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AN 18-MEMBER Trinidad and Tobago women’s Under-17 football team left for St Kitts/Nevis yesterday to participate in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2015 Women’s Under-17 World Cup First Round Qualifiers.

The squad, under the guidance of coach Rajesh Latchoo, will face Dominica on Saturday in their opening game of a doubleheader at the Elquemedo T Willet Park, formerly Grove Park, in Charleston, Nevis from 5.30 pm. TT will also face British Virgin Islands on Monday and hosts St Kitts/Nevis on Wednesday. 

According to the CFU, eight teams will qualify for the CFU Final Round in Puerto Rico from November 13-19. The teams are hosts Puerto Rico, the winners from each of the three First Round groups as well as the three best runners-up. 

Four teams will enter the knock-out stage of the semi-finals and the two finalists will join hosts Grenada to compete in the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship. Three CONCACAF teams will qualify for the 2016 FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan. 

According to Latchoo, “we are focused on the task and the team is quite positive heading into this tournament. Despite the lack of warm-up games, this squad has been together for 15 months and this has played a big part in our readiness and shape. The players know each other very well.

They have been working together for an extensive period and there is a strong bond.” Latchoo said that participating in the Carapichaima Youth League and the WoLF League has been beneficial to the preparation of the team, which includes players from the Under-15 team which finished third at the 2014 CONCACAF Girls U-15 Girls Championship. 

Trinidad and Tobago team: Malaika Dedier, Klil Keshwar, Ayanna Arneaud (goalkeepers); Shalisha King, Natisha John, Raynicia Charles, Brittney Williams, Tsainne Fernandez, Shenieka Paul (defenders); Nia Honore, Kelsey Henry, Ranae Ward, Arianna Campbell, Alexis Fortune (midfielders); Raenah Campbell, Laurelle Theodore, Kedie Johnson, Salina Isaac, Kaydeen Jack (strikers).