If the youthful females on Nevis, are looking for a positive role model, maybe-just maybe, they should have a closer look at Bath villager, Miss Ulinda Warner.
On Tuesday 25th June, Ulinda Warner, who is an Assistant referee in the SKNFA, left the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, en route to France, where she will be participating in a women’s referees’ five day training seminar.
Accompanying Miss Warner, is Kittitian female referee, Shandor Wilkinson.
According to an SKNFA release, ‘the seminar is designed to help enhance the refereeing skills while providing exposure to the participants.’
A proud Malcolm George Ramsey, who is the current head of the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) Referees Department and FIFA referee instructor, indicated that the training exercise is sponsored by an international body for Football, known as EQUAL Playing Field.
He stated that apart from the training, the young ladies will be involved in refereeing. They will be doing a 90 minute game; they will be doing a five a side tournament and they will have regular training throughout the seminar—on the field/off the field fitness training as well.
He further indicated that it is the first time in the history of Football in St. Kitts and Nevis that females are being sent for overseas training, as regards being Football referees.
Ramsey also stated: “It shows us that if you work hard and you are committed, that the opportunities are endless. I am very confident that they are prepared and they will do well.”
For Ulinda, it all started when she was invited to join the local referee training sessions, organized by Malcolm Ramsey.
The interest level was there and she learnt the skills quickly.
She joins an elite bunch of individuals who would have passed through similar training with Mr. Ramsey and would have gone on to officiate in the SKNFA Premier league (top division).
These include five referees and eleven Assistant referees:
Referees
Kimbell Ward (FIFA)
Curtis Morton Jr
Jermaine Wickham
I-Shana Broadbelt (female)
Jeremy Richards
Assistant Referees
Mario Parry (FIFA)
O’Brian Clarke
Jevon Claxton
Shakel Campbell
Austin Bart
Jasmine Charles (female)
Jamal Jean-Jacques
Saskiya Parris (female)
Jason Audain
Ulinda Warner (female)
Chevaun Walwyn
Mr. Ramsey is urging interested youthful males and females, to join the referee training classes, which are conducted at the Bath Community Center and Bath Football Field on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.