compiled by Spectator Sports Desk
Gabrielle “Gabriella” DeSouza’s 2025 season was not simply productive. It was defining.
From January to December, the 18-year-old attacker solidified her status as one of Antigua and Barbuda’s premier young football talents, balancing club dominance, school leadership, and national responsibility with striking consistency.
Comfortable on either wing or through the centre as a striker, DeSouza combines acceleration, technical precision, and calm decision-making in front of goal. Her ability to influence matches at critical moments made her one of the most feared attacking players in local women’s football.
At Princess Margaret School (PMS), DeSouza was instrumental in one of the programme’s most successful campaigns in recent years. In April 2025, PMS advanced to both the Girls’ Under-16 and Girls’ Under-20 finals in the Ministry of Sport / Cool & Smooth / Joma Caribbean Schools Football League, with DeSouza central to the team’s semifinal surge.
Her impact continued into October, when PMS secured the Schools’ Knockout Cup title, claiming back-to-back championships. Throughout the November league season, she featured prominently in several commanding performances, including a 6–0 victory over Ottos Comprehensive School.
Beyond the goals, 2025 marked her transition into a stronger leadership role. She mentored younger players while remaining the team’s most potent offensive weapon, maintaining a high scoring average in matches often decided by margins of five goals or more.
At the club level, DeSouza maintained her sharp attacking form in the CAF Women’s League, finishing the campaign with eight goals for Wadadli United. Her contributions were pivotal to the team’s overall competitiveness and reinforced her reputation as a reliable scorer in high-pressure environments.
Internationally, 2025 was equally significant.
In February, DeSouza was named to lead the Antigua and Barbuda squad at the Concacaf Under-20 Women’s Championship Qualifiers, further cementing her status as the nation’s primary striking prospect. By year’s end, she had accumulated multiple U-20 appearances, continuing to develop against higher-calibre regional competition.
She also maintained her place within the senior national pool, contributing during the March to June international windows as the women’s programme pursued improvements in FIFA world rankings.
One of her most memorable senior performances came at the Turks and Caicos International Invitational Women’s Tournament, where she delivered a clinical display, scoring nine goals in just three matches. Her composure under pressure and instinct in decisive moments underscored her attacking maturity on the international stage.
The season was not without challenges. Balancing school commitments, competitive pressure, training intensity, and personal development demanded resilience. Moments of fatigue and heightened expectations became opportunities to sharpen her mindset and mature as an athlete.
Reflecting on 2025, DeSouza describes it as a year of growth, resilience, and rising confidence. Proud of her achievements yet driven for more, she remains focused on elevating her game and pursuing a professional career in football.
In a year filled with goals, titles, and international responsibility, Gabrielle DeSouza did more than perform. She established herself as a leader of the next generation.
For Gabrielle, this nomination and recognition affirm the unseen work behind the statistics. It is the reward for the early mornings, disciplined training sessions, personal sacrifices, and unwavering belief required to grow year after year.
An award of Sports Person of the Year would carry even deeper meaning. Beyond goals and trophies, it would acknowledge her leadership and the example she strives to set for young female footballers across Antigua and Barbuda. She hopes her journey encourages others to trust their abilities and pursue their ambitions fearlessly.
The 2025 National Sports Award ceremony is scheduled for March 1, 2026. Last March, at the 32nd edition of the National Sports Award, Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association’s Tyra Fenton captured the Junior Sportswoman of the Year title, while the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association’s Jewel Andrew captured the Junior Sportsman of the Year title.