Toppin-Herbert hopeful

Senior national striker Soraya Toppin- Herbert is not ready to hang up her football boots just yet as she has confirmed her desire to represent Barbados once more.

Toppin- Herbert has her sight set at representing Barbados at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship qualification competition for the 2023 women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand who are joint hosts.

The Barbadian top striker who was appointed at the beginning of this month as director of women’s football development in the Bahamas for the next two years said she is putting in the work and is hoping to be considered for selection.

“I love my country and anyway I can be of assistance then I try to give once my body is able and I am there mentally.
I’m definitely interested in it so I’ll work towards it,” she told Barbados TODAY.

The senior Lady Tridents are in preparation mode for the Concacaf W Championship qualification competition under the guidance of former national men’s captain Emmerson Boyce.

A former national vice-captain, Toppin Herbert is no stranger to suiting up to play for her country and has done so wonderfully well over the years. She played in the last Olympic qualifiers for Barbados held in October 2019 in Jamaica.

In 2010 she featured in her first ever World Cup qualifiers for Barbados in Trinidad.

The former Queen’s College student shared that she believes Barbados stand a good chance competing at the 2022 Concacaf W qualifiers.

“That is the whole point of competing, we compete because we think we have a chance and luckily we have had some months to get in some training. Obviously not in the ideal position because we are not playing actual games in Barbados. But the ladies back home are working really hard making sure that when we get on the field we make sure we give the best account that we can of ourselves. So, we will definitely go out there and try to make it,” Toppin- Herbert said.

She also revealed that while in the Bahamas doing her job she still keeps in contact with the local Barbados Football Association female coaching staff as to their preparation and what they are working on during training.

As to how she will manage being a senior administrator of the Bahamas association and to represent her country, Toppin- Herbert stated, “It helps that I am working in football so it is not that hard. It is just a matter of what I have always done for a long time and that is time management. It is something I am passionate about and it works hand in hand with what I’m doing in terms of my employment, so it is not that hard to balance.”

Aside from her desire to play for Barbados, Toppin- Herbert spoke about taking up the new position as director of women’s football in the Bahamas. “I had the opportunity to observe and the people here on the ground have been doing a good job and there is always an opportunity for growth so I am looking forward to working with them. We are just looking to get every area of women’s football growing and developing.

“We will be working on the Center of Excellence, beach soccer and then other policies but my main focus is every aspect of the game here in the Bahamas as it relates to women. The reason for bringing me on is to have somebody who could focus on women’s football, that they would have all aspects of it to grow and that is what I am tasked with and also with my academic and technical help.”

Despite having her hands full with the Bahamas Football Association, Toppin- Herbert who holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and two master’s degrees, one in Business Administration and the other in Sport Business Management, continues to serve Barbados’ football through her locally based organization called S34 Bombers Football Academy that provides a space for young girls to train and develop.
One of the most decorated female footballers Barbados has ever produced, Toppin- Herbert disclosed she is always open to returning to Barbados and serving in the future.

“I am somebody who has always been of the opinion that I serve where I am at so I don’t need a title or I don’t need necessarily those accolades to open up, I kind of find ways to create those opportunities for myself and the people around me,” she explained. morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb