Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 17 Women’s Team head coach Randy Waldrum has finalized his 20-player squad to contest the upcoming CONCACAF Women’s Under 17 final qualifying round which kicks off in this country on Wednesday.
He described the squad as a well balanced one comprising of promising local and overseas-based talent. Petrotrin’s Mariah Shade is the captain of the team which includes thirteen North American-based players and seven locals.
“I think the whole staff is very excited about the final squad. It’s been a long process preparing this team as we’ve been here for three months looking at the local talent and then also scouting what was available overseas as well,” Waldrum told TTFF Media.
“It’s good blend of foreign and local players and the group has developed a very good chemistry which we’ve worked hard on over the period. We have some key players in this squad and I’m very pleased with the final squad we’ve come up with.”
Waldrum emphasized on the fact that this tournament will be first for all the competing teams.
“It’s new to everybody so it’s just not us alone who will be going into this type of international competition for the first time. Of course you have the favourites like the United States and Canada but their current players will also be experiencing international qualifying competition for a first time. We have worked a lot in the past and also this past week preparing for the actual matches… we’ve simulated the games in our training sessions, we’ve had our meals just as we would during the tournament and everything else has been set up around how it will be during the competition. We’ve tried to cover everything just as it could or should be for the tournament,” Waldrum said.
Team manager Ricarda Nelson, herself a past player, described the mood in the camp as upbeat but one without any form of complacency.
“There will be some players that are a bit nervous because it is their first time playing international football and for some of them are also first timers to the country. They know there is a big responsibility on them too being the home team but overall they are al up for the challenge. They will definitely go all out to try and attain some form of success and hopefully. They have been told that discipline is the key to everything and so far they seem to have been following all the advice,” Nelson added.
T&T opens it s campaign against El Salvador at the Marvin Lee Stadium at 7pm on Friday with Costa Rica facing United States from 5pm at the same venue. A day earlier the final round commences with a double header at the Dwight Yorke Stadium. Canada takes on Puerto Rico in the first game from 5pm followed by Jamaica and Mexico two hours later. T&T also faces Costa Rica (July 20) and USA (July 22) in its other Group matches at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
T&T Squad
Goalkeepers
Saundra Baron (Greenboro), Ashley Mullin (Stars of Mass.).
Defenders
Rhea Belgrave (MBAA), Tiana Bateau (San Juan Jabloteh), Rebecca Cuthbert (Ajax Storm), Karyn Forbes (Signal Hill Sec.), Latifa Kelly (MBAA), Arin King (W. Rouge Storm), Mims Taylor (Sachen Blazers).
Midfielders
Sidonia Hoareau (Brams United), Cassey Mc Kenzie (San Juan Jabloteh), Camille Pereira (Ontario Lynx), Natasha Prentice (Delco), Shakirah Salandy (Charlotte S.C.), Stephanie Williams (Ajax Storm), Afiya Matthias (San Juan Jabloteh), Kayla Taylor (Petrotrin).
Forwards
Jessica De Leon (Sereno F.C.), Shahamin Nunes (Bayside Flames), Mariah Shade (Petrotrin), Natasha St Louis (Real Dimension).
Standby
Camille Borneau (Joe Public F.C).
Staff
Randy Waldrum (Head Coach), Robert Lauffer (Assistant Coach), Ricarda Nelson (Manager), Dexter Williams (Equipment Manager), Dave Isaac (Trainer).