In a historical first for Barbados, the Barbados Football Association (BFA) announced yesterday that its Executive Board member, Tricia Forde, was appointed to the FIFA Youth Girls Competitions Committee.
Acknowledging the prestige of the role, which will run for the 2025-2029 term, Forde said, “It is a profound honour to be appointed to such a prestigious Committee. This role means I will be directly involved in influencing global policies and initiatives that will foster growth, inclusivity and excellence for youth girls’ football. It is an unparalleled opportunity for me to help ensure the voices of young female footballers are heard at the highest levels of the sport.”
Forde explained that local female football development will also benefit from her membership on the Committee, whereby she will now be able to bring invaluable insights and direct access to best practices and resources to assist the BFA in implementing cutting-edge development programs for female football on the ground in Barbados.
BFA President Randy Harris congratulated Forde on her appointment and emphasised the Association’s commitment to the continued growth of women’s football.
“The BFA congratulates Tricia on this momentous achievement and the opportunity for her to support the development of youth girls’ football internationally,” he said.
“The BFA remains steadfast in our commitment to strengthening all aspects of female football in Barbados, and more broadly, we will continue to lend our support to the FIFA President’s vision to accelerate the growth of the women’s game on a global scale.”
Forde has held numerous positions within the BFA, including the Women’s Committee Chair and the Interim Team Manager of the National Senior Women’s Team.
She has also participated in professional development initiatives such as the 2024 Sports Administrators Course hosted by the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) and the National Olympic Academy (NOA), as well as the FIFA Women’s Football Regional Workshop in the Dominican Republic last year. (JC)
