TT women pumped for Morace’s training

A pool of close to 20 players, excluding the overseas-based players, trains up to five days per week as Morace seeks to develop a team that is capable of qualifying for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. And the focus is not only on the women’s team but programmes are also outlined for the Under-20 and Under-17 women’s teams and sessions are ongoing under the respective head coaches Nicola Williams and Manuela Tesse, both past international players and coaches in Australia and Italy.

Prolific TT forward Kennya Cordner has lauded the work being done by Morace and her staff.

“The preparations have been really good. We are focusing more on fitness at this time to get ourselves ready for the international matches.

She (Morace) is also focusing on defensive stuff as you know for years that has been an issue for us,” Cordner told TT FA Media.

“The sessions are enjoyable.

She brings a different vibes to practice, making players want to work and push themselves more.

As for me, I have been pushing myself all these years, and coaches go and coaches come, it will be the same for me. But generally it’s a great atmosphere in the training and we are gelling together,” Cordner said.

The Tobago-born former USbased player also commended the TT FA for investing tremendously in the women’s programme.

“For years, we know that the TT FA wasn’t too strongly behind the women’s programme, but now to see they are riding for us and putting a lot of support more than they have done for years is good. We have seen things happen because we have new coaches and I’ll ride for them as long as they ride for us. I am excited to play under the new coaches and for the country once more,” Cordner added.

National Under 20 goalkeeper Rebecca Almondoz, who has been drafted into the senior team pool, said there has already been signs of improvements.

“It’s been really intense but really interesting because she is bringing a new dynamic and a new look on how to do things and you can see the improvement almost immediately from all the players,” Almondoz said.

She noted that knowing that they are being guided by coaches such as Morace and her assistants, drives the players to give it their all every time they step onto the field.

“It’s been really good because we know she has had the experience and she has the mindset to carry out the training sessions and we just listen to everything she says and do what she says,” Almondoz said.