Footballers John Barnes & Andrew Cole Arrive
John Barnes and Andrew Cole arrived in Bermuda last night in advance of the Don’t Cut Your Future Short [DCYFS] and Bermuda Football Association U13 Invitational event, which will be held this evening.
A spokesperson said, “A distinguished group of Bermudian community leaders, athletes, educators and professionals will join Premier League greats John Barnes and Andrew Cole today, for the Don’t Cut Your Future Short [DCYFS] × Bermuda Football Association U13 Invitational.
“Held under the theme ‘One Team. One Community’, the event will bring together ten football clubs across six integrated development stations. The programme is designed to help young players develop not only their football skills, but also the confidence, resilience, communication skills and personal agency needed to thrive beyond the pitch.
“Barnes and Cole will provide U13 players with world-class technical guidance through high-intensity football rotations inspired by modern academy methodology. The sessions will challenge participants to strengthen their decision-making, communication and adaptability under pressure.
“Alongside the football instruction, Bermudian community leaders will guide character-building, reflection and media-pitch activities. These stations will introduce the young players to a range of voices, professions and lived experiences while encouraging them to think purposefully about their identities, choices and futures.”
“The aim is to immerse U13 participants in micro-experiences designed to expose them to different voices, sectors, ideas and perspectives they might not ordinarily encounter, reinforcing personal agency and constructive decision-making,” said Tammy Richardson-Augustus. “We want to build more than footballers. We want to build futures.”
For Dr. Ramon Arscott, Barnes’s participation represents the continuation of a powerful cycle of inspiration. “I was a 13-year-old boy in the early 1990s and captain of my high school U14 football team at Campion College in Kingston, Jamaica, when an awe-inspiring legend came to our training session and sat with us, giving us pearls of wisdom,” Dr. Arscott recalled.
“It was the first time we had seen, in the flesh, an example of the pinnacle of football in our time. He was in his prime. He spoke like us. He looked like us. We related to him. It was then that we knew what was possible. That man was, and is, John Barnes, then captain of Liverpool F.C.”
The spokesperson said, “The event is underpinned by the support and active participation of more than 20 community leaders, whose diverse experience, insight and commitment have helped shape the vision and bring it to life. Together, they will create a dynamic and supportive environment in which young people can learn, reflect, build confidence and imagine new possibilities for their futures.
“The Character Station, Think Moment and World Cup Highlight Reel will be supported by:
- Tyrell Burgess, Bermudian international footballer and youth advocate
- Sean Trott, elite long-distance runner and May 24 champion
- Jon Beard, educator and respected contributor to Bermuda’s sporting community
- Amanda Steward, human-resources professional with 20 years of multinational experience
- Darren Wood, gang-violence reduction specialist
- Azeem Khan, cricketer and ReGen Group skipper
- Keishen Bean, third-sector professional
- Taurean Manders of Mental Versatile Peak Performance, a consultancy dedicated to training the mind as rigorously as the body.
“The Profile-Building and Media Pitch Station will feature:
- Ben Rego, real-estate professional with strong marketing expertise
- Sue Khan, consultant supporting underrepresented groups in finding their voices
- Killian Elkinson, former professional footballer and litigation lawyer
- Dr. Ramon Arscott, Harvard-trained, double-board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon
- Daniel Wood, Grateful Miles co-founder and property professional
- Cheyra Ball, safeguarding professional
“The Risk, Reward, Refine, Repeat Station will be supported by the Future Leaders Group, including Executive Director Mackenzie Kohl Tuckett and the organisation’s trustees. A photo booth will provide profile pictures for the players and create a supportive setting in which they can confidently practise and refine their personal pitches.”
Additional support will be provided by:
- Gemma Godfrey, experience consultant
- Dr. Tiffanne Thomas, safeguarding
- Dr. Christie Hunter-Arscott, self-advocacy framework
- Sean Tucker, master of ceremonies
- Dr. Amne Osseyran, general practitioner, consultant forensic physician, certified safeguarding trainer and certified trauma-informed care clinician
- Dr. Chioma Nwasike, sports medicine physician
“As both a parent of a young athlete and a business leader, I’ve seen how the discipline, resilience and teamwork learned through sport can shape young people well beyond the field,” said Noel Pearman. “I’m excited to see a programme that intentionally connects those lessons with the choices that shape their futures.”
The spokesperson said, “Across all six stations, the young participants will experience a model founded on collaboration, safeguarding and community uplift. The event reflects DCYFS and the BFA’s shared belief that football can serve as a corridor to meaningful life opportunities.
“John Barnes and Andrew Cole arrived in Bermuda to a warm welcome from government officials at L.F. Wade International Airport. The occasion also featured a vibrant performance by the H&H Gombeys, offering the football legends a memorable introduction to Bermuda’s culture and community spirit.
“DCYFS and the BFA extend their sincere gratitude to the event’s sponsors: Athene, BELCO, the Government of Bermuda, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, and Polaris. Their generous support and shared commitment to Bermuda’s young people have made this event possible.”
