Bahamas based officials take charge of big Jamaican game

Three Bahamas based officials have secured the enviable position of handling a fiery Kingston derby match. Wilson DaCosta (newly appointed FIFA Referee), Jeremy Holland (newly appointed FIFA Assistant Referee) and Sean Thompson-Palmer (FIFA Assistant Referee), are in Jamaica to officiate in Red Stripe League matches over the holidays.

The three match administrators, who represent The Bahamas on the FIFA list, been appointed to a very difficult Red Stripe League match for Friday 23 December 2011, to be contested by Tivoli Gardens vs. Boys Town in Jamaica. This match will be held at the Rail Way Oval situated in Tivoli Gardens. This, on paper, is a heated fixture between two West Kingston Rivals and has always proven to be a challenging encounter
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Sean was also appointed to a Red Stripe Premier League match on the 21st December in Arnette Gardens. He worked with one of the most experienced FIFA Referees in CFU and CONCACAF; Courtney Campbell, the other Assistant Referee was Ms. Stacy Ann Grayson, a FIFA women’s AR.

The match was fast paced, dominated by some quality football between both teams, Arnette Gardens F.C and Highgate F.C. The match ended 0-1 to Highgate F.C. This result was considered to be a huge upset and has thrown the Premier League into a wide open race. The three referees are active within the Bahamian football system not only as officials, but as developers of future Bahamian refereeing talent. The appointment of the team shows that our growing referee training programme involves officials capable of refereeing at a very good league standard. This trip will certainly prove to be a rich source of experience which can be passed, on their return, to officials in training and to the growing numbers in our competitive youth programme.