CFU Next Generation Referee Course Class of 2025

Jordan Chaibriant (GUA) Best Overall and Most Outstanding in the Fitness Check alongside Mozakie King (SVG) and. N’Neeka Harewood (TRI) and Guillaume Parkins (BVI), who tied for Most Outstanding in the Video Test

Fourth cohort of the CFU Next Generation Referee Course makes the grade

The members of the fourth CFU Next Generation Referee Course held in Barbados from January 17-19 completed the intensive training on Sunday, receiving certificates and a charge to remain disciplined.

Jordan Chaibriant (GUA) was the best overall among the 22 match officials. Chaibriant also tied with Mozakie King (SVG) for the most outstanding in the fitness check. N’Neeka Harewood (TRI) and Guillaume Parkins (BVI) shared honors for most outstanding in the video test.

Dave Meikle, Next Gen administrator and CFU Referee Committee Member; Kelesha Antoine, FIFA Referee Fitness Instructor and CFU Referee Committee member; Dianne Ferreira-James, FIFA Technical Instructor; Rohan Thobourne, Concacaf Fitness Instructor; Ishan Philip, Concacaf Technical Instructor, Victor Stewart, Instructor, and Dwayne Simpson, Instructor-in-training, put the match officials through their paces.

Meikle called the group promising, noting that the class of 2025 is sound in its fitness and technical ability. “They must now retain all that they learned these past few days and put it into action. Once they commit to the regimen that we give them and to the program—since we now transition to the virtual space — we fully expect to see their growth and, ultimately, their progression to the ranks of FIFA.”

The Concacaf-supported initiative develops 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.

During the opening ceremony, CFU President Randolph Harris, also president of the Barbados Football Association (BFA), thanked the respective Member Association and Concacaf for their support, noting that they, along with the match officials and the instructors, are the pillars of the program.

President Harris also hailed the tangible and intangible benefits of the program.

“In a few short years — 2022 until now — just under 100 Caribbean match officials have passed through Next Gen. Dozens are now on the FIFA list, others have moved on to the Concacaf Academy, where they shine, and others have received match appointments and continue to be part of the program,” he remarked.

“Having said that, however, I must note that we consider this program important and successful, not just as a numbers game,” Harris added. “Representation matters (and) what Next Gen does is it holds up examples from their backyard, with similar circumstances and challenges, for young and aspiring Caribbean match officials. It becomes conceivable to dream and believe in that dream when someone you know or someone in close proximity is clearing the path ahead of you. If you see it, you can believe it.”

With regards to representation, the Next Gen 2025 match officials benefitted from the presence of FIFA referees Odette Hamilton and Crystal Sobers, who served as mentors. In sharing aspects of their refereeing journeys with the group, Sobers brought a theme of hope, while Hamilton’s message was about perseverance. The duo, who are World Cup candidates, also used the opportunity to train.

Since inception. 93 match officials have benefited from Next Gen, and 54 of them have advanced to the FIFA Refereeing List.