Sonia Bien-Aime of the Turks and Caicos Islands has been selected to serve on FIFA’s executive committee representing the Caribbean, becoming the first woman elected to soccer’s top body in a voting seat not specifically designated for a female.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football said Wednesday that Bien-Aime was elected Saturday when its executive committee met in Vancouver, British Columbia.

She fills the FIFA seat that opened when CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands was provisionally fired on May 28 following his indictment in the U.S. on corruption charges and his arrest in Switzerland.

Bien-Aime, a former captain of her nation’s women’s national team, became general secretary of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association in 2006 and currently is its president.

Lydia Nsekera of Burundi joined the FIFA executive committee as a non-voting member in May 2012, then was given a voting seat designated for a woman and a four-year term in May 2013 when she received 95 votes from the FIFA congress to defeat Moya Dodd of Australia (70) and Bien-Aime (38). Dodd and Bien-Aime were given non-voting seats and listed as “co-opted members for special tasks.”

“My selection to the FIFA executive committee with full voting rights is a ground-breaking decision by CONCACAF that demonstrates our confederation’s commitment to be forward-thinking and our ability to make bold, yet reasoned, decisions,” Bien-Aime said in a statement issued by CONCACAF.

“My goal is to represent the best interest of the Confederation, while contributing to the objectives of FIFA as we all take collective strides to develop and grow the game that we love.”
Alfredo Hawit on Honduras was appointed CONCACAF president on May 28, becoming a FIFA vice president, and the CONCACAF executive committee also provisionally fired Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, who was to have assumed a seat on FIFA’s executive committee that week. Li also was arrested and indicted, and FIFA also provisionally banned Webb and Li from all soccer activities.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands; Sunday, June 12, 2015. The month of May has been an awesomely busy month for the Girls and Women of the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (“TCIFA”).

On Saturday May 23rd, 2015 the TCIFA participated in CONCACAF’s inaugural Women’s

Football Day (“WFD”). The event was hosted at the TCIFA’s National Academy in

Providenciales where participants engaged in a 5 aside tournament.

Ms. Christma Jean Louis, a women’s national team player commenced the event with the

singing of the national song, which was followed by remarks from the Deputy Premier,

Honourable Akierra Missick, Minister responsible for Education, Youth and Sports. Ms. Missick

pledged her continuous support and thanked CONCACAF for their invested interest in the Turks

& Caicos Islands. President of the TCIFA, Ms. Sonia Bien-Aime thanked the players, coaches,

referees and parents for making the event possible and commended the TCIFA for being one of

the thirty-seven countries within the CONCACAF region participating in the WFD events.

President Bien-Aime officially declared the event opened.

Medals were awarded to the respective winners within their age categories.

Ms. Candace Hanchell, Executive Member responsible for Women’s Football expressed how

delighted in the turn out and noted the U9 girls team which travelled from South Caicos to

Despite the inability of two teams not being able to compete in the 2015 season, the Women’s

Football League (“WFL”) was able to move forward with two Academy teams. There were also

friendly games which were played by a combined WFL team against the U15 boys. The final

WFL game of 2015 was hosted on May 17th, 2015 which saw AFC Academy at the top of the

chart. The AFC Academy U15 girls were commended on their performance and were

encouraged to continue practicing and playing together as a unit.

PO BOX 626, TCIFA NATIONAL ACCADEMY

VENETIAN ROAD, PROVIDENCIALES,

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, BWI

Tel: 1 (649) 941 5532 Fax: 1 (649) 941 5554

The Women’s Football Cup games were hosted on Sunday May 24th, 2015 where the U15 girls

presented a fast paced game. However, Jacinda Alfrena was able to maneuver with her

experience and scored an early goal for AFC Academy in the 13th minute of the game.

Shinaydine Pluviouse also of AFC Academy scored the team’s second goal in the 48th minute.

The U15 girls continued to play with determination and eventually scored with the 58th minute of

the game as Evnisha landed a beautiful goal for her team. The game ended with 2 goals for

AFC Academy and 1 goal for AFC Academy U15 girls.

May 29, 2015 Grand Turk saw its first women’s football game with TCI vs. River City Raptors.

River City Raptors traveled into Grand Turk on a cruise ship as the TCI team consisted of

players from the Island of Providenciales. Players from both teams expressed how excited they

were to travel to Grand Turk to compete in the small six aside game which produced a score of

TCI 1 – 2 River City Raptors. Some of the students of the HJ Robinson High School were given

the opportunity to watch the game.

Sunday May 31st, 2015 the field saw the return of the former players who competed against the

combined AFC Academy senior and the U15 teams. This game was fiercely competitive as the

former players were intent on proving that they still possessed the necessary football skills. The

combined AFC team moved quickly throughout both halves and presented a challenging game.

However, end result was 2 goals for former players and 2 goals for the AFC combined team.

Both teams agreed not to proceed with overtime or a penalty shoot out. In light of this there will

The TCIFA and the WFL encourages all interested females to practice healthy living by

participating in our girls and women programmes. Training is available for all age groups. For

additional information, please visit the TCIFA offices or telephone 941-5532 and speak with

Olivia Gravely, Youth Coordinator or Craig Harrington, Technical Director.