TCIFA’s 2nd Vice-President, Candace Hanchell, Departs Office, and Resigns as President Of The Women’s Football League
Hanchell’s early years in football began not too long after the inception of the Turks and Caicos Football Association (TCIFA). In 1999, she joined the TCIFA’s women’s football programme, which, in the past climate, held training sessions at the Club Med Turkoise facilities in Providenciales. She was later recruited to the Turks and Caicos Islands Women’s National Football Team, with the likes of President Sonia Fulford (then team captain), where she executed a forward position. After some time, and after retiring from the football field, upon the introduction of Beach Soccer, she participated in the first season of friendly matches, playing amongst much younger female participants, at Rick’s Flamingo Café, on the beach.
Her devotion to football would lead her to the administrative facet, where she became a member of the Women’s Football Committee in 2004, and thereafter, President of the Women’s Football League in 2006. In 2012, Hanchell was elected to the TCIFA Executive Committee, as the 3rd Executive Director also assigned with the responsibility for Women’s Football. In 2017, she was appointed to the office of the 2nd Vice President.
The fight to increase women’s football participation and opportunities, dealing with the particularly challenging presence of supporters, and seeking equality in the game that we all love, remained at the forefront of both Hanchell’s and the FA’s concerns. The FA conducted a number of successful promotional and organizational initiatives with the support of Candace in quest of fundamental change, and change of old-fashion attitudes toward the male-dominated sport. Candace became an advocate and mentor for girls and women in football, and an advocate for change.
“Candace’s leadership has been integral to the development of women’s football at TCIFA. Carrying the responsibility for women’s football is one of the toughest rolls of all, in such a male-dominated industry. Candace has performed with dedication and tenacity. She has tirelessly given her time and resources to women’s football, and for this I express gratitude on behalf of the TCIFA and myself for her many contributions. Whilst we will miss her and her inspiring work, we wish her the best of luck in her new endeavors,” said President Sonia Fulford.
“The embracement of an inexperienced player by the TCIFA resulted into my personal growth as a player and as a valued contributor and servant to the sport of women's football,” commented Hanchell. “I hope that I have impacted not only the sport of women's football but also the lives of many of our young girls and women within the Turks & Caicos Islands. I am grateful for the opportunity given and I look forward to the continued growth of the TCIFA under its current Leadership, Executive Board, Staff and Volunteers. May you continue to serve with passion and grace.”
