In replacing outgoing leader Christopher Bryan, the FIFA Executive Committee member becomes the first woman to head the body and the first female President in the entire Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) region.

She also became the first woman to take a position on the CONCACAF Executive Committee when she was appointed last November and is now one of only two women to lead her national body out of all of FIFA's 209 member associations.

"I am totally humbled by this elevation to be the President of this fast growing organisation and I want to use this occasion to thank those persons who have assisted in my growth in this challenging world of football administration," said Bien-Aime, who has been general secretary of the TCIFA for the past eight years.

"Those who have held my hands.

"Those who provided the need, balance, support and patience.

"I would like to acknowledge the foresight and enlightened approach of Chris Bryan and others within the football association and football community here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

"It is their open mindedness and willingness to embrace female equality that was the genesis of this historical moment that we are celebrating here today.

"I want to thank everyone, and lets all continue this eventful journey together to elevate football here - in these lovely Turks and Caicos Islands."

Pictured left to right: CONCACAF media officer Jason Harper, CONCACAF legal affairs director Marco Leal, CFU general secretary Damian Hughes, Cayman Islands Football Association first vice-president Bruce Blake, Horace Burrell, Sonia Bien-Aime, Jeffrey Webb, Gordon Derrick and Howard McIntosh at the TCIFA AGM © TCIFA



Bien-Aime's election at the TCIFA Annual General Meeting, held at The Regent Grand Resort, was witnessed by members of the international football community, including the likes of CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Gordon Derrick, CONCACAF vice-president and Jamaica Football Association President Horace Burrell and FIFA development officer Howard McIntosh.

"To come to the Turks and Caicos almost 20 years later, and to witness what I've seen in terms of the growth, to see your centre of excellence, your academy, 65 young female football players playing football in a football festival, to, of course witness the healthy state of football in Turks and Caicos, exceptional financial reporting, exceptional annual reporting - all I can say is please allow me to give you all a round of applause for an exceptional job," Webb said.

In her first few weeks as TCIFA President, Bien-Aime will head to Canada for the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup, taking place from August 5 to 24, before travelling to the Cayman Islands for the CONCACAF Girls' Under 15 Championship.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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