Twenty-two match officials representing 15 member associations are gearing up for the start of the 2025 edition of the CFU Next Generation Referee Course, which runs from January 17-19, 2025.
The Barbados Football Association (BFA) will host the session.
Launched in 2022, the initiative, supported by Concacaf, provides Caribbean match officials with the prerequisites to matriculate to the FIFA Refereeing International Lists. The course equips participants with theoretical and practical skills, ultimately leading to nominations to the FIFA rank.
Dave Meikle, a CFU Referee Committee member and Next Gen administrator, is supported by a team of instructors comprised of FIFA Fitness Refereeing Instructor and CFU Referee Committee Member Kelesha Antoine, FIFA Technical Instructor Dianne Ferreira-James, Instructor Victor Stewart, Concacaf Technical Instructor Ishan Philip, and Concacaf Fitness Instructor Rohan Thobourne.
FIFA match officials and World Cup candidates Odette Hamilton (Jamaica) and Crystal Sobers (Trinidad and Tobago) will be mentors.
Over three days, the match officials will undergo intense training on the field and in the classroom. The training then transfers online, with the instructors designing a bespoke program for the cohort, monitoring their progress, and providing mentorship.
Next Gen students may also receive appointments to competitions, such as the CFU Girls U-14 Challenge Series slated for the summer. The in-person programme continues at that time with more practical and technical training.
Victor Moore, the BFA's head of refereeing, expressed delight at hosting the 2025 programme.
“We look forward to the 2025 edition with high expectations. We are pleased to be represented, along with other young, emerging, talented match officials, as part of this distinguished gathering with top referee tutors.
“Referee education and physical development are critical to meeting the CFU and Concacaf objective of having a panel of match officials present at every FIFA-recognized tournament, including the World Cup. The high success of previous Next Gen Courses indicates that the programme has the potential to achieve the CFU's desired expectations,” Moore said.
The Next Gen initiative is an impactful and pivotal programme for the CFU. Eight students debut on the 2025 FIFA International Refereeing List: McManaman Bedeau (GRN), Cleon Cully (BRB), Jonathon Hughes (CAY), Evens Julims (BAH), Edson Lieveld (SUR), Jaselle Louison (BRB), Amaury Majors (BER), and James Ramprasha (BVI).
CFU and BFA president Randolph Harris hailed the program's success.
“We have seen the tangible benefits of Next Gen, with our Caribbean referees getting match appointments, moving on to the Concacaf Academy, and dozens advancing to the ranks of FIFA, all in a few short years. Intangibly, we have, for aspiring Caribbean match officials, examples of the development and growth of people from within their sphere, and they know that there is a pathway for them to advance their careers,” Harris stated.
“The success of the program is due to a collaborative approach between the CFU and Concacaf and the support of the Member Associations, and we are grateful to all of the partners,” he added.
Participants: Kevahn Hawley (Anguilla), Shemroy Alie (Antigua and Barbuda), Portia Davis (Antigua and Barbuda), Kai Jacob (Barbados), Darren Scantlebury (Barbados), Guillaume Parkins (British Virgin Islands), Steven Wellington (Cayman Islands), Michaël Kirindongo (Curaçao), Vernent Joseph (Dominica)
Jessica Pierre-Louis (Dominica), Leon Hazzard (Grenada), Jordan Chaibriant (Guadeloupe), Sherwin Alli (Guyana), Kesla Anderson (Jamaica), Shaquaine Baugh (Jamaica), Yusuf Saunders (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Jody Walters (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Mozakie King (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Rodney Blinker (Suriname), Rabia Blinker (Suriname), Akil Weekes (Trinidad and Tobago), N'neeka Harewood (Trinidad and Tobago)