Nassau, Bahamas –August 20, 2025 – The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) proudly announces that Vanessa Desinord represented The Bahamas at the Concacaf Youth Football Summit 2025, held from August 6–8 in Curaçao.
Hosted by Concacaf in partnership with UEFA, this fourth edition of the summit carried the theme “Bridging Potential and Performance: Pathways to Excellence.” The gathering brought together technical leaders, coaches, and football experts from all 41 Member Associations to explore strategies that strengthen youth development across the region.
Desinord’s participation placed The Bahamas at the center of important conversations shaping the future of the game. Day one of the summit introduced FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme (TDS), a comprehensive framework designed to ensure every player has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Discussions also examined biological growth patterns, talent identification, and how technology and data are reshaping scouting methods.
On the second day, the spotlight turned to building competitive environments for youth football. Case studies from Belgium’s Women’s Football Academy and the English FA highlighted best practices that continue to raise global standards. Experts such as Stephan Howaldt and Lisa Savage shared approaches to increasing girls’ participation, improving retention, and creating pathways that encourage leadership and long-term opportunities for women in football.
The final day emphasized innovation and stronger connections between grassroots and elite pathways. Presentations showcased athlete-tracking technology like Fit Match AI, insights from England’s U18 program, and lessons from the UEFA U17 tournament in Albania. Member Associations, including Aruba and Guatemala, reported on the early success of TDS implementation. The summit closed with the reintroduction of the Grassroots Charter, underscoring the importance of linking community-level football directly to high-performance programs.
Speaking on behalf of the Bahamas Football Association, Desinord reflected on the significance of the summit: “It was a privilege to represent our Member Association at the Concacaf Youth Football Summit 2025. The summit brought together technical leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across the region to share best practices and explore strategies for strengthening youth development pathways.”
The knowledge gained will support the BFA’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for young players, strengthening women’s football, adopting innovative approaches, and ensuring that grassroots football continues to feed into the nation’s elite programs.
Caption: Vanessa Desinord of the Bahamas Football Association at the Concacaf Youth Football Summit 2025 in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Caption: Vanessa Desinord engages with fellow delegates during workshop discussions at the Concacaf Youth Football Summit 2025.
Caption: Delegates, including Vanessa Desinord (far right), observe live youth competition as part of the Concacaf Youth Football Summit program.
Caption: Representing The Bahamas, Vanessa Desinord participates in regional dialogue on youth football development pathways.
Caption: Vanessa Desinord pictured with technical leaders and football development representatives from across Concacaf.
For more information contact:
BFA Secretariat
Office – 322 4343
Email – Connect@bahamasfa.net
Website: www.bahamasfa.net
About The Bahamas Football Association
The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) is the official governing body for the sport of Association football in The Bahamas, established in 1967 and headquartered in New Providence. As a full member of FIFA since 1968, the BFA oversees Bahamian football at every level, from international competitions to professional and amateur leagues. In addition to managing the Men’s and Women’s National teams, the BFA also oversees youth organizations, the BFA Senior League, and the national beach soccer teams, demonstrating a commitment to promoting and advancing football in The Bahamas at all levels of play.