Marlon Charles, Trinidad and Tobago senior national women team head coach, is hoping that T&T will host the opening round of Caribbean qualifying for the 2015 World Cup, which is carded for May.
Charles was speaking following the Soca Princesses’ return from last week’s pre-tournament training camp in the USA.
“I think the Caribbean qualification will be a high standard. Like a mini World Cup. And we are hoping that the first leg is here in Trinidad and Tobago,” Charles said.
“Every Caribbean team has the same dream us. Every Caribbean team wants to qualify for this World Cup because it might be the best chance to get to one. Assuming the USA will qualify, there are still two automatic qualifying spot and a playoff spot left. It’s almost like three spots. “
While on tour, the Soca Princesses won three matches and drew once against South Carolina university teams. Trinidad and Tobago opened with a 7-0 win against Charlestown Southern University, before edging College of Charleston 1-0. They drew 1-1 with University of South Carolina (USC) and ended the tour with a 3-2 over Coastal Carolina University.
‘”I think that the objective was met in that we got a chance to play as a team in a competitive setting and we had to play to get a result,” Charles said. “The first game gave us the opportunity to find our feet, but the other three were very competitive. You know how American teams play. They never gave us a chance to relax.”
On tour, T&T got a look at one USA-born player, and want to see her again. But Charles was not able to see all the USA players he wanted to due to school commitments. Locals players on the fringe of the team were also give a chance to play. Also on tour was technical director Anton Corneal, who felt the player showed a lot of character. Sometimes they came from behind to get a result, and were able to also take control of some matches.
Corneal felt there would definitely be a lot of competition for places with World Cup qualifier coming up. Canada-based defender Daniel Blair has begun training following surgery, while Ahkeela Mollon is playing professionally in Sweden and is expected to join the team at some point, along with several USA-based college players. Ten or so members of the team are based in Trinidad and Tobago will the other based abroad.
“We have not seen all of them,” Corneal said. “In mid-May we will bring them all together in a group of about 30. Players, will definitely have to play for their spot.”
“We are looking to see every player we can get an eye on so that we can look to build the best possible team,” Charles added. “Some of the Under-20s like the Debisette twins and Anique Walker are likely to start training with us in April.”