Local women ready for Canada football challenge

HEAD COACH of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s football team Jamaal Shabaaz has proclaimed that his Under-19 squad is ready to face the Canadian U-19s in a warm-up match at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna today from 6 pm. Speaking after a training session at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Grounds, St Augustine on Tuesday, Shabazz stated: “We’re looking forward to the match because it gives us a chance to see where we are at... working with these Under-19 girls.” The team has been training since the start of the December school holidays but the long-standing women’s coach expressed a lot of obstacles he has been facing on a continuous basis. “It’s been difficult putting a programme together at an Under-19 level because (the coaching staff) literally has to teach the game (to the youngsters).

“We have about ten players on the squad who we can consider accomplished players, but we still have very far to go,” he stressed. “So matches like these will give us the chance to measure the work we’ve done and the work that we still need to do to be a team that can compete at the CONCACAF level,” he added. Forming the nucleus of the squad are senior team players Nadia James (who will wear the captain’s armband for this match), Lisa-Jo Ramkissoon, Nyasha Reyes, Aveann Douglas, Regina McGhee and Maylee Attin-Johnson while promising players such as Stephanie Barrow, Katrina Meyer, Jamilia Mathlin, Ayana Russell, Kristin Rose and Afiya Castle will be looking to impress in front of their home crowd.

Teams —
Trinidad and Tobago: Lisa-Jo Ramkissoon, Gail Ann Thomas (goalkeepers); Katrina Meyer, Nadia James, Anastasia Prescott, Kristin Rose (defenders); Afiya Castle, Kermica Alexander, Ayana Russell, Jamilia Mathlin, Nyasha Reyes, Tandia Taylor, Joseann Boyce, Aveann Douglas, Dernell Mascall (midfielders); Maylee Attin-Johnson, Regina McGhee, Stephanie Barrow, Kenya Cordner (strikers). Technical Staff — Jamaal Shabazz (head coach), Marlon Charles, Izler Browne, Kestor Landore (assistant coaches), Zeph Nicholas (trainer), Oba Gulston (physio), Ricarda Nelson (manager).

Canada: Stephanie Labbe, Stacey Van Boxmeer (goalkeepers); Melissa Amado, Robyn Gayle, Stephanie Gibson, Holly Lincoln (defenders); Kate Bazos, Amanda Cicchini, Selenia Iachelli, Veronique Maranda, Sari Raber, Katie Radchuck, Katie Thorlakson (midfielders); Josee Belanger, Lisa Collison, Ashya Jamani, Marie Perault-Moirer, Emily Zurrer (strikers). Technical Staff — Ian Bridge (head coach), Bob Birarda, Shel Brodsgaard (assistant coaches), Cassandra Zinkowski (athletic threapist), France Noel de Tilly (doctor), Anne Pellerud (manager), Stew Duncan (head of delegation).