Bermuda’s football leadership has returned from Sint Maarten following the inaugural Concacaf Grassroots Football Conference, a landmark event signalling a new era for development across the region.
BFA President Mark Wade, Technical Director Maurice Lowe, and General Secretary David Sabir represented the island at the summit on May 12th and 13th. The event served as the official launchpad for the Concacaf Grassroots Charter, a strategic framework designed to professionalise and sustain the game’s foundation.
A significant highlight was President Wade’s participation in a high-level panel discussing how to increase participation for women and girls. Alongside leaders from the Caribbean, the dialogue focused on:
- Breaking barriers to entry for young girls.
- Safeguarding to ensure a secure environment for long-term growth.
- Building pathways from local parks to the national stage.
The conference provided technical guidance and workshops, allowing Bermuda’s leadership to align local strategies with regional best practices.
The new Charter aims to provide a structured “roadmap” for all 41 member nations, ensuring community football is governed by professional standards.
For Bermuda, the timing is perfect, coinciding with the recent kick-off of the BFA Women’s Division at Bernard Park. The insights gained are expected to bolster ongoing efforts to ensure the game remains a staple of Bermudian life. As the summit concluded, the message was clear: the strength of the senior national teams depends entirely on the quality of the roots planted today.
