22 regional referees to attend CFU Next Gen course in Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The 2025 edition of the CFU Next Generation Referee Course is set to run from January 17-19 and will be hosted by the Barbados Football Association (BFA). This initiative, now in its fourth year, welcomes 22 match officials representing 15 Member Associations across the Caribbean.

Launched in 2022 with support from Concacaf, the programme provides Caribbean referees with the necessary skills to advance to the FIFA International Refereeing List. The course combines theoretical instruction with on-field training, ultimately aiming to nominate participants to the prestigious FIFA ranks.

Victor Moore, head of refereeing for the BFA, expressed pride in hosting this year’s programme.

“We look forward to the 2025 edition with high expectations. This initiative aligns perfectly with the CFU and Concacaf objective to prepare a skilled panel of match officials for FIFA-recognised tournaments, including the World Cup,” he remarked.

The programme is spearheaded by CFU Referee Committee member Dave Meikle and a seasoned team of instructors, including, Kelesha Antoine: FIFA Fitness Refereeing Instructor, Dianne Ferreira-James: FIFA Technical Instructor, Victor Stewart: CFU Instructor, Ishan Philip: Concacaf Technical Instructor and Rohan Thorbourne: Concacaf Fitness Instructor.

Adding to the lineup, FIFA match officials and World Cup candidates Odette Hamilton (Jamaica) and Crystal Sobers (Trinidad and Tobago) will serve as mentors to the participants.

Over the three-day course, officials will undergo intensive training sessions, both in the classroom and on the field. Afterwards, the programme transitions to an online format, offering customised mentorship and progress monitoring.

Participants may also be appointed to competitions, such as the CFU Girls U-14 Challenge Series, providing additional practical exposure.

The Next Gen initiative has already made significant strides, with eight referees from previous cohorts debuting on the 2025 FIFA International Refereeing list. Among them are McManaman Bedeau (Grenada), Cleon Cully (Barbados), and Jaselle Louison (Barbados).

CFU President Randolph Harris praised the programme’s success.

“We’ve witnessed remarkable progress. Many of our referees have secured match appointments, advanced through the Concacaf Academy, and joined the FIFA ranks. The collaborative effort between the CFU, Concacaf, and Member Associations has been instrumental in achieving these milestones,” Harris said.