Under-20 women go for glory

The round-robin tournament begins today and runs until Thursday at the Arima venue.

The national squad, led by Aveann Douglas, will oppose the Jamaicans at 6 pm on the opening day, two hours after Suriname meet Haiti.

Another double-header is scheduled for Tuesday, with Jamaica facing Suriname at 5 pm followed by the Trinidad and Tobago-Haiti fixture at 7 pm.

And, on Thursday, Haiti battle Jamaica at five o’clock while the hosts meet Suriname two hours later. Entry fee for the games is $10, while children under the age of 12 will pay $5.

Under coach Jamaal Shabazz, the national team held a week-long camp at Frederick Settlement, Couva, which culminated in a 2-0 win over the senior squad on Thursday at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna, with strikes from American-based Maylee Attin-Johnson and fellow striker Candice Edwards.

Earlier this week, assistant coach Marlon Charles noted that there is "a good spirit" within the team. "The chemistry amongst the girls is exactly what it is you want coming up to a tournament like this, which (includes) the best teams in the Caribbean," he added. The camp comprised of 23 players, with three players excluded during the course of the week. Experienced goalkeeper Gail Ann Thomas was ruled out with an injury, while defender Kenya Charles and striker Janeil Nivet were dropped - Nivet was later named as a standby.

Douglas and Attin-Johnson are expected to be at the heart of the national team’s efforts this week, as well as US-based defenders Katrina Meyer and Kia Rigsby, vice-captain Ayanna Russell, Christine Rose and Anastasia Prescott.

Two other players who should make their mark are playmaker Dernelle Mascall and diminutive striker Kennya Cordner.

Completing the team are goalkeepers Kamica Forbes and Tricia Lawrence, defenders Patrice Superville and Tamar Watson, midfielders Karen Forbes, Janine Francois and Stephanie Barrow, as well as forwards Edwards and Bianca Walker. The top three teams will advance to the CONCACAF Final Round Qualification in Mexico, following which three teams will progress to the 2006 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Championships in Russia.