St Gabriel’s School and St Mark’s Primary were the winners of this year’s Barbados Football Association (BFA) Primary Schools Girls’ Football Festival at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey on Tuesday.
The Under-9 category belonged to St Gabriel’s after they recorded 1-0 and 3-1 wins over St Philip’s Primary School A and Charles F Broome A, respectively, while drawing 0-0 with Wills Primary.
St Mark’s Primary School was the winner of the Under-11 age group after they secured 3-0 wins over St Philip Primary B and St Jude’s, and a 1-0 win over Charles F Broome B.
Speaking at the conclusion of the event, BFA President Randy Harris said he was pleased to see it so well attended, lauding the Festival as a great success.
“As the BFA continues its commitment to advancing women’s football in Barbados, this Festival makes a welcome addition to our growing local female football landscape. It feeds into the Association’s long-term development strategy to increase participation in the women’s game, starting at the youth level,” he said
“It was great to see so many girls come out to play football today, and it is my sincere hope that this momentum continues as we seek to realise the vision of progressing the game for girls here in Barbados.”
Harris said the initiative was developmental, aimed at encouraging girls aged eight to 11 to get involved in football.
The seven-a-side festival had eight participating teams, ten girls on each side, playing 12-minute matches divided into the two zones – Under-9 and Under 11.
Wills Primary School, St Gabriel’s School, St Jude’s Primary School and St Mark’s Primary School took part in the Festival, along with St Philip Primary School and Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School, both of which fielded two teams.
