“My personality is my strength!” T&T’s Crystal Sobers named second best ref in Concacaf 

Trinidad and Tobago referee Crystal Sobers was the only local football representative on the honours list yesterday as Concacaf toasted the best talent in the confederation for 2018.

Sobers, who officiated at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup and Women’s Under-20 Championship, finished second among the confederation’s top women’s referees, behind Mexico’s Lucila Venegas. Concacaf’s top male referee, Cesar Ramos, also hails from Mexico.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago referee Crystal Sobers (centre) gave a creditable showing in the semifinal contest between Mexico and Canada in the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Couva on 26 January 2018.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

The Concacaf winners are decided based on the selection of national team coaches and captains (50 per cent of the vote), journalists (25 per cent of the vote) and fans (25 per cent of the vote).

Sobers, who is from D’Abadie on the outskirts of Arima, said she is honoured by the recognition.


“It is a surprise and I think it just highlighted my hard work,” the 30 year old official told Wired868. “It is really good to be recognised and with not much opportunity as well. I’m not on social media much, so I didn’t know anything about [the final selection] until [Referees Association vice-president] Mr [Osmond] Downer sent me an email.

“And I said I will take that!”

A former right back for Bishop Anstey East High School, Sobers—who also attended school at Arima Senior Comprehensive—was once handy enough with the ball at her feet to be shortlisted for a Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team that included iconic sisters Kimika Forbes and Karyn Forbes.

She did not play in their ultimately successful Caribbean Football Union (CFU) campaign though, and, discouraged by the state of local women’s football, she eventually quit as a player. An advertisement for referees in a local paper, seven years ago, afforded her an opportunity to approach the game from a different angle.

Photo: Referee Crystal Sobers (right) prepares to drop the ball for Defence Force captain Jerwyn Balthazar during Pro League action at the Barataria Recreation Ground on 9 October 2016.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

Sobers believes her personality helped her steady rise with the whistle.

“I think my personality is my strength,” said Sobers. “For me, it isn’t about being the main person on the field; it is about delivering what the game needs. And it is just about enjoying the game.

“Because I played and understand the game, I think that helps me too.”

Incidentally, Sobers spends most of her time officiating at men’s games.


“In Trinidad, we don’t have many female games,” she said.

The difference between men’s and women’s games, in her opinion, is vast. She explained that while refereeing at the local men’s Pro League level might help her fitness levels, the men’s game is more physical and players of different sexes respond differently to officials in game situations. So it would be impossible to use the same approach for both sexes as an official.

At present, Sobers seems to have the respect of all sides though.

Photo: Referee Crystal Sobers (centre) prepares to caution Angels midfielder Jodi-Ann McGregor during 2015 WPL action.
(Courtesy Sinead Peters/Wired868)

“When I first saw the Concacaf nomination [for consideration], I saw that I was placed among World Cup referees,” she said. “So I thought I’m not even going to bother. These women are all known [and have big reputations], who is Crystal to be on this line-up.

“But after seeing that I made the final three, I think it must have been performance and not just voting. Because I am quite sure I did not get many votes.”

Although Sobers was Trinidad and Tobago’s only recognised representative yesterday, the Jamaica Women’s National Senior Team certainly drew praise for their own showings.

The “Reggae Girlz” received the Outstanding Performance Award for booking a maiden spot at a senior FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament, which was the first for a Caribbean team.

Jamaica coach Hue Menzies was adjudged Concacaf Women’s Coach of 2018 while forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw and midfielder Jody Brown were both named in the Concacaf Women’s All Star XIs.

Shaw, who was voted the UK Guardian’s 2018 Player of the Year, was also named on a three player shortlist for goal of the year—which included both sexes—with the eventual honour going to Club America’s Joe Corona for his strike for the Mexico domestic champions against Panama’s Tauros FC in the Concacaf Champions League.

Photo: Jamaica Women’s National Senior Team coach Hue Menzies.

Concacaf 2018 Honour List

Men’s Player of the Year: Hirving Lozano (Mexico/PSV Eindhoven)

Women’s Player of the Year: Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride)

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid)

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Alyssa Naeher (USA/Chicago Red Stars)

Men’s Coach of the Year: Matias Almeyda (Chivas)

Women’s Coach of the Year: Hue Menzies (Jamaica)

Men’s Referee of the Year: Cesar Ramos (Mexico)

Women’s Referee of the Year: Lucila Venegas (Mexico)

Goal of the Year: Joe Corona (Club America vs Tauros FC)

Photo: Mexico goal scorer Hirving Lozano (left) celebrates with teammate Jesus Gallardo after his winner against Germany in Russia 2018 World Cup action on 17 June.
(Copyright FIFA)

Men’s All Star XI:

Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Mexico);

Defenders: Edson Alvarez (Mexico/Club America), Hugo Ayala (Mexico/Tigres UANL), Francisco Calvo (Costa Rica/Minnesota United FC), Cuco Martina (Curaçao/Stoke City FC;

Midfielders: Hector Herrera (Mexico/Porto FC), Michael Bradley (USA/Toronto FC), Andres Guardado (Mexico/Real Betis);

Forwards: Hirving Lozano (Mexico/PSV Eindhoven), Bradley Wright-Phillips (England/New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Giovinco (Italy/Toronto FC).

Photo: United States striker Alex Morgan (centre) scored a hattrick against Trinidad and Tobago in the semifinals of the CONCACAF 2016 Olympic qualifying series.
(Courtesy MexSport/CONCACAF)

Women’s All Star XI

Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher (USA/Chicago Red Stars);

Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada/Olympique Lyonnais), Crystal Dunn (USA/NC Courage), Tanna Sanchez (Mexico U-17/Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Puebla), Becky Sauerbrunn (USA/Utah Royals FC);

Midfielders: Lindsey Horan (USA/Portland Thorns), Jody Brown (Jamaica/AS Roma/), Nicole Perez (Mexico U-17/CD Guadalajara);

Forwards: Christine Sinclair (Canada/Portland Thorns), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Khadija Shaw (Jamaica/University of Tennessee).

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About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

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16 comments

  1. Congrats to a Referee, Crystal Sobers, that has been sound in the making and has been spoken about by keen supporters of the game. This has been my experience with devoted spectators of the game – they have spoken about her knowledge, fitness, and overall professional demeanor.

  2. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  3. Good Job Sobers!!!!! Congratulations

  4. Congratulations Crystal!!!
    Continue flying
    The Future is Female….

  5. Congratulations Crystal. Keep the flag flying for women in Football & Sport. Well done, I am proud of you.

  6. Well done to the ref! Michael Bradley performed so well that he was selected on the all-star team? However, Alex Morgan is ah beast

  7. Blessings/congratulations to Ms. Sobers ! When I voted for her she was way back. Well done to the persons that voted for her.

  8. Congratulations and continue flying our flag very high Blessings

  9. Hard work do pay off…… Congratulations Sobers….. Senior World Cup next…….

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