TT women off to Costa Rica

SENIOR national women football coach Jamaal Shabazz is optimistic of his squad’s chances of qualification to the Athens Olympic Games in August.

But he noted, his team will be mindful of the strengths of their opponents at the CONCACAF Olympic Final Round Qualifying tournament at Costa Rica from February 25 to March 3. The 20-member national team will leave today for Costa Rica for a week-long camp ahead of the tournament, which will see them oppose USA, Mexico and Haiti in Group B, while hosts Costa Rica, Canada, Jamaica and Panama battle in Group A action. “Well USA, we know, are superior opponents, Mexico as well, and we know that Haiti are on par with us,” said Shabazz on Saturday, after the team’s final practice session at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Tunapuna, “so we hold no illusions as to where we are going into the tournament.”

Noting that the players are conscious of national pride, he stated: “More importantly than their superiority is who we are playing for,” adding that he is looking strictly for maximum effort and total commitment. Taking an overall look at the game at the local level, he said: “We’re no longer focused on ‘just a tournament.’ We’re developing a programme that we hope will bear fruit by 2011.” Team captain Kathy-Ann Nixon was also wary of the challenges ahead of the team during the two-week long event. “We are taking it one game at a time and our focus right now is against America on February 25, and after that game we’ll take the next one,” said the team’s central defender.

Team: Nicole Mitchell-Thomas, Lisa-Jo Ramkis-soon (goalkeepers); Kathy-Ann Nixon (capt), Katrina Meyer, Terri-Lisa John (defenders); Leslie-Ann James, Nyasha Reyes, Janelle Nedd, Tasha St Louis, Aveann Douglas, Janelle Noel, Sedonna Agard, Nadia James (midfielders); Raeann Elder, Ahkeela Mollon, Tanekar Alexander, Regina Mc-Ghee, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Natalie Des Vignes and Jinelle James (strikers).