Women’s football is set to be relaunched, with the youth leagues starting on February 11, following a player combine tomorrow and the senior league set to follow in the spring.

The once thriving senior league has been inactive for several years but the Bermuda Football Association’s women’s committee, co-chaired by former players Shequita Parson and Charryse Bean, has been busy putting plans in place to revive the game for the growing number of players who are interested.

The committee just completed a highly successful women’s coaching course which was attended by 27 participants.

“We will immediately put the coaches to work along with last year’s coaches in the players combine that will be held this Saturday from 5 to 7pm,” the BFA said at a press conference yesterday.

“We are also launching the ‘Live Your Goals’ campaign that will highlight women in football. Football has impacted the lives of many women.

“Lesley ‘Cherry’ White, Shelly Leman, Dominique Richardson, Terry-Lynn Paynter, Ebonie Burgess, Ricketta Warner, Taznae Fubler, Teyah Lindo, Micah Pond, Danni Watson, Lindsey Pacheco, Brittany Pacheco, Emily Cabral and Koa Goodchild are all here today to help promote the game and the women’s activities.

“We anticipate building on the success of the ‘Girls Play Too’ and women’s league initiatives last year. In addition we look forward to our under-17, under-20 and senior women doing well in the World Cup qualifiers this summer. Having sustainable youth and senior leagues will ensure the upward trajectory of our women’s national football teams continue.”

Fubler, Lindo, Pond, Watson, Pacheco, Cabral and Goodchild all represent the new crop of young talent coming through at the youth level. Naquita Robinson, the Bermuda women’s coach, said that it bodes well for the women’s game on the island in the long run.

“The combine is set up so that we can continue to grow the game in Bermuda, it’s no secret that it has fallen off, but there are so many young ladies looking forward to playing,” Robinson said. “It is based on the success our senior girls have had, as well as our most recent success with the Under-15s.

“This is giving us a chance to build the game back up, and our goal is to make it into the Concacaf like the boys did this year. That’s what this combine is about, getting as many girls out to play the game, to fall in love with the game and to commit to us as a sport.

“There are going to be trials and tribulations but is something that can work.

“Of course we battle with the other sports but I think that the more numbers we have then the better the chance of us having a sustainable league.

“As they grow older that league can continue and we won’t be faced with what we were faced in the past. We need a minimum of 80 girls for a ten-girl roster.”

Initially the girls will play five-a-side games at the BFA Field on Saturdays, starting with eight teams after the combine.

“If you look at the panel here we were team-mates on the same team,” said Parson, referring to Robinson and Bean sitting beside her.

“Football has helped all three of us get an education and in our careers today.”

Mark Wade, the BFA president, is also excited about the return of the women’s league. “It’s exciting times for women’s football, my first job was coaching women,” the former PHC coach said. “Women’s football holds a special place with me and I’m definitely excited to see where we are today and we’re definitely looking for the game to grow.”

Added Maurice Lowe, the BFA technical development director: “The women’s game is the fastest moving game in world sports today and we’re excited to have Bermuda contribute to that.

“We’re really excited to launch this youth league and look forward to having other developments as it relates to women’s football.”

Tomorrow: Coach Robinson reflects on the loss of a top player because of a career-ending injury