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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #600 on: January 22, 2021, 05:25:54 PM »
Liana Hinds has signed with Iceland's ÍB Vestmannaeyjar. ÍBV compete in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna, which is the top-tier women's football league in Iceland.



Faciliatated by Glenn or mere coincidence? Bravo one way or the other. :applause:

Offline Tallman

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #601 on: January 30, 2021, 10:43:21 PM »
22-year old Trinidad and Tobago Women's striker Dennecia Kayla Prince has signed with Brazilian club, Minas Brasília, for the 2021 season. The club campaigns in the Campeonato Brasileirão de Futebol Feminino Série A1.

The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #602 on: January 31, 2021, 02:03:58 AM »
Parabens! :applause:

Offline Deeks

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #603 on: January 31, 2021, 06:03:48 AM »
Wow. Women doing better than the mem. ;D

Offline Flex

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #604 on: February 05, 2021, 06:36:24 PM »
TTFA shortlists 5 coaches for women's job
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).


A five-member Adhoc Selection Committee that includes former national defender Richard Chinapoo, who has had an extensive career, primarily in the United States, will take centre stage as the selection of a coach for the country's Women's team continues.

Robert Hadad, chairman of the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee (NC) which also comprises former banker Nigel Romano and attorney Judy Daniel told Guardian Media Sports on Thursday, that the NC will ultimately have the final decision on who the coach will be. He said, the newly appointed committee is a highly technical one and will make recommendations based on qualification, experience and the budget available for the top position.

The other members on the committee will be Jinelle James, director of women's football, Dion La Foucade, the technical director of T&T football, Norris Ferguson - former football administrator, Richard Piper- former national team manager, and Hayden Martin- a retired teacher and coach at St Mary's College.

It is understood that from a total of 195 local, regional and international coaches, there is now a shortlist of five, but it is unsure whether former national women's coach Richard Hood, who took the country's under-20 women to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship in the Dominican Republic last year and Angus Eve, who is considered one of this country's most successful youth coach, have made the shortlist.

The coach is expected to be chosen in the coming weeks.

Normalisation Committee to meet with Fenwick

Meanwhile, Hadad and his team will also sit with senior national Men's team coach Terry Fenwick soon to find ways to strengthen the team's chances of qualifying FIFA World Cup, which begins with a qualifying match against Guyana on March 25.

With FIFA suspending all the standing committees of the T&T Football Association inclusive of the technical committee, Hadad said his committee (NC) will do its best with the technical expertise that they have to help guide and direct them in the right direction for football. "What football advice they can give to Mr Fenwick. He and I just came off the phone with each other, we get along very well, we're going to work with him. We are going to try our very best to create an environment to give him the best possible chance," Hadad explained.

The local football boss has also reached out to the country's top international stars Joevin Jones, Kevin Molino and Khaleem Hyland for them to be apart of the set-up.

Fenwick's men were demolished 7-0 by the United States in an international friendly encounter on Sunday at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando Florida, USA but the result has had no effect on Hadad, who told Guardian Media Sports that he's happy with the traction being received, as well as the fact that the coach knows what is available to him.

"We have to work with the coach and the management team and I really think that the exposure is what we need to focus on, and not necessarily the result. The national coach is trying his best to see players and to evaluate players and he did what he thought was necessary. We could all analyse and say good, bad or indifferent but I am just gonna continue supporting him. We're gonna discuss the mistakes made, we're gonna discuss the positives and we're going to work towards the next game and what we could do to make things better for him."

Hadad happy with T&T playing football again

Sunday's match saw the Soca Warriors succumb to their largest-ever margin of defeat by the United States, a result that followed a 6-0 thrashing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA in 2019. Still, the positives appeared to have out-weighed the negatives, as the NC was bombarded with praises from other CONCACAF and regional territories for being able to pull off the match in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"On Wednesday, I had a meeting with CONCACAF and our group F compatriots, and there was a lot of talk around how Trinidad and Tobago did what Trinidad and Tobago did, we got a game, we actually played football. We went out, we got to the USA. We came in for a lot of praise and I find really funny that we as Trinidadians are not seeing that. We went with what we had and the objective was to give Mr Fenwick the opportunity to view players in the USA, so I am actually very happy with the outcome but I am happy with the result of the game."

The T&T team will play two other warm-up matches against Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines later this month. Ongoing talks are underway with the Ministries of National Security and Health, Hadad explained, for a tri-nation bubble to be held here.

And he noted that for these matches, Hadad is guessing that coach Fenwick will utilise all the local players available to him, saying they will not be able to get the international players for matches outside the FIFA window.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #605 on: February 06, 2021, 05:18:43 PM »
To a degree, I am surprised that Angus would have applied for this job. BUT, the way previous appointments trended certainly opened the door for his candidacy.

Offline Flex

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #606 on: February 18, 2021, 02:09:20 AM »
Hood, Eve among shortlist, as Women's coach to be picked soon.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).


Former national football coaches Richard Hood and Angus Eve, it is understood, are among a shortlist of five local, regional and international coaches who have applied for the T&T Women's coaching job, Guardian Media Sports has been informed.

Guardian Media was reliably informed on Wednesday that the duo is the only local coaches on the shortlist, with the three others coming from countries abroad. No mention was made on which countries the three other coaches came from.

Before the shortlist, a total of 195 coaches from Japan, Spain, France, Sweden, Australia, Austria, England, Sierra Leone and T&T, among many other countries, had applied.

Hood, who took the country's Under-20 Women to the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Women's Championships in the Dominica Republic last year, admitted he submitted his application on the opening day the invitation went out.

Then, he said he was hoping that his work at the under-20 team in the Dominican Republic would have accounted for something.

Hood's girls progressed out of the group stage with a 6-0 triumph over St Kitts/Nevis and a 2-0 win over the Cayman Islands, despite a heavy 0-7 loss to regional giants Haiti.

The Soca Princesses also prevailed 5-4 via the penalty route against Puerto Rico in the round of 16, after both teams finished 3-3 at the end of regulation time.

But when contacted yesterday Hood said he was unaware that he had been shortlisted. "Nobody called me about it, so I am not sure what's going on," the former Police coach said.

Eve, the Naparima College and Club Sando youth coach who is considered one of this country's better coaches, also admitted that he had applied for the coaching job.

Eve could not be contacted yesterday, but according to reliable sources, he (Eve) is expected to be the preferred choice to lead the T&T women into the World Cup Qualifiers.

A five-member Technical Committee which comprises former national defender Richard Chinapoo, ex W Connection manager Norris Ferguson, former national team manager Richard Piper, ex women's player Jinelle James and Technical Director Dion La Foucade, have been tight-lipped on the selection process.

The committee was expected to reach out to the five coaches over the past two weeks to conduct interviews. The committee was then scheduled to recommend a coach to the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee for the final selection.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline kounty

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #607 on: February 21, 2021, 11:13:31 AM »
That technical committee follow / know anything about the women's game?

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #608 on: March 03, 2021, 05:23:22 PM »
Any day now.

Offline Flex

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #609 on: April 14, 2021, 04:40:37 PM »
Sarah De Gannes – A Football-Star in the making.
By Derek De Gannes (SWO).


Despite the coronavirus pandemic nothing is stopping Trinidadian-born midfielder Sarah De Gannes on the field as the talented Canadian-based T&T player continues to excel in sports in the US and has managed to rack-up a few MVP awards for Brewton Parker College in 2020.

From a young age, Sarah began getting involved in many sports: including, dance (Ballet/Tap), then Karate, in which she excelled at the tender age of seven, achieving, the brown-belt which is the very last belt before the black belt. Shortly after, she developed a love for football and quickly got involved where she improved rapidly, so much that before migrating to Canada, local coaches in T&T wanted her to be showcased her talent to many international coaches, but nothing materialized because the timing wasn't right then for her.

Now fast forwarding to 2012 – 2015 Sarah, honed her skills exponentially with the guidance of some Canadian coaches, that led her to guiding her club team (Internazionale) to semi-final place in the league (Edmonton Interdistrict Youth Soccer Association). Also, in 2017, she was called up to the Trinidad & Tobago National U-17 team Women's team, led by coach Jamaal Shabazz at the time, she was made co-captain. During that tournament Sarah helped T&T to some major victories locally in Trinidad & Tobago, thereby qualifying for the 2017 CONCACAF final tournament in Haiti.

Then from 2015-2020, Sarah played elite football, got drafted to the Regional Excel Program in Canada, where highly skilled players are selected to be a part of a pool for potential Canadian national selection. These pools of players practiced regularly under the guidance of FIFA's certified coaches.

Sarah has led some of her football clubs (Internazionale, Phoenix Soccer Club, Impact Soccer Club) to provincial tournaments, having won the finals in the Province (Phoenix Soccer Club in the Alberta Soccer Association Tournament), and placing in the top 4 of that country's national tournament (Toyota National Championships, under the auspices of Canada Soccer Association).

In 2020, she was called up again, this time to the Trinidad & Tobago U-20 National Women's team, coached by Richard Hood. There, Sarah played sterling football in the heart of T&T's defence, helping her team elevate the level of play, where they reached the quarter-finals of the 2020 CONCACAF Championship tournament beating St Kitts & Nevis, Cayman Island and Puerto Rico before bowing out to CONCACAF'S powerhouse Mexico.

At the end of Sarah’s high school year in 2020, she won the female athlete of the year, MVP for basketball, Heart & Soul award for basketball, and MVP for Flag Football.

Sarah is currently on a football scholarship, finishing up her freshman year at Brewton Parker College in Georgia, where she was named to the Southern States Athletic Conference Women's’ All Star Tournament Team, a first for a freshman at her college. She was also named to an all-star freshman team at the same conference: again, a first for her college.

Sarah continues to impress coaches throughout Canada, having been recently invited to partake in the United Women's Soccer League in North America. This league is almost equivalent to MLS. United Women's Soccer is a second-division pro-am women's soccer league in the United States. The league was founded in 2015 as a response to the dual problems of disorganization in the WPSL and of the folding of the USL W-League.

Sarah is looking forward to continuing to excel on the field of football and aims to represent her beloved Trinidad & Tobago at the senior level.

Highlights of Sarah’s accolades:

· 2013-2014: Golden Boot 2 years in a row – Alberta Renegades Football Team.

· 2015 – Top Scorer at the Edmonton Youth Soccer Association.

· 2015 – Attended FC Barcelona Academy, 2016 end of report card showcased top marks

· 2016 – Most assists in the indoor/outdoor league.

· 2016 – Achieved the female athlete of the year at her Junior High School Soccer Academy.

· 2017/2018 – Was part of soccer club that won the Provincial Cup and went to National where the club attained 3rd & 5th place respectively. Sarah was awarded MVP at 2 of the games.

· 2017/2018 – Part of the Regional Excellence Program for Alberta, Canada, where the province selects the ‘best of the best’ from players, in order for the players to be scouted to represent the national team.

What coaches are saying about Sarah:

“The best Midfielder in the Province” – Head Provincial Coach.

“Technically strong both offensively and defensively” – Head Coach: FC Barcelona Academy.

“Very strong physically and has an excellent touch with the ball” - Head Coach: FC Barcelona Academy.

“De Gannes is a neat, aggressive, versatile player who always seems proactive because she is such a good reader of the game, and constantly looks to be one step ahead of the play” – Jamaal Shabazz: Former head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago U-17 National Women’s Team.

Sarah added:

"I enjoy watching professional soccer. It gives me inspiration to always do my best and try improve every single day. On bad days I usually just get a ball and play around with it, and almost instantly my mood goes from sad to happy. When I am on the field the feelings I get while playing is indescribable. Soccer is more than just a game for me, it is a passion, my passion."

"I would be a great asset to any team because I am always pushing myself to be the best player I can be. I am known to be a very unselfish player, but when needed, I can attack with full force. I am a powerhouse in the middle of the field, added Sarah."

« Last Edit: April 15, 2021, 10:32:57 AM by Flex »
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #610 on: April 27, 2021, 02:40:59 AM »
22-year old Trinidad and Tobago Women's striker Dennecia Kayla Prince has signed with Brazilian club, Minas Brasília, for the 2021 season. The club campaigns in the Campeonato Brasileirão de Futebol Feminino Série A1.



Prince had her first match participation with Minas Brasilia (0-2-1) yesterday during a 2-2 draw with Santos (1-2-0). She entered 23 minutes into the second half. Minas went ahead twice, but Santos ultimately equalized with a spectacular long range free kick (@5:07). Match highlights.
« Last Edit: April 29, 2021, 12:14:26 PM by asylumseeker »

Offline Deeks

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #611 on: April 27, 2021, 05:56:07 AM »
That last goal is a f---ing golazo!!!!!That field reminded of the QP savannah in the dry season.

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #612 on: April 27, 2021, 06:49:03 AM »
That last goal is a f---ing golazo!!!!!That field reminded of the QP savannah in the dry season.

Ent. I had a similar thought. Then out of nowhere came a heavy downpour that drenched the place for maybe 15+ minutes. Then boom! if you had slept for that 15+ minutes you would have sworn ppl were lying because "quick so" the rainwater dried up. Rain, what rain?

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #613 on: April 29, 2021, 12:11:24 PM »
« Last Edit: April 29, 2021, 12:15:39 PM by asylumseeker »

Offline Tiresais

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #614 on: April 29, 2021, 12:57:45 PM »
James Thomas appointed women's coach - ex Wales women's national Coach.


How the hell we affording him when we can't even pay stipends?

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #615 on: April 29, 2021, 01:19:16 PM »
James Thomas appointed women's coach - ex Wales women's national Coach.


How the hell we affording him when we can't even pay stipends?

He's coached JNT. Has he had the main job of the WNT?

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #616 on: April 29, 2021, 02:06:36 PM »
Gremio (2-1-0) vs Minas Brasilia (0-2-1) in progress.

Minas Brasilia suffered a 2-0 defeat via two second half goals. Kayla Prince was restricted to the bench.

Offline Tallman

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TTFA announces James Thomas as new Women's Team Head Coach
« Reply #617 on: April 29, 2021, 02:15:08 PM »
TTFA announces James Thomas as new Women's Team Head Coach
TTFA Media


The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is pleased to announce the appointment of James Thomas as Head Coach of the Women’s National Senior Team.

Thomas holds both a UEFA A License and a UEFA Elite Youth A License. He was most recently an assistant coach across the Wales Womens National Performance Squad, U-17, U-19 and Senior National Teams. He also provided Analysis support across the age groups during 2020.

He has served as Assistant Head Coach at Cardiff City Ladies FC which competes in the English FA’s Women’s National League for a two-year period.Prior to that Thomas worked at Bristol City WFC in the English Women’s Super League (The WSL).

He also held a variety of roles there including WSL Academy Head Coach (U20), the Elite College program Head Coach (U19), and as an Assistant Coach within the 1st Team environment.

Some of Thomas’ previous roles include working within the England Elite Female Talent pathway as a Head Coach for one of their Regional Advanced Coaching Centres.

He has coached numerous elite female players that are established Senior and Youth internationals (Wales & England) at both Senior and Youth levels as well as established WSL players.

Thomas said he was delighted to be named as the T&T Women’s Head Coach.

“I am honoured and delighted to be given the opportunity to join the Trinidad & Tobago as Women’s Senior National Team Head Coach,” Thomas told TTFA Media on Thursday.

James has already put in a lot of work behind the scenes, familiarizing himself with the player pool available and mapping out a plan for 2021 alongside the TTFA technical department.

“There is a terrific blend of experience and youth within the pathway and my experiences of working across all age groups from youth to senior at both club and international levels will allow me to develop both the individual and the teams to help us reach our goals as a Nation," he said.

“As well as working with the Senior National Team in their quest to qualify for major tournaments, I feel a fundamental part of a Head Coaches role is to influence the domestic and international age group player pathways to support the development of the game in Trinidad & Tobago and give all players and fans a Women’s National Team program everybody can be proud of,” James added.

After receiving 195 applications, Thomas was selected after an extensive selection process that involved different stages of evaluations and interviews. The selection panel narrowed down the list of applicants to 20 candidates who were then evaluated. The top 5 candidates were then selected and interviewed. Thereafter the top 3 candidates were invited to another round of interviews, with Thomas being chosen as TTFA’s candidate of choice.

Thomas’ enthusiastic nature and his background of data analysis, mixed with this ideology of relating to players on a human level, offers a great blend that the Association believes can have a positive impact on the Senior team and the entire programme.

His agreement is an initial 1-year contract with an option to extend for a further year based on his achievement of KPI's and a successful performance appraisal. He is expected to arrive in Trinidad within the next few weeks.

The additional members of the Senior Women’s Technical Staff will be announced shortly and will be local-based. The players selected for training will all benefit from medical screenings provided by HealthNet Caribbean and will then undergo fitness assessments prior to the start of the training programme.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/b_BU6m1uFJA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/b_BU6m1uFJA</a>
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #618 on: April 30, 2021, 09:34:12 AM »
The selection checks a lot of boxes. However, as usual, there is more than a trace of a lack of transparency. The term of the contract is something the NC/TTFA got correct at the outset --- or arrived at correctly via mutual agreement.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2021, 09:38:17 AM by asylumseeker »

Offline maxg

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #619 on: April 30, 2021, 10:06:33 PM »
So we sure about the content and successes of that resume ?

Or is it a similar ‘Manyouth’ Bol deal.

In addition coaching a European national not quite the same as coaching a underfunded TT program. Hope we don’t get stuck with ANOTHER major contract buyout. wait.. I forget, is what we do. Carry on !
« Last Edit: April 30, 2021, 10:15:17 PM by maxg »

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #620 on: May 01, 2021, 04:02:58 AM »
So we sure about the content and successes of that resume ?

Or is it a similar ‘Manyouth’ Bol deal.

In addition coaching a European national not quite the same as coaching a underfunded TT program. Hope we don’t get stuck with ANOTHER major contract buyout. wait.. I forget, is what we do. Carry on !

They are promising that this will be the last time ... or that the last time was THE last time.

Might be a good time for the all-local staff to be all/significantly-female. Watch that space.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2021, 07:29:24 AM by asylumseeker »

Offline Storeboy

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #621 on: May 02, 2021, 09:07:14 PM »
So we sure about the content and successes of that resume ?

Or is it a similar ‘Manyouth’ Bol deal.

In addition coaching a European national not quite the same as coaching a underfunded TT program. Hope we don’t get stuck with ANOTHER major contract buyout. wait.. I forget, is what we do. Carry on !

They are promising that this will be the last time ... or that the last time was THE last time.

Might be a good time for the all-local staff to be all/significantly-female. Watch that space.
Bring back Maylee and groom her to takeover.
Never, never, ever give up! Go T&T Warriors!

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #622 on: May 03, 2021, 02:30:32 AM »
So we sure about the content and successes of that resume ?

Or is it a similar ‘Manyouth’ Bol deal.

In addition coaching a European national not quite the same as coaching a underfunded TT program. Hope we don’t get stuck with ANOTHER major contract buyout. wait.. I forget, is what we do. Carry on !

They are promising that this will be the last time ... or that the last time was THE last time.

Might be a good time for the all-local staff to be all/significantly-female. Watch that space.
Bring back Maylee and groom her to takeover.

Although she is understandably viewed as "first among equals", it need not presumptively be Maylee.

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #623 on: May 04, 2021, 08:14:18 AM »
Minas Brasilia (0-2-3) plummets in the standings having lost 3-1 to Cruzeiro (1-1-3). Minas have the lowest points accumulation in the standings. Prince not involved. Cruzeiro scored two goals running straight through Minas Brasilia's spine.

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‘THROUGH HELL AND BACK’: Lady Lancers’ Saundra Baron returns from a 2-year hiatus (ACL, pandemic) as she strives to be Trinidad and Tobago’s top goalkeeper
By Michael Lewis (frontrowsoccer.com)


For someone who has competed in World Cup qualifiers and played overseas, Saundra Baron admitted she was nervous prior to the Rochester Lady Lancers’ season opener against FC Buffalo Sunday.

And for a good reason.

Baron hadn’t played in a competitive game in two years. The goalkeeper was sidelined by an ACL injury in 2019 and by the time she recuperated, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many sports, including many, if not all, women’s soccer leagues, in 2020.

“I had been through hell and back,” she said. “To get back on the field, I worked my ass off in the gym. My physical therapist Justin Farnsworth is the greatest human being who’s ever lived. Just mental toughness to finally be back on a field with a team playing for something.”

She later added: “To be back on the field was a flood of emotions.”

The Trinidad & Tobago international was exceptional, making 15 saves, some of them spectacular in a 2-1 loss in the United Women’s Soccer match at Charles A. Schiano Sr. Field at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y.

Lady Lancers head coach Marc Dall was impressed with Baron’s “grit, determination. She kept battling.”

“She was definitely nervous,” he added. “She is trying to get back to playing in Europe. So, it was a good feeling for her.  She held it together and kept us in the game.”

As well as she performed, Baron took the loss hard.

“I hate the result. I hate losing,” she said. “There are no moral victories here. I think I should have done better on the two goals that I got scored on. But I’m always going say that, no matter how I get scored on. We’re not going to blame anybody. There’s always something I could have done better.”

Baron’s story is a remarkable one. Born in Rochester, N.Y. she and her family moved to North Carolina, where she developed as a soccer player, attending Coastal Carolina College and East Carolina College. She made her international debut for the Women Soca Warriors (renamed from the Soca Princesses) in one of Rochester native Abby Wambach’s final games, played professionally in Israel for a season and returned home to Rochester to help care for her father, who has Alzheimer’s.

She has savored every moment in the net.

“Soccer is what frees me,” Baron said. “It’s my safe space that I’m glad I have it because those two years that I didn’t have it, and not knowing if I would ever have it again, took a huge toll on me. That’s why you don’t take these moments for granted. So, no matter where I’m playing. When it is being in goal it is always going to be a blessing.”

The journey begins

Barons was born in Rochester to immigrants from central Trinidad & Tobago, Shirleyanne and Joffre Baron. They both earned scholarships to Howard University, Shirleyanne securing a PhD. in organic chemistry while Joffre became a professional geologist and received his master’s degree from Waterloo University in Canada.

My parents are the biggest blessing that I’ve ever had in my life,” Baron said.

The Barons moved to Rochester, and Shirleyanne worked for Kodak. With three older brothers, “football was in our blood,” Saundra said. “I was always chasing my brothers around.”

She played T-ball, basketball and soccer, performed the latter sport for the Hilton Heat and Rochester Junior Rhinos.

Baron began as a field player, but her soccer teammates played a role in helping her decide on her preferred position.

“Everybody had to rotate positions when we were young, and nobody wanted to play in goal,” she said. “So I just always hated that everyone would cry when there was time they’re going in goals, I’d be like, “Fine. I’ll do it just so I don’t want to deal with it. It ended up sticking pretty well. My mom took me to a Rochester Junior Rhinos trial and the rest was history. I’m a goalkeeper. My mom believed in me.

“I couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else. I was a forward for a little bit. I played all over the field but when I found my niche in the goal, there’s just something that just took over. There’s nothing in the world like that. Man, I love being a goalkeeper. It’s my favorite thing.”

Born July 20, 1994, Baron celebrated several birthdays at Frontier Field, home of the baseball Rochester Red Wings and the early home of the Rochester Rhinos. “Because I’m a summer birthday, my parents would always get all my friends group ticket rates and we would go to Frontier Field and watch the Rhinos play,” she said.

The soul of a goalkeeper

Baron said that she has loved “the freedom of the position.”

She played basketball and club soccer until her sophomore year in high school “until soccer just kind of took over.”

“It was just natural for me that I was like, ‘I think it’s time. I think I can be a goalkeeper. I think I need to take this to the next level.’ It’s just freeing. When I’m in goal, nothing else matters. It’s not flashy.”

No, the 5-8 Baron is all business, even after when she has made a vital stop. She understood years ago she couldn’t afford to lose concentration even if was the world’s great save.

“When [someone] scores a goal, they get like 20 seconds to celebrate backflip, sliding to the post,” she said. “When I make a save, I have to organize and collect myself. I have to see if I gave him a rebound. If I caught the cross, I have to be on it for the next play. I don’t get a lapse in time. That kind of just keeps me focused in what I’m doing. And I just love being there in that moment. Making big saves is cool but I’m very even keeled. I’m intense, very intense. I know what I want.”

And Baron isn’t afraid to let her teammates know what’s on her mind, as well.

“I’m direct and vocal, and just being that vocal leader just kind of calms me,” she said. “It calms me down and it gets me into my mode. I always say I want to be in that mode, meaning that mode is being a goalkeeper. There’s no other position I would rather play. I’m drawn to it. I love the work of it.”

Baron’s goalkeeping hero? Briana Scurry, who backstopped the U.S. women’s national team to the 1999 Women’s World Cup championship.

“Seeing someone looks like me to the African American female playing the goal here position, just back in that time and age, man there’s nothing else in the world that I love more than watching Briana Scurry play,” Baron said. “Just what she stands for, what she is she’s dope. Briana Scurry is definitely, definitely, definitely someone I want to look up to.”

Not forgetting your roots

As it turns out, a lot of other people believed in Baron as well.

Baron earned All-North Carolina honors while tending goal for Western Guilford High School. She was a member of various North Carolina ODP teams from 2007-11. That’s when she was discovered by the T&T Under-17 women’s national team, captaining the squad as well.

She also received a call from the U.S. U-15 girls team at the time. “Family roots took over and then I just been playing for Trinidad and Tobago ever since,” Baron said.

Baptism by fire

The 26-year-old Baron’s introduction to the highest level of women’s soccer was baptism by fire as she was called on to be a late-match substitute against the United States during the team’s Women’s World Cup victory tour at the Alamodome in San Antonio Texas Dec. 10, 2015.

“It was 4-0 and coach [Randy] Waldrum looked down the bench and was just like, ‘You’re going in.’ And my jersey was like three sizes too big. I was a junior at East Carolina. I just floated.”

While waiting on the sideline to enter the match in the 76th minute, Baron, then 21, stood next to another Rochester native, Abby Wambach, at that time the planet’s all-time international goal-scoring leader, preparing to enter the fray for the USA in one of her final games as a player.

“I made a diving like punch away save over Abby Wambach,” Baron said. “I got scored on twice in 15 minutes. I slept [with] the picture of skinny little me in my first jersey and my first senior national team cap. That was the coolest thing.”

Wambach didn’t score, but it certainly was a thrill to play against such a soccer legend, especially one who was from their own hometown.

“Stepping on the same field as Abby Wambach was unreal because it was her send off,” she said. “The next two games were her last games. People always ask me how do you feel playing against the U.S. national team? I was just like, ‘When we’re on the field together, we’re all soccer players. When we walk out in that tunnel [with] my national team walking next to your national team, it’s game time.’

“But after that game I did want to go up to Abby really badly, but I had to hold my composure. I had to be a professional. I was scored on twice. I was still pissed. But man, that’s Abby Wambach. We’re both born in Rochester, New York. There’s nothing like that.”

An interesting aside: Baron’s oldest brother, who played for Hilton High School, had a brush with Wambach years prior. He was in park and playing a pick-up game with Wambach and others.

“He was just like ‘Abby was the best player out of all of us just playing pickup one day. Abby would just crush everyone.’ ”

As it turns out, Baron’s five international caps have been bookended by USWNT matches. Her most recent appearance came in a 7-0 loss during qualifying for the Women’s World Cup in Cary, N.C. Oct. 11, 2018. She faced 59 shots – that’s an average of a shot every 90 seconds – and made 15 saves.

The T&T national side has faced many challenges, including not paying coaches, players bonuses, horrible working conditions through the years.

Baron said that was “another story for another day to the to the plight of the women’s national team in Trinidad Tobago and the abuse that we go through and the disrespect. Hopefully, that I’m on the forefront of changing.”

Israel sojourn

Playing for one’s national team certainly can open doors up for players. After earning her master’s degree in England, Baron interned for the Rochester Knighthawks in the National Lacrosse League.

After the second USA game and one against Venezuela, Baron made a highlight tape for her agent to offer to teams. She was hoping that perhaps a Swedish club would be interest. Maccabi Kishronot Hadera in Israel wanted to sign. Baron said she was skeptical but agreed to a five-month stint.

“Women’s football in that country and everywhere can use some work,” Baron said.

She said she walked 90 minutes to and then from “in the hot sun” to goalkeeper training. Baron added that she didn’t have many helpers warming her up for games. “I would warm up against a wall,” she added. “I’m not dissing this team at all. I will never trade it for anything. But what I’ve realized is a lot of goalkeepers that go overseas and these women’s programs, they’re lied to, especially if you’re a goalkeeper.

“You’re not going to get what you were promised. So, I had to have a mentality I would walk, an hour to the gym, workout before practice.”

Eventually, Baron decided to attend men’s training sessions because she knew there would be goalkeeper coaches and mentors from which to learn and hone the finer parts of her game. The keeper coach trained her after the men’s goalkeepers practiced.

“I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world,” Baron said. “I know what I can do and I know my level. I’m ready for a new challenge as well.”

Family comes first

Baron returned to Rochester recently to take care of her father, who has Alzheimer’s and to play for the Lady Lancers. Her mother passed away when she was 18.

“So, I am the woman of my household,” she said. “My father will always come first. When my mother died, she said take care of your father, and that’s what I do. Life comes full circle in these moments. That’s why I’m extremely blessed to be playing soccer again. Just to be on the field making saves. That’s where I belong, but also where I belong is taking care of my father.”

She did not forget the sacrifices Joffre made for her back in the day, driving long hours to some games Now, it was payback time.

“Everything I ever needed to succeed in soccer is because of my parents,” Baron said. “That game [FC Buffalo] was an indictment of my life. My parents instilled in me [what] I will bring it every single game. I will be intense every single game, and I would lay it on the line for my teammates every single game I hope that’s an example for my teammates to look up to and follow.”

Baron, who sacrificed a pair of opportunities to play in Europe to help her father, said that she usually doesn’t share such information from her personal life, but felt that “people need to know, so the people closest to me understand, because I never like feel bad for the person. I kind of just bare myself.”

She drives her father to and from doctor’s appointments. She also speaks to the doctors on his behalf. During the pandemic, getting groceries for Joffre “was really hard,” Baron said.

“I was [leaving] groceries outside of the glass window and he doesn’t understand why I couldn’t come in the house,” she said.  “And especially not having his wife and his sons not close by, it’s all on my shoulders. Turning down those offers twice in two different transfer cycles was really hard.”

Her day job

As much as she loves the game, Baron still has to pay the bills.

She was a substitute special education teacher and worked in This is an 8:1:1 classroom (8 students, 1 teacher, and 1 teaching assistant) for students with mild to severe emotional disabilities in the Greece School District.

Now, she is strictly soccer as operations coordinator for the Rochester City Soccer League, which has programs for players between the ages of five to 23. League president Nicole Hercules, Baron’s mentor, is and former Lady Lancers assistant coach. “She is everything I strive to be as a woman, as a businesswoman. as an entrepreneur, and just everything for our community and those kids in the city in that community, teaching the game that I love. I am blessed that I’m privileged to have that opportunity. I’m happy that she trusted me with it.”

Baron works nights, coaching, running league operations and working on strategic plans for the future. That includes worked with the Urban League to get the league’s children school and soccer resources. Players play and train at the Rochester Community Sports Complex, formerly the home of the Rochester Rhinos, and at Genesee Valley Park.

“I am blessed that I am a part of that because I’m a sports junkie but being in the city and being in my community is super important,” she said.

Looking ahead internationally

Four years away from when many goalkeepers traditionally hit their prime in their 30’s, Baron still wants to represent the Women Soca Warriors. Former Welsh women’s national team assistant coach James Thomas, who was appointed as T&T boss April 28, was scheduled to have Zoom call the players as a team and individually this week.

“I’m ready,” Baron said. “I’ve been the backup for the past five years. But it’s time it’s time for people to see that I can play on this stage. I’ve already proved it before but it’s time for me to put the work in. I already do everything I need to already do everything I need to outside the field to everything else just getting fitter, getting stronger and just staying consistent.”

Baron noted that the COVID-19 pandemic hit Trinidad & Tobago pretty hard, so she didn’t know the next time she could visit the country. But there was always the possibility of a U.S.-based camp. Canada has done it for its national teams.

“For a lot of the girls, this might be our last go round for the older players,” she said. “I’m only 26, so I think I still might have some years on me. But some of our seasoned veterans who have turned Trinidad Tobago women’s football into what it is, and I’m proud of those girls, they deserve the proper preparation and the proper send off in this World Cup qualifying.”

The next Women’s World Cup is scheduled for Australia and New Zealand July 20-Aug. 20, 2023. Concacaf traditionally holds its qualifying competition in the fall prior to the tournament, so that is about 16 months away.

“We’re going have our work cut out for us,” Baron said. “The Caribbean teams are doing amazing. We can make the World Cup. There are extra spots in Concacaf now. So, we need this. We need to be prepared. We were one game away from being the first Caribbean team to make a World Cup in 2015. It’s time for us to reignite that in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Looking ahead domestically

There are 10 games to the UWS season, so not only is every match precious, but every minute is. The Lady Lancers got off to a difficult start against FC Buffalo. Beyond Baron’s 15 saves is that the visitors hit the woodwork a stunning six times in the match.

When someone told Baron that she must have had an angel on her shoulder for those woodwork shots, she replied, “My mother.”

She remembered back to the 7-0 game vs. the USWNT. “They hit the post about eight times,” Baron said. “The score it could have been 20-0. It was only seven.”

Baron felt Rochester will improve as the season progresses. The Lady Lancers welcome New Jersey Copa to Aquinas Institute Sunday at 2 p.m., the first game of a doubleheader with the Lancers men, who host FC Buffalo in a National Premier Soccer League contest at 5 p.m.

At the age of 26, Baron finds herself as one of the veterans. The Lady Lancers are dominated by current college players or recent graduates. Translated: she is a leader.

“My mentality is different,” she said. “It’s first time I’m one of the older players on a team, because I’m compared to everybody else. Everybody always calls me so young. I’m like the old lady on the team. One thing I want to give these girls is a mentality. Not everyone’s going to match Saundra Baron’s intensity, because I’m intense.

“Everybody prepares for games differently. Everyone prepares for training differently but one thing that I can get is to have a mentality that when we’re out there and when you cross those white lines we’re here to play. And one thing I say is you will not outwork me. That’s what I got it from East Carolina when I played there. Our assistant coach always said you will not outwork me.”

Dall, the Lady Lancers head coach, elaborated.

“She is who she is, very vocal and outspoken,” he said. “The first time the players come in, some of the younger ones are like, ‘Oh, they’re a little bit nervous.’ Then they start to understand her personality and how great it is. She loves it and being respected.”

Baron wants her teammates to adopt a never-say-die attitude not just for the Lancers, but to bring back to their respective college teams and beyond.

“If we’re a man down, no matter if we were outmatched on the day, no matter if we’re tired. We find a way that we will not get outworked,” she said. “If I can instill that mentality in this team, I did my job. Games are going be tough. These teams in the Northeast division are strong. They’re very strong. But if I can instill in these girls [something] that they can take something back to their college teams and they got something out of me and me being a vocal leader and me being there for them, I did my job. … When they go back to their college teams like, ‘Dang, Saundra Baron meant something to me with how she worked, how she showed up, and how she cared about this team and how she cared about me.”

Looking ahead, Europe

If Baron is successful this season she could be competing in Europe next year.

Instead, she hoped to be across the Atlantic Ocean, playing for a European team while preparing for qualifying later that year for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Dall felt that Baron’s can reach her goals, whether it is for her present or future club or for country. He said it will come down to working hard and performing well.

“I know she’s still working back from her recovery from an ACL, but I have faith and hope in her,” he said. “I’ve talked to her before. My job is to help guide her vessel to getting back to where she wants to be She has expressed playing in in Europe. She wants to be back on the national team. And my hope is to help her get there.”

Even if Baron doesn’t return to the Lady Lancers in 2022.

“If it helps her achieve her dream and her goals that’s all you ask as a coach,” Dall said. “Can you take your players and help them achieve their dreams and goals?”
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline Tallman

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #625 on: May 22, 2021, 03:55:46 PM »
WATCH: Women's Head Coach James Thomas gives an update on how things have been going since his recent appointment.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/wl4FJ5xLbrQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/wl4FJ5xLbrQ</a>
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline Bourbon

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Good to hear about her. Met her once and she was ultra passionate. Hopefully she can get to where she wants to be.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline ABTrini

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #627 on: May 25, 2021, 01:51:24 AM »
WATCH: Women's Head Coach James Thomas gives an update on how things have been going since his recent appointment.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/wl4FJ5xLbrQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/wl4FJ5xLbrQ</a>
In terms of the TTFA can you share with us your strategy for acquiring support ande surfing sustainability office ding for the program?
 In terms of building a local program pathway to the national team canyou share with us specifically what this looks like?

Could you tell us what changes you may need to make to our cultural mindset which continues to impact our approach to the game?
Are you aware of  the  priority that is given to the womenwarriors national team over the past years?
Currently one of our up and coming female coaches is contracted to Anguilla would  you consider lobbing to have her on your staff?




Offline Tallman

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New T&T women’s coach raring to go
« Reply #628 on: May 28, 2021, 07:10:56 AM »
New T&T women’s coach raring to go
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)


James Thomas, the newly appointed Trinidad and Tobago women’s national team head coach, is trying to make his way to T&T as soon as possible despite difficulty of travel. The Welshman said, however, that though he is still on the other side of the Atlantic, the work has begun

“I’ve done a lot of work in terms of further looking at players. Looking at their strengths (and) areas of development that we are looking at,” he said.

“I’ve started to speak to some of the senior national team players as well,” he added. “Started to have some brief conversations with those and I hope to spread that amongst the extended players list.”

Thomas said the message gathered from the players thus far is their passion to play for the country and their eagerness to get back on the field, after playing no football since October 2019 when drawing goalless with Dominican Republic in an Olympic qualifier.

Thomas is holder of both a UEFA A-licence and a UEFA Elite Youth A-licence and has worked with the Under-17 and Under-19 age groups in Wales. The former Wales women’s team assistant coach and performance analyst came out top candidate from 195 applications.

Thomas has also been working with the T&T Football Association (TTFA) technical department on mapping this year’s programme.

“I also started to speak with the locally-based staff that will be coming on board with us as well.”

Thomas said his first focus is to get his national players back on the field and to convey to them the philosophy of how he would like his team to play. He explained that his overall strategy will be based on doing what is necessary to win matches. Thomas will also reach out to T&T’s overseas-based players and a few others that may be qualified to play for T&T by virtue of ancestry.

“First thing is for the domestic players, to get them training again,” working within the parameters offered by Government’s Covid-19 restrictions.

Thomas continued: “It’s trying to get that local programme up and running, really create a pathway for these players that are domestically based. It might be difficult with the numbers we have available to us because of the restrictions.”
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Women Warriors Thread
« Reply #629 on: May 29, 2021, 01:03:20 PM »

Lets get the results. we heard enough of the small talk and all the bacahnnal. Management, coaching staff and players work together and lets get the best results

 

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