Women footballers for Olympic qualifier

AN 18-member Trinidad and Tobago women football team will fly out today at 11.30 pm for Paramaribo, Suriname, for their back-to-back first round 2004 Olympic qualifying tie against the hosts.

The first match is scheduled at 6 pm on Sunday with the second at 7 pm on Wednesday, both at the Kamperveen Stadium in Paramaribo. Kathy-Ann Nixon, wife of national striker Jerren Nixon, will wear the captain’s armband for the two matches, replacing the retired Izler Browne who is one of the team’s two assistant coaches. Nixon, who returns to the national fold after a three-year absence, has made the transition from midfielder (a role she still plays at Joe Public) to sweeper. The 27-year-old joins the Petrotrin trio of goalkeeper Nicole Mitchell-Thomas, defender Terri-Lisa John and striker Natalie Des Vignes as the experienced heads in a team which features 10 players under the age of 20. That quartet, as well as Joe Public’s left-footed midfielder Leslie-Ann James, were members of the Trinidad and Tobago squad as far back as the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

According to the team’s technical director Jamaal Shabazz: “There was a time when it was said that our players were clumsy and inept. Now the motor skills of these girls will baffle the critics.” Referring to the 2002 Gold Cup, Shabazz stated: “(In) October 2002 we narrowed the gap on USA and Mexico, losing to them 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. Before that we would get double figures from the United States.” Since that tournament the technical staff, including coach Marlon Charles and assistant Kestor Lendore, have emphasised the blend of youthful and players in the team. Among the players included in this bunch who featured in the national Under-19 team for the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers are defenders Kia Rigsby (Real Dimension) and Katrina Meyer (Joe Public), midfielders Nadia James (Dimension), Tasha St Louis (TIAHCO Stingrays), Aveann Douglas (J/Public) and Nyasha Reyes (Petrotrin) as well as Stingrays striker Maylee Attin-Johnson. Commenting on the youthfulness of the team Shabazz said: “The women’s game in Trinidad and Tobago is going through a remarkable transition. The attitude of the players have been good and they have shown great eagerness to learn.”

Team: Nicole Mitchell-Thomas, Jana Walters (goalkeepers); Katrina Meyer, Kathy-Ann Nixon, Kia Rigsby, Terri-Lisa John (defenders); Leslie-Ann James, Janelle Nedd, Ayana Russell, Jenneila McKellar, Tasha St Louis, Sedonna Agard, Nadia James, Nyasha Reyes, Aveann Douglas (midfielders); Natalie Des Vignes, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Tanekar Alexander (strikers); Terri-Lisa Abdool, Kristin Rose, Jemelia Mathlin (reserves).
Technical Staff - Marlon Charles (coach); Izler Browne, Kestor Lendore (assistant coaches); Jamaal Shabazz (technical director); Ricarda Nelson (manager); Andre Ferguson (physio).