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The Barbados Football Association (BFA) was founded in 1910
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BFA Pays Tribute to Former General Secretary Jai Jebodhsingh

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.”

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Caption: Former BFA General Secretary Jai Jebodhsingh (image credit The Nation Newspaper).

 

Media enquires:

 

Amy Goulding 

BFA Communications Director

+1 (246) 820 8695

Barbadian Coaches to Participate in Argentina-Caribbean Football Development Programme

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.

 

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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

BFA Match Officials Make 2025 FIFA International Referees List

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

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Caption: Assistant Referee Angelo Doyle (image courtesy of Concacaf). 

Media enquires:

 

Amy Goulding 

BFA Communications Director

+1 (246) 820 8695

BFA Investing in Women in Football

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.

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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

National Under 17 Girls Squad Heads to Trinidad for ‘Friendlies’

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

 

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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

BFA President Attends FIFA Campus

BFA President Randy Harris is currently in Miami, Florida attending the FIFA Executive Programme - Strategic Planning and Implementation - as part of the BFA’s commitment to the sustainable development of football in Barbados. 

The FIFA Campus was also visited by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who thanked the participating MAs, including Barbados, for their attendance and dedication to creating a healthier global football landscape.

BFA Launches New Community Hub with National Peace Program

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.”

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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

National Tridents Ready for Clash with Guyana

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

 

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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

BFA Hosts Anti-Doping Session

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.”

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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

BFA Announces National Men’s Squad for Home and Away Clash with Guyana

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:

 

  1. Rubis Gas Station, Kendal Hill
  2. Sports and Games Barbados – Independence Square, Bridgetown
  3. BFA Technical Centre, Wildey
  4. At the gate, Match Day

 

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

 

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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

Women’s Football Returns

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.

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Media enquires:


Amy Goulding 

BFA Communications Director

+1 (246) 820 8695

Concacaf Nations League 2024/25 PLAY-IN - TICKETS ON SALE NOW

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

National Peace Program Continues to Empower Youth

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.   

BFA Pays Tribute to O'Brien Smith

The Barbados Football Association (BFA) is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of BFA Executive Board Member and President of Haynesville Football Club, O’Brien Smith.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

BFA Announces Youth Football Partnership with Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited

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

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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

BFA Attends Concacaf Head of Refereeing Workshop

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.

 

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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

BFA Issues Statement on Use of VAR at PM’s Cup

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.

 

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Image courtesy of Concacaf. 


Media enquires:

 

Amy Goulding 

BFA Communications Director

+1 (246) 820 8695

BFA Announces National Men’s Squad for Concacaf Nations League

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:

 

  1. Rubis Gas Station, Kendal Hill
  2. Sports and Games Barbados – Independence Square, Bridgetown
  3. BFA Technical Centre, Wildey

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

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Caption: Preparations are continuing for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League 2024/25 games.

Media enquires:

 

Amy Goulding 

BFA Communications Director

+1 (246) 820 8695

TICKETS ON SALE NOW - Concacaf Nations League 2024/25

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




BFA Recruiting Female Youth Footballers

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 [email protected] .

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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

BFA Appoints Kent Hall as Interim Technical Director

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.

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Caption: Kent Hall has been appointed Interim BFA Technical Director.

Media enquires:


Amy Goulding 

BFA Communications Director

+1 (246) 820 8695

Concacaf Nations League 2024/25

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.

Concacaf Nations League 2024/25

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.

Youth Football Returns

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:

  1. Parkinson Field and Parkinson Community Centre;
  2. Blenheim (A and B);
  3. BFA Technical Centre (Wildey Turf and Phillip Blagrove Training Pitch). 

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


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Caption: Youth football restarts this weekend in three locations island-wide.

 

Media enquires:

 

Amy Goulding 

BFA Communications Director

+1 (246) 820 8695

BFA to Host Free Referee Recruitment Course

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 [email protected].

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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

Fun Day Celebrates the Future of Football in Barbados

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.”

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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

BFA Investing in Youth Goalkeeping

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.”

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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.

BFA Announces National Senior Men’s Concacaf Nations League Squad

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

Referee Development a Top Priority for BFA

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.”


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Caption: Referee Cleon Culley at the Concacaf Referee Academy Consolidation Course in Costa Rica.

Barbados crowned Tier II Champions of 2024 CFU Boys' U-14 Challenge Series

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE BFA PRESIDENT

“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

Benefit Football Match to be Held in Honour of Kenville 'Kab' Layne

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. 

BFA Announces Realignment

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.”

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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.

National Under-14s Squad Headed for Trinidad

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

BFA Kicking Forward With FIFA Football For Schools Programme

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.

BFA pays tribute to former president George Lascaris

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.


Concacaf transitions Caribbean Club Shield organization and management to Caribbean Football Union

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)

Football Pitch Named After Former National Great Blagrove

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.



Harris re-elected as BFA President

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.

BFA Announces Squad For Concacaf U-20 Qualifying Championship

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

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