Eight schoolgirls in women’s football squad

Eight secondary schoolgirls have been picked in the Trinidad and Tobago senior women’s team for the upcoming first round Olympic Qualifying tie with Suriname. The matches will be played at the Kamperveen Stadium in Paramaribo on November 9 and 12. Malick Senior Comprehensive midfielders Nadia James, Niasha Reyes and prolific striker Tanekar Alexander, St. Francois’ Kia Rigsby, Holy Name Convent’s defender Katrina Meyer, St. George’s College playmaker Aveann “Smally” Douglas, Diego Martin Secondary’s skipper Maylee Attin-Johnson and El Dorado Secondary’s skipper Ayana Russell are all part of the 18-player squad.

The team is led by Kathy Ann Nixon who returns to the team after a two and a half year absence. Nixon, the wife of national striker Jerren Nixon last represented TT at the 2000 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup in the USA. The former Switzerland based midfielder has been converted to a sweeper and captains the national team for the first time since making her international debut back in 1992. Midfielder Tasha St. Louis and Joe Public’s utility player Leslie Ann James have been named as vice-captains, while Petrotrin’s Nicole Mitchell-Thomas, Terrie Lisa John and Natalie Desvignes provide additional experience to the youthful squad. Tobago players goalkeeper Jana Walters and midfielder Jenniela McKellar will be making their first trip with the national team and so too will Joe Public’s midfielder Jenelle Nedd. Stingrays standout midfielder Sedonna Agard also makes her first outing with the seniors having represented TT at Under-20 level at the 1999 Pan American Games. The 24-member touring party will be led by Technical Coordinator Jamaal Shabazz and includes coaches Marlon Charles, Kestore Lendore and former national captain Izler Browne. Another former TT player, Ricarda Nelson has been appointed team manager for the trip. Shabazz expressed optimism at the chances of the young squad, which includes ten Under-20 players.

The Squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Nicole Mitchell-Thomas (Petrotrin), Jana Walters (Petrotrin and St. Clair Coaching School)
DEFENDERS: Kathy Ann Nixon (Joe Public), Katrina Meyer (Holy Name Convent and Joe Public), Kia Rigsby (Real Dimensions & St. Francois), Terrie Lisa John (Petrotrin)
FLANK MIDFIELD/DEFENCE: Leslie James, Jenelle Nedd, (Joe Public), Ayana Russell (El Dorado Secondary and Joe Public), Jenniela McKellar (St. Clair Coaching School)
MIDFIELD: Tasha St. Louis, Sedonna Agard (TIACHO Stingrays) Nadia James (Malick Senior Comprehensive and Real Dimensions) Niasha Reyes (Malick Senior Comprehensive and  Petrotrin), Aveann Douglas (St. George’s College and Joe Public)
STRIKERS: Natalie Desvignes (Petrotrin) Maylee Attin-Johnson (Diego Martin Secondary and TIACHO Stingrays) Tanekar Alexander (Malick Senior Comprehensive)
TECHNICAL STAFF: Jamaal Shabazz (Technical Coordinator), Marlon Charles (Coach), Izler Browne and Kestore Lendore (Assistant Coaches), Ricarda Nelson (Manager), Andre Ferguson (Physio)