Former FIFA Referee Maurees Skeete passes

Jan 10, 2026 Sports

…A Life of Service, Excellence and Courage

Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana sporting fraternity is mourning the loss of one of its true trailblazers, former FIFA referee and Guyana Defence Force Warrant Officer Class Two, Maurees Skeete, who passed away after a courageous battle with illness.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) joined with the wider sporting community in expressing deep sorrow at her passing, remembering her as one of the finest female referees the country has ever produced and a woman whose life was defined by service, discipline and quiet resilience.

Former FIFA Referee Maurees Skeete passes

Former FIFA Referee and GDF Warrant Officer Maurees Skeete leaves behind a legacy of excellence

Maurees earned her FIFA referee badge in 2014, a milestone that placed her among an elite group of officials representing Guyana on the international stage. Over several years, she officiated with distinction across CFU and CONCACAF competitions, earning respect for her consistency, authority and professionalism.

Her excellence was recognised locally through multiple Guyana Football Federation Referee of the Year awards, while regionally she stood out in 2015 as the only female official from the Caribbean nominated for the CONCACAF Female Referee of the Year award.

At home, Maurees was trusted with some of the biggest assignments in local football, including major men’s fixtures and the prestigious Kashif and Shanghai tournaments. Always eager to improve and to give back, she embraced development opportunities such as the FIFA Referees Assistance Programme (RAP), committed to elevating the standard of officiating in Guyana.

Beyond the football field, Maurees served her country with equal pride in uniform as a member of the Guyana Defence Force, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two. The discipline, integrity and commitment she displayed in the GDF mirrored the qualities she brought to sport.

Just last October, the GDF publicly honoured her courageous fight against breast cancer, celebrating her as a symbol of strength and perseverance.

She was armed with the aura of excellence. Long before her refereeing career, Maurees was already a gifted all-round athlete. She proudly represented Guyana in rugby, earning selection to the national women’s sevens squad in 2010 to defend their RAN Championship title. She also participated in national basketball, including tryouts at the highest level, and represented Linden as a player in both basketball and football. Whether wearing a jersey, blowing a whistle, or serving in uniform, she carried herself with purpose and dignity.

Maurees Skeete broke barriers in male-dominated spaces, inspired countless young women to dream beyond limitations, and set standards that will endure long after her final whistle.

Today, Guyana remembers not only a referee, a soldier and an athlete, but a trailblazer whose legacy will live on in the fields she officiated, the athletes she inspired, and the lives she touched.

“One of the best.” This was one of the many remarks coming out of the local referee committee. According to Wayne Griffith, “Skeete was a great woman, a phenomenal referee, she loves what she did. Always teaching and always learning. Very helpful, possessed extraordinary fitness, excellent when executing her duty on the field. She had a charming personality. She will be deeply missed.”

Likewise, the Guyana Football Federation shared similar sentiments, extending its deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues in the Guyana Defence Force, the referee fraternity, and all who had the privilege of knowing and experiencing the presence of the phenomenal Athlete, Servicewoman, Referee Maurees Skeete.

Rest in eternal peace. Your service, your strength, and your example will never be forgotten.

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FIFA, Guyana Defence Force, Maurees Skeete, Mourning, Referee

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