Under-21 women clash with Canadians

A Trinidad and Tobago Under-21 women’s football team face a visiting Canadian club side, Oakville Vipers, in two friendly matches this week.

The champion women’s club from Ontario will arrive this morning before the matches tomorrow and Friday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar from 4.30 pm each day. Coach Jamaal Shabaaz said the core of the TT team will form the squad preparing for upcoming Olympic qualifiers starting in either October or November against the Dominican Republic. Shabaaz also revealed that veteran player Izler Browne will join long time teammate, Ricarda Nelson on the management staff as both players have since retired from international football following the Gold Cup last year.

Browne will serve as assistant coach to Shabaaz and Marlon Charles while Nelson will be assistant manager to Richard Bereton. Shabaaz boasted about the fact that there at least eight secondary school students on the team. Among them are speedy striker Ahkeela Mollon, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Kia Rigsby, Kathrina Meyer and Alania Burgin. Also earning a recall is former Swiss-based professional, Kathy Ann Nixon, wife of former national striker Jerren Nixon.

Missing will be goalkeeper Lisa Jo Ramkisson who is now attending college in the United States. Goalkeepers Nicole Mitchell and Jana Walters have been included. “I think these are two handy warm-up matches for us. It will serve as good exposure for what is a relatively new set of players we have. What is good for us at this stage is that there are several players from local schools which is a good sign for what lies ahead,” Shabaaz said. Meanwhile, Shabaaz will not be accompanying the TT men’s team which departs for Venezuela today for a friendly match  in San Cristobal on Wednesday. Coach Zoran Vranes and manager George Joseph will lead the contingent.

Vranes, still obviously disappointed with the results in Martinique, said the upcoming friendly, even now,  has its value. “We are taking some younger guys who were part of the recent training process but were not able to go to Martinique.  This is a good chance for us to check these players and I believe we have to take better care of them because they are part of the future for us,” Vranes said.

TT Women’s Team: Nicole Mitchell, Jana Walters, Janelle Nedd, Leslie Ann James (Joe Public); Jeniella McKella (St Clair Coaching School); Nadia James, Kia Rigsby (Real Dimension); Terry Lisa John, Terry Lisa Abdool, Ahkeela Mollon, Nayasha Reyes (Petrotrin); Michelle Reyes (St Augustine Girls High School); Tineka Alexander, Alania Burgin  (Malick SC); Maylee Attin-Johnson, Tasha St Louis (Caridoc Stringrays); Kamika Alexander (Arima Ballmasters); Ayanna Russell (El Dorado SC); Avianne Douglas (St George’s College); Dernell Mascall (Moruga); Kathrina Meyer (Joe Public);  Kathy Ann Nixon (unattached).

TT Men’s team: Peter Ramon Fortune (Arima Fire); Brent Sancho, Kerry Noray, Kerry Baptiste, Ian Gray, Cyd Gray, Nigel Daniel, Trent Noel, Cornell Glenn (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh); Keyeno Thomas, Kevin Graham (Joe Public); Reynold Carrington, Silvio Spann (Vibe CT 105 W Connection); Anton Pierre (Defence Force); Jason Scotland (unattached); Brent Rahim (Northampton Town); Conrad Smith (Caledonia AIA); Sean Julien (Starworld Strikers).