August 1st, 2003
CIFA Welcomes First Ever Women’s National Coach

The Cayman Islands Football Association in accordance with the Ministry of Community Services, Women’s Affairs, Youth and Sports have recruited the first ever National Women’s and District Coach.

Brazilian, Thiago Cunha started his career as Head Coach of the U17 team at the Bonsucesso Football Club in Rio de Janeiro some seven years ago. Since then he has served as assistant and fitness coach for a slew of other Brazilian clubs including Vasco Da Gama.

Joining Cayman’s national coaching team on July 14th he immediately began preparing the U23 National Women’s Team for their Olympic Qualifiers in December with Jamaica and the US Virgin Islands. For the next few years Cunha says he plans to focus on developing younger players.

General Secretary Bruce Blake welcomed Cunha to the football family noting, that with two professional football coaches great things could be expected. He said it was a privilege to have such high caliber coaches and highlighted CIFA’s efforts to provide the resources they will need.

“CIFA is currently taking steps towards the development of a National Training Center. The project should be up and running in the next 3-5 years”. He added that work on the fields and dormitories would be the first leg of the project and that negotiations had been completed with the Cayman Islands Government for the land.

Both under 23 teams are scheduled for the first leg of their Olympic Qualifiers before 2004. The Men’s under 23 team is scheduled to face Grenada on Grenadine soil for September 6th and on Caymanian soil for October 12th, while the women will face their challengers in Cayman, December 3rd –7th, 2003.

CIFA General Secretary, Bruce Blake (left) welcomes Thiago Cunha (center)
National Women’s and District Coach and
Marcos Tinoco (right) National Coach.