squad and their Management
Team for the upcoming home and away Concacaf Nations League Play-In matches
against Guyana this month.
The first match is set to be held
on home soil at the BFA Technical Centre on Friday 15th November at
7pm local time, while the second match will be hosted by Guyana at the National
Track and Field Centre on Tuesday 19th November at 8pm local time.
Both teams will be battling it out
for a place in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims, slated for early next year.
Head Coach Kent Hall said the National
Tridents are excited by the prospect of facing off against Guyana for a spot in
the Gold Cup Prelims, and to build on top of what the team has achieved thus
far.
“The recently concluded Nations
League matches gave us a platform to test and refine our system, and we’re generally
happy with the players’ understanding and the quality they’ve shown in
implementation,” he said. “We hope to put on a good show for the home crowd
again, but we know this assignment will require a greater level of discipline
and application, so we have to shift our mindset accordingly.”
Tickets for the Concacaf Nations League Play-In match
in Barbados are $20 BBD, available now from the following outlets:
National Senior Men’s Squad
Ackeel Applewhaite (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Andre Applewhaite (Captain) (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Carl Hinkson (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Corey Bridgeman (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Darian King (Wotton F.C.)
Darius Boyce (UWI Blackbirds)
Ethan Taylor (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Hadan Holligan (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Jaron Oughterson (UWI Blackbirds)
Jayden Goodridge (Red and White Shottas)
Jaylen Gilkes (Barbados Soccer Academy)
Jireh Malcolm (Paradise F.C.)
Kevon Lucas (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (Harnosand F.C., Sweden)
Khimani Cox (Barbados Soccer Academy)
Kishmar Primus (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Mario Williams (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Nadre Butcher (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Nathan Walters-Harewood (Altitude F.C., Canada)
Niall Reid-Stephen (UWI Blackbirds)
Nicoli Brathwaite (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Omani Leacock (Wotton F.C.)
Raquan Clarke (Paradise F.C.)
Ricardio Morris (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Sheran Hoyte (Britton’s Hill United F.C.)
Thierry Gale (SK Rapid Wien, Austria)
Management Team
Head Coach – Kent
Hall
Assistant Coach – Marlon Harte
Manager – Ortis Williams
Equipment Manager – Orlando Mapp
Sports Therapist – Johann Lashley
Trainer – Chad Bynoe
Goalkeeping Coach – Bernard Howell
Media Officer – Amy Goulding
###
Photo caption: Nadre Butcher last month at the Concacaf Nations League match Barbados vs Bahamas at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey (image credit: Alison Ince Photography).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today announced the return of women’s football in Barbados.
The Women’s
Development Cup will take the form of a 7-a-side Tournament and will commence
this Saturday 9th November 2024 at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey
with the first two matches scheduled for 4pm, followed by two matches at 5pm.
Teams
taking part include:
Zone A: RF Prime,
Paradise FC, Technique FC, Mavericks FC
Zone B: Weymouth
Wales, White Hall Academy, Fitts Village FC, Pinelands
Last month,
the BFA engaged in stakeholder feedback sessions with local women’s football
clubs to listen to their suggestions for the way forward for local women’s
football. Emerging from this was the agreement to restart football for women immediately
with a 7-a-side Tournament.
In 2025,
the 7-a-side format will be restarted as part of the official Women’s Football
Competitions, which is aligned with the BFA’s continued commitment to female
football development and to encourage higher participation of women and girls
in football island-wide.
###
Media enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA
Communications Director
+1
(246) 820 8695
Come out and support the National Tridents on home soil against Guyana at the Concacaf Nations League PLAY-IN - the first step in the home and away battle for a place in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims.
Barbados vs Guyana
15th November 2024, 7PM
BFA Technical Centre, Wildey
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
The BFA, in collaboration with the Government of Barbados, is continuing to assist to roll out the National Peace Program (NPP), with a focus on using sport (football) as a tool for social change.
The BFA is contributing to this multifaceted outreach program by conducting various on-field and off-field sessions in community ‘hubs’ that are designed to empower our nation’s young people.
Last week, BFA Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James visited the Pinelands to facilitate a workshop in conflict resolution, and even welcomed a surprise guest, the Hon. Corey Lane M.P.
Caption: (left to right) Chairman Career Development Institute Oral Reid, BFA Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James, Community Development Aid Collin Harewood, the Hon. Corey Lane M.P., NPP Change Agent Dario Smith, and NPP Director Alison Roach-Plummer.
Bridgetown, Barbados – The Barbados Football Association (BFA) is pleased
to announce
its continued partnership with insurance and financial services company Guardian Life
of The Caribbean Limited.
Aligning with the Association’s
long-term vision to significantly develop youth football within the island, Guardian
Life has confirmed its intention to continue its financial support, which will
assist with the operational needs of
the Under-9s to Under-17s Boys and Mixed team’s annual youth football
competition, which has been titled the 2024 BFA Guardian Group Youth Football Tournament.
BFA General Secretary, Ashley Scott-Williams thanked
Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited for its support of the BFA and youth
football, and for its strong investment in the future of football within
Barbados.
"The BFA remains
focused on giving young boys and girls from every community on our island the
opportunity to play and develop their skills in football,” he said. “To do
this, we need corporate partnerships such as these, to ensure that we can
provide a conducive environment for football to thrive and positively change
the lives of everyone involved. We extend our sincere thanks to Guardian Life
of The Caribbean Limited for its commitment of over 10 years of support that
has been instrumental in maintaining our goal to continually develop and
nurture the talent of young footballers within Barbados.”
Remarking on the sponsorship, Guardian
Life of The Caribbean Limited’s Branch Manager, Amado Marcano echoed
these sentiments:
“Guardian Life of The Caribbean
Limited is more than pleased to continue to lend our support to the Barbados
Football Association (BFA) and to youth football across the island. Guardian
Life is passionate about initiatives that empower youth and champion physical
well-being and healthy lifestyle practices. As such, we will continue to invest
in the next generation of footballers and help reinforce the BFA and Barbados’
position as a leader at the forefront of regional football. On behalf of
Guardian Life, we are looking forward to strengthening our longstanding
partnership with the BFA and seeing the sustainability of the sport continue to
grow from strength to strength in Barbados.”
The 2024 BFA
Guardian Group Youth Football Tournament
will continue until
November this year, culminating in a Finals Day to be held at the BFA Technical
Centre in Wildey.
All Tournament match fixtures are
available at: barbadosfa.org/notice
###
Caption: Branch Manager at Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited, Amado Marcano (left), solidified the Youth Tournament partnership with BFA General Secretary Ashley Scott-Williams (right) at the Guardian Life offices.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA
Communications Director
+1
(246) 820 8695
Bridgetown, Barbados – Reaffirming its commitment
to match official development on the island, the Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today disclosed that BFA Head
of Refereeing Victor Moore recently attended the prestigious Concacaf Head of
Refereeing Workshop in Miami.
Held last
month, the intensive one-day development initiative consisted of over 30 Head of Refereeing representatives from
across Central America and the Caribbean.
The Workshop was designed to empower Member Associations (MAs) to continue to lead their Refereeing Departments
with strategic foresight, and in alignment with Concacaf’s vision to continue
to increase the quality of referee performance and professionalism within the
region.
Best practice case studies were presented to
participants to highlight how to create
the best path to success for their respective teams of referees, while emphasis
was also placed on accessing the relevant Concacaf educational materials,
courses, and programs now available to MAs so that they can develop a more
elite level of refereeing in their home countries.
BFA Head of Refereeing Victor Moore said being able
to network and learn from other Concacaf MA Refereeing Department Heads was an invaluable
experience that would add a strong foundation of support and synergy to his
role with the BFA.
“It was really great to be able to have access to
information about the diverse spectrum of educational opportunities available
to our referees through Concacaf,” he said. “Having the chance to connect with
my MA peers, and to discuss our specific challenges, was a good way to share
knowledge and to come up with collective suggested solutions for how each
Association can advance its refereeing strategy. I’m looking forward to being
able to provide the Concacaf learning opportunities showcased at the Workshop to
our Barbadian refereeing community, and to the BFA doing our part to increase
the number of FIFA Elite list and upper Tier referees coming out of Barbados that
would be available for selection by Concacaf.”
The BFA has reiterated that it will continue to
provide the highest standard of referee education, development, and training
opportunities for local referees to excel and be of benefit to the holistic
development of football in Barbados and beyond.
###
Caption: Concacaf Member Association Head of Refereeing participants at the Workshop (Image courtesy of Concacaf).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown, Barbados – The Barbados Football Association (BFA) has today
released an official statement regarding media reports surrounding the launch
of Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) technology at the Prime Minister’s Cup from
the quarter finals stage of the competition.
The BFA has clarified that in light of these
reports, it was contacted by FIFA to reaffirm their regulations that as a
mandatory process every Member Association must follow the Implementation
Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP) in order to implement the use of VAR to
support the officiating of local competitions.
As the governing body for football in Barbados, the
BFA has confirmed that it has not undertaken the official process to receive
FIFA certification for the use of VAR in Barbados, and therefore at this point
in time the technology is not authorized to be employed at any competition on
the island.
When local football intends to introduce VAR, the
BFA has stated that it will work closely with FIFA to obtain the relevant certification
and will engage key local football stakeholders to ensure the domestic roll out
of the cutting-edge technology meets the stipulated international criteria.
###
Image courtesy of Concacaf.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has today announced the National Senior Men’s Squad and their Management
Team for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League games, set to be held next month at
the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey.
Head Coach
Kent Hall said this current window of play has seen his squad selection focus
on using more locally based players, emphasizing the Tridents are excited to
play in front of a home crowd again.
“We’re
excited to play at home. We got great support when we played against Haiti in
June and we’re asking the home crowd to bring that same positive energy for
these two matches,” he said. “We haven’t had a positive result at home for a
little while, and we’re going to do our best to deliver a performance that
entertains, and a result that Bajans can be proud of.
We’ve put
ourselves in a strong position as it relates to our main objective for this
competition – which is to top the Group and get promoted back to League B – but
we know that the job isn’t complete yet. USVI and Bahamas will be coming here
to fight for the points, so we have to be focused and disciplined in our
approach and make sure that we’re prepared to outwork them in every minute of
both matches.”
Team Barbados’ first match will be against the U.S.
Virgin Islands on Wednesday 9th October, followed by the Bahamas on
Tuesday 15th October, both at 8pm.
Concacaf Nations League tickets are $20 BBD and are
on sale now from the following outlets:
National Senior Men’s Squad
Ackeel Applewhaite (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Andre Applewhaite (Captain) (Weymouth
Wales F.C.)
Carl Hinkson (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Corey Bridgeman (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Darian King (Wotton F.C.)
Darius Boyce (UWI Blackbirds)
Hadan Holligan (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Janash Jaunai (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Jaron Oughterson (UWI Blackbirds)
Jaylen Gilkes (Barbados Soccer Academy)
Jireh Malcolm (Paradise F.C.)
Kevon Lucas (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (Harnosand F.C., Sweden)
Khimani Cox (Barbados Soccer Academy)
Kishmar Primus (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Mario Williams (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Nadre Butcher (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Nathan Walters-Harewood (Altitude F.C., Canada)
Niall Reid-Stephens (UWI Blackbirds)
Nicoli Brathwaite (Kickstart Rush F.C.)
Omani Leacock (Wotton F.C.)
Ricardio Morris (Weymouth Wales F.C.)
Sheran Hoyte (Britton’s Hill United F.C.)
Management Team
Head Coach – Kent Hall
Assistant Coach – Marlon Harte
Manager – Ortis Williams
Equipment Manager – Orlando Mapp
Sports Therapist – Johann Lashley
Trainer – Chad Bynoe
Goalkeeping Coach – Bernard Howell
###
Caption: Preparations are continuing for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League 2024/25 games.
Media enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Come out and support the National Tridents on home soil at the Concacaf Nations League 2024/25.
Tickets on sale NOW from the following outlets:
1. Rubis
Gas Station, Kendal Hill
2. Sports and Games Barbados – Independence Square, Bridgetown
3. BFA Technical Centre, Wildey
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has announced it is actively recruiting young female footballers who are
born within the years 2011 – 2013.
The
Association has extended an open invitation to all young female athletes within
that age bracket who are interested in learning or enhancing their footballing skills
to join one (or all) of the following recruitment sessions at the BFA Technical
Centre in Wildey:
1.
Monday 30th
September 4.15pm – 6.15pm
2.
Wednesday
2nd October 4.15pm – 6.15pm
3.
Monday 7th
October 4.15pm – 6.15pm
BFA FIFA
Talent Development Scheme (TDS) Manager Dale Rudder said the current recruitment
drive for girls is part of the strategic approach of the National development
program to build up the female player pool in Barbados, and to focus on nurturing
local talent from an early age.
The BFA FIFA
TDS program targets youth aged between 11-17 years and works in collaboration
with local football clubs to identify talent and lay developmental pathways to
prepare players for international competition.
For more
information, call 538-2255 or email office@barbadosfa.com
.
###
Caption: The
BFA is actively recruiting female athletes to the National Girl’s Football Program.
(Image courtesy of Unionville Milliken Soccer Club)
Media enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today announced the appointment of Kent Hall as Interim BFA Technical Director.
With over 15 years coaching experience,
Kent has trained as a Coach Educator with both FIFA and Concacaf, is a Concacaf B-License holder, former
Assistant Coach to Russell Latapy, and a former National Senior player.
He
has worked across the broad spectrum of football in Barbados both on and off
the field, from Under-9s all the way through to Senior football, including
Premier League.
He is also currently the National
Senior Men’s Head Coach.
Aligning
with Hall’s transition is the additional appointment of National Under-14 Boy’s and Under-15 Girl’s Head Coach
Fitzgerald Carter, as the Interim BFA
Head of Coaching Education.
Carter
is also notably the BFA FIFA Talent
Development Scheme (TDS) Project Officer and BFA Talent Coach.
The BFA
confirmed both Interim appointments will take effect immediately, as the
recruitment process for a permanent BFA Technical Director continues.
###
Caption: Kent
Hall has been appointed Interim BFA Technical Director.
Media enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Come out and bring the home crowd energy for the National Tridents next month for the October window of the Concacaf Nations League 2024/25.
Barbados vs Bahamas
15th October, 8PM
Stay tuned for ticketing details.
Come out and support the Tridents on home soil for the October window of the Concacaf Nations League 2024/25.
Barbados vs U.S. Virgin Islands
9th October, 8PM
Stay tuned for ticketing details.
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today announced the Barbados Youth Football Tournament will return this
weekend for the U-9s to
U-17s Boys and Mixed teams.
After a
two month break for summer, all the action kicks off again on Saturday from 8.30am – 2.30pm in three
locations:
Participating age groups include Under-9s
(Mixed), Under-11s (Mixed), Under-13s (Mixed), Under-15s (Boys), and Under-17s
(Boys).
Clubs who will be competing are:
Barbados Soccer Academy
Cave Hill FC
Eden Stars FC
Evans Maughn Academy
FM Four Pillars
FVFC Blaze
Greens United
Kickstart Rush
Mavericks
National Sports Council
Notre Dame FC
Paradise FC
Parish Land FC
Pinelands FC
Pride of Gall Hill
Pro Shottas
RF Prime
St. Andrew Lions
St. Philip Football Academy
Technique FC
United Stars Alliance
UWI Soccer Bim
Valerie Football Youth Club
Whitehall Academy
The Tournament will be played in a League
format, with each youth team playing against each other for one round and will
be played under the Laws of the Game currently in force as authorized by FIFA.
The Barbados Youth Football Tournament
commenced in May this year and will continue until November.
All match fixtures are available at: barbadosfa.org/notice
###
Caption: Youth football restarts this weekend in
three locations island-wide.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA Communications Director
+1 (246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today announced it will be hosting a free Referee Recruitment Course, putting
the call out to all males and females aged 16 years and over, who may be interested
in starting a refereeing career, to register to participate.
Facilitated
by BFA Head of Refereeing Victor Moore, the Course will highlight the basics of
refereeing and will be held at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey from 1st
to 3rd October, then 8th to 10th October (inclusive),
from 5.30pm to 7pm.
Attendees
will undertake six sessions comprising 11 hours of face-to-face theoretical, technical,
and physical exercises based on the Official Laws of the Game. There will also
be an apprenticeship period as an Assistant Referee in Division Three, as well
as match appointments upon the completion of five mentor assisted Third Division
games with FIFA approved officials.
Moore said
the BFA continues to host regular recruitment drives such as these as part of
their strategic long-term referee development plan to scout emerging talent, and
to build and maintain a strong team of highly qualified match officials on the
island.
“This
course offers the first critical step in the pathway to becoming a referee,
however we want to highlight that refereeing additionally provides benefits off
the field in terms of personal development, self-confidence, people management
skills, and discipline. These skills can be applied to all areas of life and
there are a multitude of opportunities and experiences available to our referees
that extend way beyond the pitch,” he said. “We encourage anyone with an
interest to register and come along to learn more in terms of what refereeing
is all about.”
Match official development continues to remain a
priority for the BFA, with several local referees again receiving regional and
international appointments and gaining a variety of accolades on the global
stage.
This month alone, BFA Referee Jamar Springer completed
the FIFA Referees Assessment Program in Bermuda, BFA FIFA Assistant Referee Angelo
Doyle was appointed to officiate a League A match in Guadeloupe as part of the
Concacaf Nations League 2024/25, and BFA Concacaf accredited Referee Cleon Cully
also officiated matches at the Nations League in the Turks and Caicos.
For more
information and to register for the BFA Referee Recruitment Course, call 538-2255/826-6880 or email refereemanager@barbadosfa.com.
###
Caption: Concacaf accredited BFA Referee Cleon
Cully recently officiated at the Concacaf Nations League 2024/25 in the Turks
and Caicos (Image courtesy of Concacaf).
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA
Communications Director
+1
(246) 820 8695
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) last week hosted a Fun Day at the BFA
Technical Centre to acknowledge the recent strides made in the development of
local football on the island, particularly at the youth level.
Football
focused activities and competitions were held on Thursday for the Under-14 Boys
and Under-15 Girls national players, as well as for all participants of the TDS,
as a celebration of both the recent noteworthy youth competition results and
the continued progress the TDS program is making towards the future of football
in Barbados.
BFA FIFA
TDS Manager Dale Rudder said he was encouraged by the support received for the
Football Fun Day, and by the steadfast commitment of the BFA and the community
at large to progress the sport on the island to reach its highest potential.
“The
support has been incredible. We must continue to celebrate the milestones of
our youth footballers and commend their hard work within the TDS program, and
that was really the primary purpose of the Fun Day,” he said. “FIFA’s TDS
mandate is to give every talent a chance and to do that, it is imperative we
have structured developmental processes in place like this program. The recent
victory of our Under-14 Boys at the CFU Challenge Series, and the commendable
performance of our Under-15 Girls at the Concacaf Under-15 Championship, are a
true testament to what can be gained once there is a firm focus on a dedicated
football development program. The BFA intends to continue to push this program forward
as a key tool in our efforts to raise the bar for football in Barbados.”
Rudder elaborated
that the TDS program, which targets youth aged between 11-17 years, has been underway
just over a year in Barbados and works in collaboration with local football
clubs to identify talent and lay developmental pathways to prepare players for
international competition.
“On behalf
of the BFA and the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, we thank all who came out to
support the Fun Day and contributed to ensuring it was a great success. Special
thanks goes to Little Caesars Pizza, Quality Buy Sports, KFC, Barbados Bottling
Company Ltd., Sport Jerseys FC, D’Fast Lime Arcade, the BFA TDS Coaching and
Management staff, and the amazing parents and guardians of the players in the
TDS program.”
###
Caption: FIFA Talent Development Scheme
participants enjoying the Football Fun Day at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey.
Media
enquires:
Amy
Goulding
BFA
Communications Director
+1
(246) 820 8695
Continuing its mission to develop every
facet of football on the island, the Barbados
Football Association (BFA) today disclosed that former National Goalkeeper, Under-14
Boys Assistant Coach, and Youth Goalkeeping Coach Morrison Taylor had recently graduated
from a pilot FIFA Elite Youth Goalkeeper Coaches Workshop.
Held in Tobago from the 21st to 25th
August, the high-performance Workshop (a first of its kind) was organized by the
Caribbean Football Union (CFU), in partnership with FIFA, Concacaf, and the
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).
The key objective of the specialized training was to
strengthen and upskill youth goalkeeping coaches in their capacity to develop
the next generation of elite goalkeepers around the world.
Delivered via a combination of
intensive theoretical and field sessions, the Workshop gave participants the
opportunity to gain a deeper insight into modern goalkeeper development, and
provided them with guidance on methodologies and strategic approaches to goalkeeper
training for youth, particularly at the national level.
Barbadian representative Morrison Taylor said his
experience in Tobago will be vital in progressing the BFA’s vision to advance
youth football and to create the best possible environment for the country’s
leading young goalkeepers to thrive and excel.
“It was exciting to have the opportunity to learn
from global experts to fine tune my skills and grow my youth goalkeeper
coaching capacity to the next level,” he said. “This will be a valuable asset
to football in Barbados, and I am inspired to bring what I have learnt back
home so that we can continue to enhance our young local players in dynamic and
progressive ways.”
BFA President Randy Harris said the
BFA’s participation in the Workshop further adds to the recent momentum in the
development of football in Barbados, in particular sighting the Association’s
unwavering dedication to elevating youth football on the island.
“There is no doubt football in
Barbados has turned a significant corner, and the BFA will continue to strive
to deliver a standard of international best practice in all areas of the sport
moving forward,” he said. “We recognize we must lay the appropriate educational
and practical groundwork so that we can nurture our local talent and solidify a
sustainable future for football, both here and in the region. This applies to
every level of the game, and especially our youth arm. The BFA congratulates
Morrison Taylor on his achievement, and we look forward to his continued
success with developing our young players to reach their full potential.”
###
Caption: Former National
Goalkeeper, Under-14 Boys Assistant Coach, and Youth Goalkeeping Coach Morrison
Taylor recently completed the pilot FIFA Elite Youth Goalkeeper Coaches
Workshop in Tobago.
The Barbados Football Association (BFA) has
announced the National Senior Men’s Squad and their Management Team who will
travel on Thursday to Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to compete in the
Concacaf Nations League 2024/25.
Head Coach Kent Hall said he was encouraged by the
foundations that were being laid with the National Tridents, and that he remained
optimistic about their performance at the upcoming Nations League.
“Our preparations for the Concacaf Nations League are
a continuation of the work that we began during the World Cup Qualifiers a few
months ago,” he said. “We are slowly laying the developmental building blocks
for our team to grow as a unit, and consciously making tweaks and modifications
as we go to strengthen the formation of our new team core. It’s a long journey
to reach the performance outcomes that we aspire to, and we are still in the
process of establishing and refining the way we play. I’m excited to have a few
new fresh faces in the squad who have never been selected for the Senior team
before, and we are all just really looking forward to getting out there and
giving it one hundred percent.”
The Concacaf Nations League will continue to be
played in a three-league format, with Barbados to play in League C consisting
of the following teams:
Group
A: Barbados, Bahamas, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands
Group B: Belize, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Anguilla
Group C: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Cayman Islands, and British Virgin
Islands
Team Barbados’ first match will be against the
Bahamas (Saturday 7th September), followed by the U.S. Virgin
Islands (Tuesday 10th September).
The Concacaf Nations League features the region’s 41
men's senior national teams and takes place during the FIFA Match Windows of
September, October, and November 2024. The Concacaf Nations League Finals are
scheduled for March 2025.
National Senior Men’s Squad
Andre Applewhaite
Ackeel Applewhaite
Zachary Applewhite
Nicoli Brathwaite
Khimani Cox
Jaylan Gilkes
Justin Griffith
Carl Hinkson
Hadan Holligan
Sheran Hoyte
Kevon Lucas
Jireh Malcolm
Ricardio Morris
Shay Prescod
Kishmar Primus
Niall Reid-Stephen
Nathan Sealy
Ethan Taylor
Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse
Nathan Walters
Justin White
Mario Williams
Management Team
Head Coach – Kent
Hall
Assistant Coach – Marlon Harte
Manager – Ortis Williams
Equipment Manager – Orlando Mapp
Sports Therapist – Johann Lashley
Trainer – Chad Bynoe
Goalkeeping Coach – Bernard Howell
Press Officer – Anmar Goodridge-Boyce
Bridgetown, Barbados – The Barbados Football Association (BFA) has reiterated
its commitment to the development of all facets of football in Barbados by showcasing
the recent international achievements of several of its match officials.
The BFA announced that local officials Keil Howard,
Jaselle Louison, and Cleon Culley were given the opportunity to add further
training to their journey to qualify as FIFA Match Officials through refereeing
at the 2024 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Boy’s U-14 Challenge Series in
Trinidad and Tobago, with Jaselle officiating the Tier I Final as an Assistant
Referee.
During the Series, the trio were also amongst a
group of match officials selected from across the Caribbean to simultaneously
undertake an intensive CFU program to train regional referees for the world
stage.
To add to the list of match official accolades, the
BFA also highlighted local FIFA Assistant Referee Angelo Doyle, who was appointed to officiate at the CFU Club Shield (formerly the Concacaf Caribbean Club
Shield) Final between Arnett Gardens FC (Jamaica) and Grenades FC (Antigua and
Barbuda) held in Curaçao earlier this month.
Further depth was added to the educational capacity
of BFA match officials when Referee Cleon Culley participated in the Concacaf
Referee Academy in Mexico earlier in the year, followed by the Concacaf Referee
Academy Consolidation Course recently in Costa Rica.
Cully was additionally impressively a match official
at the 2024 Concacaf Girls’ U-15 Championship in Costa Rica
this month, alongside BFA FIFA Assistant Referee Abigail Brathwaite who officiated
the Final match between the USA and Mexico.
Most recently, local FIFA Assistant Referees Kevon
Clarke and Angelo Doyle travelled on Monday to the Dominican Republic on their
appointment to officiate a 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup match between Grenades
FC (Antigua and Barbuda) and Cibao FC (Dominican Republic).
BFA Head of Refereeing Victor Moore said the recent focus
on match official development speaks volumes about the BFA’s dedication to
the sustainability of football in Barbados.
“Essentially, our objective is to train and build a
cadre of officials that reach a world-class standard of refereeing,” he said. “Giving
our officials wider exposure and international experience raises the standard
of officiating and is a vital part of the bigger picture of creating proper longevity
for football on the island. The BFA are complementing these overseas
development opportunities with regular weekly physical and technical local training
sessions for our referees, as well as continued recruitment drives to scout
emerging talent in the field.”
BFA President Randy Harris lauded the recent achievements of the match officials, stating the BFA continues to be committed to leading the charge with forward thinking ways to professionalize the game in Barbados.
“It is my vision for Barbados to be a leader in regional football development,” he said. “Our participation in internationally recognized educational opportunities such as these represents our firm support for setting a standard of excellence at all levels of football on the island, and within the wider Caribbean. For us to progress the sport to new heights, we must continue to be the exemplars of football in the Caribbean, and the BFA will continue to invest in training to develop football in Barbados in a holistic manner to see this aspiration become a reality.”
###
Caption: Referee Cleon Culley at the Concacaf Referee Academy Consolidation Course in Costa Rica.
“I
commend our young National Tridents on their impressive performance at this
year’s Caribbean Football Union Boys’ U-14
Challenge Series.
This
competition has been a critical development opportunity for football in Barbados
and the wider Caribbean, and Team Barbados’ results are a true testament to the
BFA’s firm commitment to, and strong investment in, all aspects of youth
football.
Specifically,
to the efforts of U-14 Head Coach Fitzgerald Carter and Team Manager Dale
Rudder who, through their management of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme Program,
work tirelessly with these players and the next generation of footballers in Barbados
both on and off the pitch.
Thank
you to all volunteers, friends, family, and our local football community who continue
to support this national development program.
The
BFA extends our heartfelt congratulations to our boys on rising to the occasion
and doing their best to represent their country on the regional stage.
The
future of football in Barbados looks bright. We are proud of you.”
BFA President, Randy Harris
IMAGE CREDIT: Caribbean Football Union
In commemoration of the late Kenville 'Kab' Layne, the National Sports Council (NSC), in collaboration with the Barbados Football Association (BFA), will be holding a Benefit Football Match on Thursday 29th August at 7pm at the BFA Artificial Turf in Wildey in his honour.
Mr. Layne was a well-known football coach, serving both institutions over two decades, and was instrumental in the development of many young footballers in Barbados.
We invite you to come out and show your support for this worthy cause.
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) today announced the realignment of its Administration through the appointment
of new General Secretary Ashley Scott-Williams, Head Coach Kent Hall, and
Communications Director Amy Goulding.
Following the
election of a new Executive Board earlier this year, BFA President Randy Harris
said these most recent appointments reaffirm an exciting new chapter for football
in Barbados.
“With the
full support of FIFA, I am thrilled to officially welcome this new leadership team
to help guide the BFA into a new direction,” he said. “These changes represent an
important turning point for the development of football in Barbados, as we continue
to work to professionalise the Association and progress the sport on the island
to reach its full potential.”
Harris confirmed
the realignment will see former BFA General Secretary Amanda James move into
the role of BFA Special Projects Coordinator to pursue her passion for
education and youth through initiatives such as the ‘FIFA Football for Schools’
program and other community focused projects.
He also stated
the recruitment process for a new BFA Technical Director was still underway,
after Emmerson Boyce recently took up the position of Women’s Team Manager at Wigan
Athletic FC in the UK.
“The BFA
remains steadfast in our mission to lay the foundations for the sustainable development of football in Barbados, and we are committed to all facets
of football including our players, officials, clubs, coaches, facilities, and
of course our Administration,” he said. “Representatives from the FIFA Member
Associations Division have been here this week to show their support of this
new direction for the BFA, which aligns with their strong commitment to advance football in Barbados and across the wider Caribbean.
We extend
our sincere thanks to FIFA for their unwavering support of this new era for the
BFA which will be defined by increased collective governance, financial
sustainability, technical, league and club development, high performance infrastructure,
and ultimately football success. I encourage all Barbadians, clubs, and
football lovers to support the BFA’s efforts to transform the landscape of
football in Barbados and more broadly, to become the leading Caribbean ‘hub’
for football in the region.”
###
Caption: BFA President Randy Harris (centre)
officially welcomed new General Secretary Ashley Scott-Williams (far left) and
Communications Director Amy Goulding (third from right) with FIFA Development Manager
Member Associations Americas Cadijah Mars (second from left), Lead FIFA Regional
Office Member Associations Americas Hervé Blanchard (second from right), and FIFA
Consultant Strategy and Implementation Amiel Mohammed (far right) this
week at BFA Headquarters in Wildey.
Bridgetown,
Barbados – The Barbados Football Association
(BFA) has announced the squad of the Under-14 Boys and their Management Team
who are set
to take part in the 2024 Caribbean
Football Union (CFU) Boys’ U-14 Challenge Series in Trinidad.
Taking
place over 16th – 25th August, the Challenge Series is well
known as a key regional football developmental tool that assists teams to strengthen
their skill sets and expand their respective national player pools.
Under-14 Boys Head Coach Fitzgerald Carter, who is also the BFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) Project Officer and Talent Coach, said the Series plays a vital role in the development of football in Barbados through introducing young players to the highest level of competition from an early age.
"Competing against various playing styles and
some of the most talented youth players in our region are invaluable ways for
our players to grow, develop, be creative, and express themselves while gaining
this life changing experience representing their country internationally,” he
said. “During our preparations, some of our coaches who are participating in
the BFA D-License and Concacaf C-License programs were also given the
opportunity to coach and be mentored within this national development initiative,
so it is really setting us up with a solid foundation to progress the sport in Barbados
in a multifaceted way. I would like to extend my thanks to Kevon Bishop,
Muammar Odell, Carlo Perry, and Chris Reid for their assistance in the
preparation of this Under-14 group and we are all looking forward to some
exciting competition in Trinidad."
He emphasized the CFU Challenge Series at its
essence serves as an important development milestone for the local players, and
called on all Barbadians to support the current Barbados youth delegation as
they continue to play and develop, regardless of the results.
BFA President Randy Harris echoed these sentiments, reiterating
the BFA’s ongoing commitment to the development of football in Barbados,
particularly at the youth level.
“I’m delighted to once again be sending our young
players out to get their first taste of international competition at the CFU
Challenge Series,” he said. “These players are the future of football in
Barbados, and we remain focused on providing development opportunities such as
these to ensure that we are building a framework for the sport that is
sustainable as we continue to strive for excellence within all the facets of
local and national football.”
Barbados’ Under-14 Boys team will play in Tier II
(Group A) in the 2024 CFU Boys’ U-14 Challenge Series, kicking off against St.
Vincent and the Grenadines (16th August), followed by Guyana (17th
August) and the Cayman Islands (18th August), then Antigua and
Barbuda (20th August).
National Under-14 Boys Team
Trey Barker
Tyrique Collymore
Tye Gittens
Denari Griffith
Jemarco Johnson
Dimiko Jordan
Adam King
Shaquan King
Javier Marshall
Maleek Peters
Sasha Pounder
Raezario Roach
Rajari Rollins
Amari Small
Jazorie Thompson
Xavier Thorne
Jevonte Ward
Tye Waterman
Israel Watson
Jamari Watson
Management Team
Head Coach – Fitzgerald Carter
Assistant
Coach/Goalkeeping Coach – Morrison Taylor
Manager – Dale Rudder
Equipment Manager – Patrick Mapp
Physiotherapist – Khadijah Williams
Several students from primary schools across the island participated in the FIFA Football For Schools Programme at the BFA Wildey Turf on Friday.
Barbados is among 21 countries involved with ninety delegates from the CaribbeanFootball Union (CFU) taking part in the initiative which is a collaboration with UNESCO.
It commenced in Rwanda in 2018 and aims to contribute to the education, development and empowerment of around 700 million children. It seeks to make football more accessible to both boys and girls around the world by incorporating football activities into the education system, in partnership with relevant authorities and stakeholders.
The programme has been designed to promote targeted life skills and competencies through football and contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and
other priorities.
The F4S Programme is aligned with global sport, education and health policies, including UNESCO’s Kazan Action Plan, the Education 2030: Incheon Declaration and Framework of
Action, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA).
The F4S Programme can be used by member associations (MAs) and their governments to further national development priorities.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados Football Association (BFA) announces the appointment of former national midfielder Kent Hall as the interim head coach of the Barbados senior men’s national football team with immediate effect until December 31, 2024.
The 45 year-old Hall, represented Barbados at the senior International level from 2003-2006 and replaces BFA technical director Emmerson Boyce who took charge for the final two matches of the 2023/2024 Concacaf Nations League campaign versus Montserrat and Nicaragua.
Hall, the BFA head of coaching education is a certified FIFA & Concacaf coach educator, Concacaf B License holder who also served as assistant men’s national coach and head coach of the Barbados U-20 national team.
Hall said “ It’s certainly a job that I have been interested in for a long time. I’ve always had a dream about having this position. I am relishing the opportunity to take the reigns and see what we can do. Right now we haven’t had the best results for our senior men’s national team and I am really hoping that we can change though fortunes.”
“The initial focus obviously is trying to get in there and establish a philosophy of play that we want to have. We know the World Cup qualifying campaign is a tough one so we will use these games to help us gauge where we are and help us get experience. We will look towards the Nations League to start building towards what we hope is the next generation of Barbados football that would get us to where we want to be which is qualifying for major tournaments in the future.”
The Tridents are gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Curacao on Wednesday June 5, 2024 and Sunday June 9, 2024.
Barbados has been drawn in Group A of League C of the 2024/2025 Concacaf Nations League and will take on Bahamas and United States Virgin Islands in September.
The Barbados Football Association is deeply saddened by the passing of former president and founder of the Barbados Cup, George LasCaris.
He passed away yesterday after a brief illness.
BFA president Randy Harris has paid tribute to LasCaris, describing him as one of the best administrators of football on the island.
"The BFA pays tribute to Mr George Lascaris, a former President, who will be remembered as one of the game's most progressive administrators, on his recent passing.
"Under his leadership, he oversaw the transformation of local Football, increasing participation, seeking and obtaining significant sponsorship and introducing new and exciting competitions on the Association's annual calendar.
"Lascaris played a significant role in the Shell Caribbean Cup and was the creator of the ever popular Barbados Cup, a regional tournament for youth teams, which was sustained for more than 30 years, and held during the Easter school break."
"May he rest in peace, we offer our deepest condolences to MArgo and his entire family." Harris said.
Miami, Florida - The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) today announced a significant transition in the organization and management of the Caribbean Club Shield, with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) taking the reins of the respected Caribbean club competition from the 2024 edition onwards.
Under the terms of this important agreement, the CFU will assume responsibility for the organization and management of the competition, with Concacaf providing support for its delivery. The competition will be rebranded as the CFU Club Shield and will qualify two clubs into the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.
This decision reflects a collaborative effort between Concacaf and the CFU to further bolster the growth of clubs and leagues, and football as a whole, across the Caribbean region.
“The development of regional club football is a major priority for Concacaf and alongside our Caribbean member associations, we are dedicated to fully supporting the growth of clubs and leagues across a region known for its passion for the sport,” said Concacaf President, Victor Montagliani. “This collaboration with the CFU is a testament to the leadership of the CFU President and highlights the ambition we share to deliver opportunities that will take the game in the Caribbean to the next level. We look forward with great anticipation to supporting the delivery of the inaugural CFU Club Shield later this year”, added Montagliani.
“The CFU is extremely pleased to be taking over the management and organization of the Club Shield, and to rebrand it as an official CFU competition. We welcome the cooperation from Concacaf in ushering in this new era of the CFU delivering an important club competition and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Confederation to grow club and league football in the region,” said CFU President, Randolph Harris. “We are excited to deliver a competition that is as robust as any on the field of play and to delivering administration that meets and exceeds the mark,” added Harris.
Established in 2018, the Caribbean Club Shield has a primary objective of advancing professional football throughout the Caribbean. Participation is open to semi-professional and amateur teams holding current championship titles in their respective domestic leagues.
The tournament format involves up to 16 clubs, grouped into four sets of four. Winners of each group progress to the semifinals, with the ultimate finalists earning coveted berths in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, subsequently qualifying for the Concacaf Champions Cup.
In 2023, Suriname’s SV Robinhood emerged victorious in both the Caribbean Club Shield and the Caribbean Cup. The team has solidified their position as the most successful team in the history of the Caribbean Club Shield, boasting two championship titles.
Set to unfold from July 25 to August 4, 2024, the venue for this year's competition will be announced in due time. (Concacaf)
The Barbados Football Association has officially unveiled a new grass field located next to Wildey Turf in honour of one of Barbados' greatest footballers. It will be named " The Phillip Blagrove Training Pitch" after one of the island and Caribbean's best goal keepers - Phillip Blagrove. The former Notre Dame and Barbados goal keeper is famous for saving a penalty from Paul Davis in the second leg of a first round pre-Olympic qualifer in Kingston, Jamaica. It came after Adrian Hall's first half strike gave Barbados the lead and was eventually the winning goal in the 1987 match. The new grass pitch was funded by Concacaf.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados- Randy Harris has been re-elected for a fourth consecutive term as President of the Barbados Football Association, after defeating former national goal keeper Omari Eastmond by seven votes at the annual general meeting and congress held at the BFA headquarters last Sunday.
Harris who is also the Caribbean Football Union president and a Concacaf vice president gained 37 votes, while Eastmond captured 30.
“Obviously, I put myself in the race because I want to complete my mission first of all by completing the facility. Then I want to look at mostly junior programmes because we have to look to the future of local football in Barbados.
“I want to thank the members for having confidence in me again and I want to say to the challenger that he put up a good fight, he has something to give to football, and I hope this loss wouldn’t cause him to feel he is not welcome to assist," Harris said.
Harris was first voted into office in 2012, was re-elected in 2016 and ran uncontested in 2020. He is also currently the president of the Caribbean Football Union.
The vice presidents are : Fabian Wharton, Al Walcott, Ashton Chapman.
The executive board members are : Tracia Forde, Wren Ramsay, Simeon Allsopp, O'Brien Smith and Shamika Estwick.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados Football Association (BFA) is pleased to announce the squad for the upcoming Concacaf Under-20 Qualifying Championship from February 23 to March 2, 2024.
Head coach Kent Hall has named a 21 member team and seven officials which will leave the island on Wednesday February 21.
The Young Tridents were drawn in Group C with hosts Guatemala, Curacao, Aruba and Saint Martin. Barbados will begin their campaign against Guatemala on February 23.
The first-place team from each group will advance to the 2024 Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship, joining the six pre-seeded top-ranked nations.
Match Schedule
Guatemala vs Barbados – February 23 , 2024
Curacao vs Barbados - February 27, 2024
Barbados vs Saint Martin - February 29, 2024,
Aruba vs Barbados - March 2, 2024
FULL SQUAD
Goal keepers: K'den Hee Chung ( Carlton Red & White) Raheem Agard (Whitehall FC) Jireh Malcolm (Paradise FC)
Defenders : Ethan Goodridge (Kickstart Rush) Warren Trotman (UWI Blackbirds) Raquan Clarke (Paradise FC) Ajani Banton (Woodstock Academy) Ronaldo Walker (Technique) Travon Wickham (UWI Blackbirds) Kamari Johnson (Kickstart Rush)
Midfielders: Ethan Taylor (Kickstart Rush) Ethan Squires (Kickstart Rush) Aiden Tempro (IMG Academy) Ronan Lee (UWI Blackbirds) Christian Gill (UWI Blackbirds) Xavier Webster (Greens United) Shamari Harewood (UWI Blackbirds) Abdullah Javaid (Unattached) Rovaldo Massiah (UWI Blackbirds)
Forwards: Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (Dubai FC) Khimani Cox (Barbados Soccer Academy)
Management: Team manager: Ashley Scott, Head Coach : Kent Hall, Assistant Coach : Kenville Layne, Goal Keeping Coach : Richard Bynoe, Equipment Manager : Orlando Mapp, Media Officer : Nick Maitland, Medic : Venice Forde
