The ladies changing the game in football

Two Saint Lucian women are becoming trailblazers for female administrators in football. In recent weeks, it was announced that Examin Philbert, along with her colleague Dr Natasha Innocent, were part of a trio of Saint Lucians named to FIFA Standing Committees, following the FIFA Council Meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, to serve from 2025 to 2029. The other Saint Lucian appointed is Lyndon Cooper, president of the Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) and a longstanding sports administrator. 

While all three appointments are significant, the women selected for these decision-making positions are of particular note. Women often do not find themselves in administrative roles in sports for a myriad of reasons — ranging from lack of opportunity due to gender bias to failure to realise they can make meaningful contributions to the development of the game off the pitch. The appointment of multiple women to these positions could catalyse greater Saint Lucian professional development in the sports arena.

Philbert, who currently serves as the women’s football coordinator for the Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA), is a dynamic and skilled sports administrator. She is also president of the Vieux Fort Football League. The veteran leader has been appointed to the FIFA Women’s National Team Competition Standing Committee, a crucial body in the development of the women’s game worldwide. It oversees and advises on all matters related to women’s national team competitions, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Innocent will serve on the FIFA Medical Committee. A medical professional with a passion for sports, Dr Innocent is widely recognised in Caribbean football circles for her work in sports medicine and football administration. She has served in medical capacities for the SLFA and represented Saint Lucia in regional FIFA and CONCACAF health initiatives. 

Her appointment to the medical committee is both an important and challenging one. The committee is a key standing body within FIFA’s structure, tasked with overseeing health, medical, and player welfare issues across global football. This particular term coincides with the expanding globalisation of football and greater demands on players, making the medical oversight function more critical than ever.

St. Lucia Times reached out to these two game-changing women to get their insights on what these appointments mean for them and for the wider football community in Saint Lucia.

“It is indeed an honour and privilege for Saint Lucia Football Association Inc (SLFA) to be appointed to the FIFA Standing Committee,” said Philbert. “The SLFA will have a voice at the international level regarding female football competitions. ⁠It is also an opportunity for SLFA to strengthen the global network and work in a space where it can better collaborate, partner, and learn from the international football family. The lessons learnt can be used to improve our own women’s football, especially the programmes, resources, supporting structures, marketing, and competitions, as well as improve the lives and standard of play of our footballers. The ⁠SLFA will continue educating, empowering, inspiring, and investing in its people so that more of us can represent our association at the international level.”

Innocent noted that her appointment could serve as transformative medical support for athletes.

“For Saint Lucian footballers, this means better and early management of overall health and well-being by focusing on injury prevention, adequate on-field injury management, and ensuring timely and efficient post-injury rehabilitation,” she said.

When questioned as to whether this latest step can inspire youth, particularly women and girls who have a passion for sports and sports development but don’t necessarily want to become professional athletes, both women were adamant that it can.

“Football goes beyond the field of play,” noted Philbert. “Consequently, there is a plethora of careers in football, both on and off the pitch. Football can make dreams become realities in the field of employment as well. Off the pitch, football career opportunities embrace many sectors, including media, marketing, IT and technology, finance, events management, and governance, to name a few.”

“Young sports persons need to see their contributions to football beyond their playing period, whether it is amateur or professional. They can begin to plan from an early age. They need to focus and take their education seriously. This will assist them in gaining scholarships, whereby they can attend tertiary institutions whilst still playing football. So by the end of their playing years, they can remain in the sport and be gainfully employed.”

“Another route may be whether a young person may not even play football but qualify herself or himself and be employed in a football-related field. I also use this opportunity to call on educators to encourage and facilitate students in making careers in football. Let’s expand and embrace the beautiful game of football both on and off the pitch.”

Innocent encouraged her younger medical colleagues and those aspiring to enter the field to take a leap into the industry, noting: “Nothing is beyond your reach once you are willing to work hard for it. You must be a medical doctor with a love for sports/football.”

While their path to the elite level of football administration was paved with challenges, Dr Natasha Innocent and Examin Philbert have showcased that elevation in the beautiful game is possible for the willing and the prepared, both on and off the field of play.