American coaching junior Soca Princesses.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago's junior Soca Princesses, the national Under-17 girls football team, have been strengthened two weeks before World Cup qualifying by the inclusion of 16 foreign-based players, among them Jessica De Leon, the 15-year-old daughter of celebrated former national midfielder Leroy De Leon.
The 16 are part of the 28-member T&T squad that will play in the CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifiers, at home between July 17 and 26. Yesterday, De Leon was unveiled among 11 American-born players of T&T parentage and five from Canada who arrived here on Saturday, following a 10-day training camp in Tampa, Florida.
Twelve home-based players, including prolific striker Mariah Shade and hard-kicking midfielder Karyn Forbes, are also in the squad. However, some of the players who were in the team that won Group "B" of the Caribbean qualifying competition last year, including skilful midfielders Elizabeth Ng Wai and Jinelle Kissoon, could not match the physical strength of the newcomers, and so have not made the cut. De Leon, an attacking midfielder/striker, said there are consequences to being the daughter of a former top national player.
"There is a lot of pressure. I feel that I have to perform my best and give it all every time that I am on the field..that someone is always watching. He (her father) told me play like a De Leon and keep his name going on."
Three high-profile American coaches have been added to the T&T technical staff. American Randy Waldrum is head coach, while Robert "Butch" Lauffer is his assistant. They will work alongside national women's coach Marlon Charles, while William Thorp has been brought in to work with the goalkeepers, Ricarda Nelson (Manager), Dexter Williams (Equipment Manager) and Dave Isaac (Trainer). The American coaches have been here since May 5.
While in Tampa, T&T played five matches against top teams, winning twice, drawing twice and losing once. Janelle Mc Gee score a double and captain Mariah Shade and Natasha St Louis got one each in the 4-0 win over St Leo-based club CP USA. The local girls also defeated Jacksonville Youth Soccer Association Girls team 3-1. They drew 1-1 with Tampa’s RSL and 1-1 with Florida Rush’s Under 18 Girls Team. The team’s only defeat came against Countryside U18s 1-3. TTFF Technical Director Lincoln Phillips has also played a significant role in the team's development over the past few weeks. Coach Waldrum simulated the schedule his girls will have to contend with in the CONCACAF qualifiers, having them play a game every other day. Exact match conditions, even down to the playing of national anthems, were reproduced.
T&T will vie to be among three CONCACAF teams qualifying for the first-ever FIFA Girls Under-17 World Cup, scheduled for October 28-November 15, 2008. Brazil, England, Germany, France, Denmark, Colombia, Japan, Paraguay, South Korea and Chile have already qualified.
The junior Soca Princesses have been drawn in CONCACAF Group "A" with Costa Rica, El Salvador and USA. Canada, Jamaica, Mexico and Puerto Rico are in Group B. T&T's opening match is against El Salvador, on July 18 at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Yesterday, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port of Spain, T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) special adviser Jack Warner said it is costing TT$3.7 million to host the CONCACAF qualifiers. Warner told the T&T players that they had gotten everything that was required for preparation and that much was expected of them. He urged them to give 150 per cent in every match.
T&T Squad; club/birth place: Saundra Baron (Greenboro S.C./USA), Rhea Belgrave (MBAA/USA), Jessica De Leon (Sereno F.C./USA), Latifa Kelly (MBAA/USA), Janelle McGee (Vanden F.C./USA), Ashley Mullins (Stars of Mass./USA), Taylor Mimms (Sachen Blazers/USA), Danielle McPhun (CASL/USA), Shahamin Nunes (Bayside Flames/USA), Natasha Prentice (Delco/USA), Shakirah Salandy (Charlotte S.C./USA), Rebecca Cuthbert (Ajax Storm/Canada), Sidonia Hoareau (Brams United/Canada), Arin King (W. Rouge Storm/Canada), Camille Pereira (Ontario Lynx/Canada), Stephanie Williams (Ajax Storm/Canada), Tiana Bateau (San Juan Jabloteh/TRI), Karyn Forbes (Signal Hill Sec./TRI), Cassey McKenzie (San Juan Jabloteh/TRI), Mariah Shade (Petrotrin/TRI), Sharice Arthur (Real Dimension/TRI), Natasha St Louis (Real Dimension/TRI), Afiya Matthias (San Juan Jabloteh/TRI), Kayla Taylor (Petrotrin/TRI), Camille Borneau (Joe Public/TRI), Rehanna Omardeen (St Joseph Convent/TRI), Chrystal-Anne Taylor-Lewis (Joe Public/TRI), Tanieka Welsh (Maple Leaf INT./TRI).
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