2023 Women's League A Gold Cup Qualifier Thread

[Flex]

Women Warriors to contest League A Gold Cup qualifier.
T&T Guardian Reports.

The T&T Women Warriors, currently without a coaching staff will have no fewer than two bites of the cherry to qualify for the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup to be played between February 17 and March 10, 2024, in the USA.

This was confirmed by Concacaf as it revealed details for the 2023 Road to W Gold Cup, which will serve as the qualifier for the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup.

The qualifying tournament is scheduled to take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November 2023 and will include the participation of 33 Concacaf Member Associations divided into three leagues.

The Concacaf W Gold Cup is the region’s premier competition for women’s senior national teams and is a key part of the “Concacaf W” women’s football strategy the Confederation launched in 2019.

According to Concacaf, following the conclusion of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in August, where a record six Concacaf Nations (USA, Canada Costa Rica, Haiti, Jamaica, and Panama) will participate, the road to the first-ever Concacaf W Gold Cup will kick off featuring 33 Concacaf women’s national teams, excluding the two who will compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament (USA and Canada or Jamaica).

The teams will be split into three leagues according to their Concacaf Women’s Ranking as of March 2023, as follows (listed in ranking order):

League A (nine top-ranked teams divided into three groups of three): Canada or Jamaica (Olympic Play-In loser), Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, T&T, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Saint Kitts and Nevis

League B (next 12 best-ranked teams divided into three groups of four teams): El Salvador, Guyana, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Nicaragua, Antigua & Barbuda, Honduras, Suriname, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique, Barbados, and Dominica

League C (lowest 12 ranked teams divided into three groups of four teams): US Virgin Islands, Belize, Curacao, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Grenada, Anguilla, Turks & Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Bahamas, and Sint Maarten.

After home and away group stage play, within each League, in the FIFA Women’s International match windows of September, October, and November 2023, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Group Stage.

Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Prelims (six teams in total).

The draw for each of the League A, B, and C will be made on Wednesday, May 1, in Miami, Florida at 7 pm and will be executed using a single-blind system involving three pots for League A, four pots for League B, and four pots for League C.

All Concacaf Member Associations participating in the 2023 Road to Concacaf W Gold Cup Group Stage have been allocated in a League pot based on the Concacaf Women’s Rankings as of March 2023.

The draw for each league will begin by randomly selecting a team from Pot 1 and placing that nation in Group A of their respective league. The draw will continue by selecting the remaining teams from Pot 1 and positioning them into a group in sequential order. The same process will be done for the remaining pots. At the end of each draw, each group will contain one nation from each pot.

RELATED NEWS

Haiti, Panama in T&T’s way.
T&T Express Reports.

Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Warriors will have to get past World Cup bound Haiti and Panama, if they are to book their spot in the re-branded CONCACAF W Gold Cup, which will be held in 2024, from February 17- March 24 in the United States.

There have been several versions of the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup in the past. However, the governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean on Wednesday announced the newly re-branded CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

The tournament will be contested by 12 teams. Eight CONCACAF national teams will qualify for the tournament, joined by invited guests Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay, the top finishers in South America’s 2022 Copa America Femenina.

The United States, by winning the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship have already qualified, while Women’s Championship runners-up Canada and third-placed Jamaica will battle for another automatic spot. The Six other finalist will be decided via a qualifying process.

T&T’s route to the women’s Gold Cup sees then having to qualify. T&T are grouped in League A, which consists of the nine top-ranked teams, divided into three groups of three.

The Women Warriors are grouped with Panama and Haiti. The winners of that mini group, along with the two other League A winners, get a direct passage to the Gold Cup.

The three League A runners-up get a second chance to qualify via six-team Gold Cup prelims which are scheduled to take place during the FIFA Women’s International match windows of September, October and November 2023.

The six-team qualifying tournament offers the final three spots to the 2024 Gold Cup and will be fought among three League A runners-up and three winners of League B, which consists of the next 12 best-ranked CONCACAF Nations, divided into three groups of four teams. League B contain El Salvador, Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Nicaragua, Antigua and Barbuda, Honduras, Suriname, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique, Barbados, and Dominica.

[Flex]

Trinidad and Tobago draw Mexico, Puerto Rico in Women's Gold Cup qualifiers
T&T Newsday Reports.

THE national women’s senior football team have been drawn with Mexico and Puerto Rico in Group A of League A in the qualifiers for the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup in 2024.

The draw was held on Wednesday in Miami, Florida. Former national women’s player Maylee Attin-Johnson attended the draw on behalf of T&T.

After home and away group stage play, within each league, in the FIFA women’s international match windows of September, October, and November 2023, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup group stage.

The second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup preliminary phase.

Concacaf will announce the 2023 Road to the Women’s Gold Cup schedule at a later date.

The 2024 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup will be held from February 20 to March 10 in the US.

RELATED NEWS

T&T women to play Mexico, Puerto Rico.
T&T Express Reports.

Trinidad and Tobago’s “Women Warriors” footballers will play Mexico and Puerto Rico in qualifiers for the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, a competition for women’s national teams from the Caribbean, North and Central America which takes place from February 20 to March 10, 2024.

The road to the first-ever CONCACAF W Gold Cup will begin this September, after the conclusion of the FIFA Women’s World Cup - which takes place this summer in Australia and New Zealand, and will include a record six competing CONCACAF women’s national teams.

Thirty-five teams have been split into three leagues according to the CONCACAF women’s rankings as of March 2023, and sub-divided into groups. Excluded from the Gold Cup qualifying process are the two national teams which compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games women’s football tournament - USA and either Canada or Jamaica.

ONCACAF W Gold Cup qualifiers will take place in the FIFA Women’s match windows of September, October and November 2023. The teams in each group will play against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format.

The top three teams in League A will qualify directly for the W Gold Cup. The three group runners-up of League A, and the League B group winners, will participate in a play-in in April 2024, to compete for the final three spots at the W Gold Cup.

2023 ROAD TO THE CONCACAF W GOLD CUP GROUPS:

League A (nine top-ranked teams divided into three groups of three)

Group A: Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Puerto Rico.

Group B: Canada or Jamaica, Panama, and Guatemala.

Group C: Costa Rica, Haiti, and St Kitts and Nevis.

League B (next 12 best-ranked teams divided into three groups of four teams)

Group A: Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, and Dominica.

Group B: El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Martinique.

Group C: Dominican Republic, Bermuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados.

League C (14 remaining teams divided into two groups of four teams and two groups of three teams)

Group A: Belize, Aruba, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bonaire.

Group B: Cuba, St Lucia, Guadeloupe, and St Maarten.

Group C: US Virgin Islands, Grenada, and Bahamas.

Group D: Curacao, Cayman Islands, and Anguilla.

[Tallman]

Richard Hood is Women's Senior Team Head Coach
TTFA Media

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is today confirming the appointment of Richard Hood as Head Coach of the Women’s Senior National Team.

Of 151 applicants vying for the position, 30 candidates were chosen by the Selection Panel.

From the list of 30, a shortlist of fourteen (14) candidates was then drawn up. Following meetings held by members of the panel, they selected the final three (3) candidates for interviews for the Head Coach position where Richard Hood (TT) was the recommended candidate after the process.

The Selection Panel comprised of the following individuals

Anton Corneal- Technical Director, TTFA
Jinelle James- Director Women’s Football, TTFA
Steve David – Former National Player, Director Pt. Fortin Civic
Ken Butcher- Former Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and Sport Director at UTT
Ian Pritchard- Senior Manager, Sport and Recreation, UTT

Hood begins his duties with immediate effect and will hold discussions this week with the selection panel regarding recommendations for his backroom staff which will include critical expertise in the area of performance and video analysis.

In an immediate response to his appointment, Hood told TTFA Media:

“I would like to thank the NC for having faith in me as well as the interviewing committee for recommending me for the position. I am deeply humbled and appreciative.

“Of course it’s always an honour and privilege to represent Trinidad and Tobago, particularly at the senior level. We have a very challenging passage into the 2024 Gold Cup but it’s not one that’s insurmountable. I am keen to start the process as quickly as possible because we have a very short preparation time before the first assignment in September.

“My immediate task is to establish the availability of players and I’ve already made several contacts in that regard. So I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and will approach same with tremendous enthusiasm and optimism and god’s willing, we will succeed in our task”

Hood served as Women’s Senior Team head coach in the past, guiding T&T to the quarter finals of the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifiers in 2016 and the Pan American Games in 2011. He was also head coach of the Women’s Under 20 team in 2020 at the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship and was assistant coach of the Women’s U-17 Team for the 2010 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup hosted in T&T.

Technical Director Anton Corneal Stated:

“The final interviews for the position of the Women’s Team Head Coach came down to three applicants from over 150. Mr Richard Hood demonstrated during his interview and application, the neccessary areas of expertise for the position. He also possesses the required experience coaching National Women teams and understands the Women’s competition in our region.”

Hood’s first assignment in competition will be qualifiers for the Concacaf 2023 W Gold Cup. The 2024 W Gold Cup qualifying tournament will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November 2023 and will include the participation of 35 Concacaf women’s senior national teams divided into three leagues. T&T will play away to Mexico in its opening match on September 26th.

T&T is in Group A of League A alongside Mexico and Puerto Rico. After opening on the road, T&T then host the Mexicans on October 27 before facing Puerto Rico (away) on December 1st and at home on December 5th.

After 90 group stage matches, which include home and away play within each League and group, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup Group Stage. Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 W Gold Cup Prelims.

[Flex]

11 weeks enough for women to prepare—Hood.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Recently appointed head coach of the T&T senior women’s football team dubbed the ‘Women Warriors’, Richard Hood says he believes 11 weeks is sufficient time to get the team ready for the CONCACAF 2023 Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers in September.

The 2024 Women’s Gold Cup qualifying tournament featuring 35 CONCACAF Member Associations participating, excluding the two who will compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games Tournament (USA and Canada or Jamaica) will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, November and December 2023.

The 35 nations were split into three leagues according to their CONCACAF women’s ranking as of March 2023 and sub-divided into groups.

The Women Warriors will compete in League A as one of the nine top-ranked teams against Mexico and Puerto Rico

Group B will see Canada or Jamaica face off with Panama and Guatemala while Group C will comprise Costa Rica, Haiti, and St Kitts/Nevis.

The 58-year-old Hood, who got the nod from more than 150 applicants from Europe, North America, and here at home from the selection panel which comprised Anton Corneal (Technical Director of T&T Football Association), Jinelle James (Director Women’s Football of T&TFA), Steve David (former national player, Director Pt Fortin Civic), Ken Butcher (former Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and Sports Director at UTT), and Ian Pritchard (Senior Manager, Sport and Recreation, UTT) will have just over two months to get the team ready for their group assignments starting away to Mexico on September 26, before hosting the same team on October 27, followed by matches away to Puerto Rico on December 1, and then at home on December 5.

Hood, a Sergeant in the T&T Police service, begins his duties with immediate effect and will hold discussions this week with the selection panel regarding recommendations for his back room staff which will include critical expertise in the area of performance and video analysis.

With the T&T women’s team, last being in action exactly one year ago (July 12, 2022) at the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in Mexico, in a 1-0 loss to Panama, and the WoLF league yet to get going this year, after the Ascension Women’s Tournament, Hood when quizzed on where he will be drawing his players from said,” We will be calling on persons who have previously been part of the recent senior programme, as well as the Udner-20 and Under-17s.

He added, “Obviously the two months time frame and lack of activity of our players is not ideal for us going into the qualifiers, but we have 11 weeks and I think it’s enough time for us to organise ourselves.

Looking ahead, Hood noted that he foresees the fitness level of the players as the main downfall in their preparation, and a lot of emphasis will be put on it.”

“Our biggest problem due to the non-activity of most of the girls will be our fitness, especially the locally based players because they have not been playing football, for quite some time we will be really putting a lot of work in there, and once they are up to a satisfactory level, then we will be looking at the tactical awareness as we get closer to the matches,” stated Hood.

At the end of the home-and-away round-robin phase, the top teams in the three League A groups will qualify for the 2024 Women’s Gold Cup Group Stage while the runners-up in each group and the first-place teams in each of the three League B groups will advance to the 2024 Women’s Gold Cup preliminaries.

The three League B groups which comprise the next 12 best-ranked CONCACAF teams are as follows:

Group A: Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, and Dominica.

Group B: El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Martinique.

Group C: Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados.

Reached for comment, Hood who managed to survive a selection process that was first cut to 30, then 14, and then a final three candidates first stated that within the coming days, he will finalise his technical staff to be confirmed by the T&TFA Normalisation Committee.

The senior women’s team coaching position became vacant when the tenure of former England, and USA-based T&T men’s captain and striker Kenwyne Jones was not renewed after ending on August 31, 2022.

In 2021, Welshman James Thomas resigned in October after five months into his tenure as head coach, and a week later, T&T men’s futsal coach Constantine Konstin was hired, only for Jones to be appointed five days later as the interim coach for the period October to November 2021, and that turned into a nine-month contract.

He led the team to the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship which served as a qualifier for the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

T&T finished at the bottom of their four-team group after defeats to Canada 6-0, Costa Rica 4-0, and Panama 1-0.

Hood, who was relieved of his head coaching role at the Police FC T&T Premier Football League almost three months ago is no stranger to the T&T coaching set-up having previously served as the head coach of the national women’s team in 2011 for both the Pan American Games and Caribbean Football Union Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, and then in 2016 for the CONCACAF Final Round of Olympic Qualifying competition.

He also led the national Under-20 women’s team to the quarterfinal round of the 2020 CONCACAF Championships and also coached the Under-15 girls’ team, as well as served as an assistant to Norwegian Even Pellerud at the 2010 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup on home soil.

[ABTrini]

11 weeks enough for women to prepare—Hood.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).

Recently appointed head coach of the T&T senior women’s football team dubbed the ‘Women Warriors’, Richard Hood says he believes 11 weeks is sufficient time to get the team ready for the CONCACAF 2023 Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers in September.

The 2024 Women’s Gold Cup qualifying tournament featuring 35 CONCACAF Member Associations participating, excluding the two who will compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games Tournament (USA and Canada or Jamaica) will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, November and December 2023.

The 35 nations were split into three leagues according to their CONCACAF women’s ranking as of March 2023 and sub-divided into groups.

The Women Warriors will compete in League A as one of the nine top-ranked teams against Mexico and Puerto Rico

Group B will see Canada or Jamaica face off with Panama and Guatemala while Group C will comprise Costa Rica, Haiti, and St Kitts/Nevis.

The 58-year-old Hood, who got the nod from more than 150 applicants from Europe, North America, and here at home from the selection panel which comprised Anton Corneal (Technical Director of T&T Football Association), Jinelle James (Director Women’s Football of T&TFA), Steve David (former national player, Director Pt Fortin Civic), Ken Butcher (former Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and Sports Director at UTT), and Ian Pritchard (Senior Manager, Sport and Recreation, UTT) will have just over two months to get the team ready for their group assignments starting away to Mexico on September 26, before hosting the same team on October 27, followed by matches away to Puerto Rico on December 1, and then at home on December 5.

Hood, a Sergeant in the T&T Police service, begins his duties with immediate effect and will hold discussions this week with the selection panel regarding recommendations for his back room staff which will include critical expertise in the area of performance and video analysis.

With the T&T women’s team, last being in action exactly one year ago (July 12, 2022) at the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in Mexico, in a 1-0 loss to Panama, and the WoLF league yet to get going this year, after the Ascension Women’s Tournament, Hood when quizzed on where he will be drawing his players from said,” We will be calling on persons who have previously been part of the recent senior programme, as well as the Udner-20 and Under-17s.

He added, “Obviously the two months time frame and lack of activity of our players is not ideal for us going into the qualifiers, but we have 11 weeks and I think it’s enough time for us to organise ourselves.

Looking ahead, Hood noted that he foresees the fitness level of the players as the main downfall in their preparation, and a lot of emphasis will be put on it.”

“Our biggest problem due to the non-activity of most of the girls will be our fitness, especially the locally based players because they have not been playing football, for quite some time we will be really putting a lot of work in there, and once they are up to a satisfactory level, then we will be looking at the tactical awareness as we get closer to the matches,” stated Hood.

At the end of the home-and-away round-robin phase, the top teams in the three League A groups will qualify for the 2024 Women’s Gold Cup Group Stage while the runners-up in each group and the first-place teams in each of the three League B groups will advance to the 2024 Women’s Gold Cup preliminaries.

The three League B groups which comprise the next 12 best-ranked CONCACAF teams are as follows:

Group A: Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, and Dominica.

Group B: El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Martinique.

Group C: Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados.

Reached for comment, Hood who managed to survive a selection process that was first cut to 30, then 14, and then a final three candidates first stated that within the coming days, he will finalise his technical staff to be confirmed by the T&TFA Normalisation Committee.

The senior women’s team coaching position became vacant when the tenure of former England, and USA-based T&T men’s captain and striker Kenwyne Jones was not renewed after ending on August 31, 2022.

In 2021, Welshman James Thomas resigned in October after five months into his tenure as head coach, and a week later, T&T men’s futsal coach Constantine Konstin was hired, only for Jones to be appointed five days later as the interim coach for the period October to November 2021, and that turned into a nine-month contract.

He led the team to the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship which served as a qualifier for the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

T&T finished at the bottom of their four-team group after defeats to Canada 6-0, Costa Rica 4-0, and Panama 1-0.

Hood, who was relieved of his head coaching role at the Police FC T&T Premier Football League almost three months ago is no stranger to the T&T coaching set-up having previously served as the head coach of the national women’s team in 2011 for both the Pan American Games and Caribbean Football Union Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, and then in 2016 for the CONCACAF Final Round of Olympic Qualifying competition.

He also led the national Under-20 women’s team to the quarterfinal round of the 2020 CONCACAF Championships and also coached the Under-15 girls’ team, as well as served as an assistant to Norwegian Even Pellerud at the 2010 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup on home soil.

Receipe for success= desperately put together a hotchpotch of individuals from allover and run them trough soem paces and  presto we getting the same results-
 Have we not figured out a process ; a developmental programs  to foster quality  players  and COACHES who adhere to discipline; basic fundamentals and growth?

[ABTrini]

 11 weeks is sufficient time? sound like what ah man would say in an interview fuh ah coaching job!!!!

Ah wonder if  the same  men and dem all watching- the likes of Haiti- who hold on to England up to close to the end-  And check Jamaica women- hold France to 0-0
 ahh yuh think it took them 11 weeks to be ready-  What we have is ah set ah  scammers dreams living off the avails of FIFA $$$$ design to keep we in  football poverty/ shambles/ and regression from teh heights of our illusiosn.

[Tallman]

TTFA finalizes Senior Women’s Team Staff appointments
TTFA Media

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association can today confirm the appointment of some members of the Backroom Staff of the Senior Women’s National Team.

Following consultations among newly appointed head coach Richard Hood, Technical Director Anton Corneal and Director of Women’s football Jinelle James to assess the applications for the respective positions and CVs on file, the following appointments have been finalised :

Dernelle Mascall – Assistant Coach
(A second Assistant Coach to be finalised)

Glennon Foncette – Goalkeeper Coach

Anthony Marcano – Physical Trainer and Video Analyst

Natalie Harper – Equipment Manager

Jelani Baptiste – Rehab specialist/Physiotherapist

Hood commented on the appointments saying “I’m extremely pleased with the quality of the staff that we have assembled to guide the Senior Women’s Team  through the process of qualifying for the W Gold Cup.

“Each staff member brings a level of experience and expertise in their respective field that would no doubt redound to producing the best quality on the field of play.

“The committee and myself met on several occasions to discuss who would be the best fit for this team and I believe that we have made the absolute best possible selections for the technical staff. Dernelle Mascall brings a wealth of experience as an international player which would certainly assist the younger players mentally as it relates to the demands of international football. She is considered as one of the brightest young coaches in the country.

“Glennon Foncette has been the Goalkeeper coach of choice for so many national coaches in the past having served under Even Pellerud, Jamaal Shabazz and Carolina Morace; his expertise is unquestionable.

“Anthony Marcano is perhaps best known for his work with the TTOC and the Hockey Federation but his expertise in the field of Strength and Conditioning is second to none.  In terms of the process adopted for selection, we have invited all players that have been within the local pool, that would have represented T&T at youth and senior level in the recent past as I believe that it’s critical to have a strong local unit,” Hood stated.

The former T&T Women’s U-20 Head Coach noted that he has already begun dialogue with overseas-based players on their availability to join the training squad.

“I have also communicated with most of the top players that are foreign-based as well as several new players that have expressed an interest in representing us. We will be training five days per week inclusive of at least seven sessions at a very high intensity as we believe that improving our fitness levels is most important at this time.”

Hood’s first assignment in competition will be qualifiers for the Concacaf 2023 W Gold Cup. The 2024 W Gold Cup qualifying tournament will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November/December 2023 and will include the participation of 35 Concacaf Women’s Senior National Teams divided into three leagues. T&T will play away to Mexico in its opening match on September 26th.

T&T is in Group A of League A alongside Mexico and Puerto Rico. After opening on the road, T&T then host the Mexicans on October 27th before facing Puerto Rico (away) on December 1st  and at home on December 5th

After 90 group stage matches, which include home and away play within each League and group, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup Group Stage. Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 W Gold Cup Prelims.

[Flex]

Hood pleased with quality of his coaching staff.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Recently appointed T&T senior women’s football team coach Richard Hood said he is very pleased with the coaching staff put together for the Concacaf 2023 Women’s Gold Cup qualifier.

The 2024 Women's Gold Cup qualifying tournament will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November/December 2023 and will include the participation of 35 Concacaf Women’s senior teams divided into three leagues.

T&T will play away to Mexico in its opening match on September 26th. Followed its home match against the Mexicans on October 27th before facing Puerto Rico (away) on December 1st and at home on December 5th.

Following consultations with newly appointed head coach Richard Hood, the Technical Director Anton Corneal and Director of Women’s football Jinelle James, the T&T Football Association (TTFA) on Monday confirmed the appointments of Hood's technical staff. The technical team is made up of Dernelle Mascall (assistant coach), Glennon Foncette (goalkeeper coach), Anthony Marcano (physical trainer and video analyst), Natalie Harper (equipment manager), and Jelani Baptiste (rehab specialist/physiotherapist) while a second assistant coach is to be finalised.

Hood, a Sergeant with the T&T Police Service, said, “I’m extremely pleased with the quality of the staff that we have assembled to guide the senior women’s team through the process of qualifying for the W Gold Cup. Each staff member brings a level of experience and expertise in their respective field that would no doubt redound to producing the best quality on the field of play.”

He added, “The committee (TTFA Technical committee) and myself met on several occasions to discuss who would be the best fit for this team and I believe that we have made the absolute best possible selections for the technical staff. Dernelle Mascall brings a wealth of experience as an international player which would certainly assist the younger players mentally as it relates to the demands of international football. She is considered one of the brightest young coaches in the country.”

He pointed out that, “Glennon Foncette has been the Goalkeeper coach of choice for so many national coaches in the past having served under Even Pellerud, Jamaal Shabazz and Carolina Morace; his expertise is unquestionable. Meanwhile, Anthony Marcano is perhaps best known for his work with the TTOC and the Hockey Federation but his expertise in the field of Strength and Conditioning is second to none. In terms of the process adopted for selection, we have invited all players that have been within the local pool, that would have represented T&T at youth and senior level in the recent past as I believe that it’s critical to have a strong local unit.”

The former T&T Women’s Under 20 head coach noted that he has already begun a dialogue with overseas-based players on their availability to join the training squad.

“I have also communicated with most of the top players that are foreign-based as well as several new players that have expressed an interest in representing us. We will be training five days per week inclusive of at least seven sessions at a very high intensity as we believe that improving our fitness levels is most important at this time,” explained the former head coach of Police T&T Premier League club.

After 90 group stage matches, which include home and away play within each League and group, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup Group Stage. Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 W Gold Cup preliminaries.

[asylumseeker]

Why is that a headline? If I'm involved in the selection of my staff, why would I be dissatisfied with the quality of my coaching staff?

Certainly, there are assertions above that are unsubstantiated (Marcano's expertise in strength and conditioning and physical preparation as pertain to football) and subjective. Prima facie I could say dahis bullshit. Doh oversell the package.

Anyhow, iz de coach that has to be happy with his environment and this is merely another chapter of abbreviated preparation before a major competition ... so hodgepodge arrangements and transferable skills notwithstanding, the proof will be in the pudding regarding the Jack of All Trades and the to-be-determined assistant coach.

[Trini _2026]

Now jamaica made it to the  second round good for them.  As a trinidadian fan you have to wonder if we are to ever get serious about sports.

[ABTrini]

 11 weeks to prepare? could we simply defer the expenses for this venture and  create a player development program to build  for ensuring years?
 Do we expect to compete with the likes of Jamaica, & Haiti?

[ABTrini]

Currently, we are not in the upper echelon in our region much less for the entire CONCACAF. Internationally  we only have to witness the emergence of countries like the Philipines, and Vietnam. Our ladies team was one draw away from World Cup at one time now we are simply 4cup. Cant seem to find world class coaches or unearth players - either locally or in the diaspora!!!

[frico]

Could any Caribbean team beat this Foreign Reggaegirlz team,I was checking and stopped after i found that about 20 of the womens team were all foreign born.I am sure none of those ever had a meal of Ackee and Saltfish

[Flex]

Hood holds Women Warriors screening in Tobago.
T&T Guardian Reports.

T&T senior women’s football team coach Richard Hood will oversee an open screening session for players ahead of the Concacaf 2023 Women’s Gold Cup qualifier. Next month at the Signal Hill Recreation Ground, Signal Hill from 3 pm to 5 pm on Wednesday.

Hood is currently preparing a team for the 2024 W Gold Cup qualifying tournament which will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November/December 2023 and will include the participation of 35 Concacaf Women’s senior team divided into three leagues.

T&T will play away to Mexico in its opening match in League A on September 26th, followed by its home match against the Mexicans on October 27th before facing Puerto Rico (away) on December 1st and at home on December 5th.

After 90 group stage matches, which include home and away play within each League and group, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup Group Stage. Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 W Gold Cup preliminaries.

Other members of senior women’s team coach Hood's technical staff are Dernelle Mascall (assistant coach), Glennon Foncette (goalkeeper coach), Anthony Marcano (physical trainer and video analyst), Natalie Harper (equipment manager), and Jelani Baptiste (rehab specialist/physiotherapist) while a second assistant coach is to be finalised)

Hood, the former national women’s Under-20 head coach noted that he has already begun dialogue with overseas-based players on their availability to join the training squad.

[ABTrini]

Could any Caribbean team beat this Foreign Reggaegirlz team,I was checking and stopped after i found that about 20 of the womens team were all foreign born.I am sure none of those ever had a meal of Ackee and Saltfish

Ah wonder if any ah dem  get ah Caribbean "BULL jol" as yet?

[Flex]

Hood’s players face difficult time ahead of qualifiers.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).

National women’s coach Richard Hood is bracing for a difficult time ahead of the 2024 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup qualifying tournament, which will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November of this year.

Apart from limitations in their preparation due to financial constraints, Hood and his team are also grappling with a lack of desire by some senior players to represent the country, leaving a cadre of young inexperienced players to don the red, white and black of T&T. And he is also facing the uncertainty of whether his players at universities abroad, will be given permission to play for the qualifiers.

The senior women will begin their campaign on September 26 with a clash against Mexico away. But after just about six weeks into training, Hood can only promise that he and his charges will put their best foot forward, as his charges, are not only far from being ready, but could never be ready for the task ahead of them, Hood explained.

Speaking to Guardian Media Sports yesterday, Hood said: “We are in camp at the moment, we brought in a few foreign players who are new to us, so we will give them the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of playing at this level and can add to what we already have.”

Hood explained: “We had a little scrimmage with some under-16 boys and the result and the performance were very encouraging, after basically three days of work. So from that standpoint, I am very encouraged, but there is still a lot of work to do on our fitness levels. Increasing our fitness levels considerably, we have a lot of work to do there, and we have a lot of work to do tactically as well. It’s a work in progress. We have two more days of the camp left, today (Monday) and tomorrow (Wednesday), and we will finish off with a little scrimmage against a Wolf All-star team tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Hood, the former head coach of Police premier league team, was hoping to get two international friendly matches during the camp, but that was ruled out due to issues by other territories.

Asked if he felt that his hands were tied, Hood said: “I wouldn’t say that my hands are tied, but I would say we are in a difficult position. We always knew that we were going to be in a difficult position because there are certain constraints where the TTFA is concerned, financial that is, and we will never get the kind of preparation that we really need in order to excel, but as a staff, we accept that and we will try to do the best we can do with the limited resources available to us. We are going to put our best foot forward, we are going to prepare the team to the best of our abilities, and hopefully on gameday, we get the players to come out and execute the plan and we get the results we are hoping for.”

He said, “Based on what I have seen so far, we have two maybe three players who can definitely be added to our roster. The problem we always encounter though, is whether the university players would be released from their colleges. We have communicated with the players and most of them, who we are interested in, have indicated that they will be available, so for the most part, we ought to get the players that we want.”

He continued, “We are also dealing with a situation where a number of players have indicated that they are no longer interested in playing international football as well, so what we’re left with basically is a very young, very inexperienced team. The majority of players are not really experienced in international football.”

He concluded, “The encouraging thing for me is that there is some talent that we could work with. There are some players I would have liked to be part of it who, for one reason or the other, will not be part of it, some locally and some foreign-based players as well, but we will work with what we have and do the best with what we have.”

T&T is in Group A of League A alongside Mexico and Puerto Rico. After opening on the road, T&T will then host the Mexicans on October 27 before facing Puerto Rico (away) on December 1 and at home on December 5.

After 90 group stage matches, which include home and away play within each League and group, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup Group Stage. Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 W Gold Cup Prelims.

[Flex]

John, Cornwall show goal scoring form in WoLF.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).

SHENELLE Jordan and Afiyah Cornwall were among the star players when matches in the TT Women's League Football (WoLF) tournament continued last weekend.

At the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Sunday, Jordan scored seven times to lead Play Fit to a resounding 10-0 win over University of the West Indies FC. Jordan found the back of the net in the ninth, 17th, 26th, 48th, 78th, 80th and 88th minutes of play.

Xenell Perreira also had a strong outing finding the target in the fourth minute to open the scoring for Play Fit, before adding her second item in the 57th minute. Also getting their name on the score sheet was Kayla Maillard in the 74th.

At the Arima Velodrome, Cornwall scored five goals (ninth, 22nd, 36th, 41st, 73rd) to propel Club Sando Women to a 12-0 victory over Police FC. Dennecia Prince, who came on in the 30th minute, still had enough time to find the back of the net four times (35th, 45th+2, 50th, 65th). Kelly-Ann Williams (seventh, 53rd) and Javanah Moreno (56th) also showed quality in front of goal.

In other matches, Defence Force defeated St Augustine/Cunupia Utd 2-0 at Arima Velodrome with goals from Nathifah Hackshaw and Laurelle Theodore. AC Port of Spain got past Queen' Park 5-0 at St Anthony's College with two goals from Jo Marie Lewis and one goal apiece from Akeela Oliver, Daneelay Salandy and Mariah Williams. In Black Rock, Tobago, Black Panthers edged Jewels 1-0 with a goal in stoppage time from Shakira Charles.

[Tallman]

Liana Hinds refuses to join T&T set-up
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)

National women's coach Richard Hood is facing the time of his life. In 15 days, he will attempt to lead a feeble T&T women's team past Mexico in the 2024 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup qualifying tournament, which will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November of this year.

On Friday at a training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain, Hood revealed that defender Liana Hinds has joined the list of players making themselves unavailable for the tournament. Hinds, an American-born T&T defender who sometimes plays as an attacking wing position, represents Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League, the top division of women's football in the country.

She joins striker Kennya "Ya Ya" Cordner and forward Cayla McFarlane, who has basically called an end to her international football career.

Hood's problems have been further compounded by the number of inexperienced players that will make up his team for the Mexico encounter on September 26, which will take place at over 8,000 feet in high altitude conditions. Hood said his team will get in and out as quickly as possible.

"I think our preparation has gone well, we started off with a very small group and for whatever reason, we have a number of players unwilling to join the campaign at this point. However, we had a really good camp a couple of weeks ago, where we discovered a couple of new players who will be joining us for the Mexico game. And we continue to get a lot of good work in."

Hood said: "It is not the easiest task we have ahead of us, we know the quality of the Mexicans, we also know that we will be playing at 8000 feet at high altitude which adds to the difficulty of course. But the unit is a rather young inexperienced one, however, based on the work we have done so far, the girls are going to give their best effort. We are going to be disciplined and we're going to be hard working and hopefully, we will get the result we want."

The T&T women's team will have the services of veteran midfielder and captain Karyn Forbes and her sister goalkeeper Kamika, as well as Victoria Swift, Naomi Guerra, and Chelsea Ralph in its lineup. They will join 11 other overseas players, inclusive of Maria Frances Serrant, Asha James, and Kedie Johnson, among others.

Hood will have to wait until September 23 before he can have his full complement of players for the match, as some players at universities abroad will be involved in action on September 21, while the professional players will have to wait for the FIFA window before they can join the team.

T&T is in Group A of League A alongside Mexico and Puerto Rico. After opening on the road, T&T will then host the Mexicans on October 27 before facing Puerto Rico (away) on December 1 and at home on December 5.

After 90 group stage matches, which include home and away play within each League and group, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup Group Stage. Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 W Gold Cup Prelims.

[asylumseeker]

Strikes me as a hyperbolic headline by the newspaper. It is possible to decline without refusing. And, as we have seen time and time again, it is easy to arm the media in execution of federation messaging. Note there is no evidence of the writer having sought the player's perspective.

[Flex]

Hood picks women's squad for Mexico.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).

...Focus on adaptability

National women's coach Richard Hood has selected a 23-member squad to face Mexico in the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday.

The unit is almost equally balanced in numbers, according to those players that play abroad at clubs or universities and those based at clubs locally.

The squad comprises midfielder Maria Frances-Serrant, defender Chrissy Mitchell (Mc Conell University), Jolie St Louis (University of Alabama), defender Victoria Swift (Unattached), defender Kedie Johnson (Lille FC in France), and striker Tsaianne Leander of Luton Town Women's FC, all of whom are among 11 overseas-based players in a squad of 23.

Hood, following a training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva yesterday, said he chose the best squad available to him at this point in time.

"As we all know, a number of players were not available, so I think that the squad that we have is the best squad that is available to us at this time. The ladies have been hard-working, they are really committed to representing the country and I really look forward to seeing what they can do.

"Because of the availability, we tried to utilise the more experienced players in critical roles centrally, as central defence and central midfield, etc. It's not ideal but I think the girls are really excited about what they want to do. They really want to get out there and play their hearts out for their country," Hood explained.

The team is expected to leave in groups over the next two days with the first batch scheduled to leave last night for Mexico, who they will face in two days. They will wing in to face the Mexicans in high altitude conditions and then head back home.

According to Hood, it will be about adaptability for his charges who he said have improved their football and level of fitness since they began training.

“For me is to see how we adapt to the high altitude and adapt to the pressure that we're expecting to get from the team, as well as from their fans. It's more about adaptability than anything else. We know that Mexico is the top team in the group based on its ranking," Hood said.

"We're expecting a difficult game. We see what the Mexicans are doing now, they are very different from the traditional Mexican teams, so we are prepared to deal with what they have to offer."

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Kimika Forbes (Unattached), Simone Eligon (Unattached (foreign base), Malaika Dedier (St Augustine/Cunapia United)

DEFENDERS: Crystal Molineaux (Trincity National FC), Tamara Johnson (AC Port of Spain), Chrissy Mitchell (Mc Connell University), Victoria Swift (Unattached), Karyn Forbes (Unattached), Brittney Williams (St. Augustine/Cunapia United), Christa Waterman (Unattached (foreign base), Kedie Johnson (Lille F C - France),

MIDFIELDERS: Chelcy Ralph (Police FC), Renee Mike (Club Sando), Alexcia Ali (Club Sando), Asha James (RC Saint Denis - France), Talia Martin (Tobago Chicas FC), Sarah De Gannes (Western Illinois University), Naomie Guerra (AC Port of Spain FC), Taliah Simon (Alabama A&M University)

STRIKERS: Jolie St Louis ( University of Alabama), Reanah Campbell (Unattached- (foreign base), Maris-Frances Serrant (Unattached (foreign base), Tsaianne Leander (Luton Town Women FC).

[Flex]

Trinidad and Tobago's Serrant, 20, eager to face Mexico in Gold Cup qualifer.
By Sherdon Pierre (T&T newsday).

Trinidad and Tobago footballer Maria-Frances Serrant is looking forward to the clash against hosts Mexico in the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifier at Estadio Hidalgo, Pachuca on Tuesday. Kick-off is 10 pm (TT time).

The striker told TTFA media, “It means a lot to come out here and against all odds fight for a spot in the Gold Cup. It means a lot because a lot of eyes are on us and on me as an upcoming player to carry the mantle for T&T. With this platform, we definitely have to play really hard.”

She added, “We are sticking together to help the new faces. The new faces are doing good and I`m happy that they took the call-up to strengthen and widen our group.”

She further explained that playing in Mexico last year for the World Cup qualifiers helped them to adjust to the weather and altitude conditions leading up to the match.

Within the last few months, Serrant has joined the ranks as a professional player joining Nepean FC NSW League One in Australia. The 20 year old discussed her switch to professional football: “The World Cup campaign ended last year. I went back to University West Texas A&M; I had a pretty good season, I won offensive player of the year and I made All- Conference, All- Region and All American. Then, In January/ February, I got contacted with a few teams to play pro and withdraw from school. I went to Australia, and I played there and had a good season.”

The former youth player has the experience of already having a few years of senior football and believes that she knows her role on the team.

T&T SQUAD:

GOALKEEPERS: Kimika Forbes (Unattached), Simone Eligon (Unattached (foreign base), Malaika Dedier (St Augustine/Cunapia United)

DEFENDERS: Crystal Molineaux (Trincity National FC), Tamara Johnson (AC Port of Spain), Chrissy Mitchell (Mc Connell University), Victoria Swift (Unattached), Karyn Forbes (Unattached), Brittney Williams (St. Augustine/Cunapia United), Christa Waterman (Unattached (foreign base), Kedie Johnson (Lille F C - France),

MIDFIELDERS: Chelcy Ralph (Police FC), Renee Mike (Club Sando), Alexcia Ali (Club Sando), Asha James (RC Saint Denis - France), Talia Martin (Tobago Chicas FC), Sarah De Gannes (Western Illinois University), Naomie Guerra (AC Port of Spain FC), Taliah Simon (Alabama A&M University)

STRIKERS: Jolie St Louis ( University of Alabama), Reanah Campbell (Unattached- (foreign base), Maris-Frances Serrant (Unattached (foreign base), Tsaianne Leander (Luton Town Women FC).

[Tallman]

Swift says T&T Women focused on Friday’s clash with Puerto Rico
TTFA Media

Trinidad and Tobago’s experienced defender Victoria Swift has described the build-up to Friday’s Concacaf Road to W Gold Cup qualifier against Puerto Rico as intense and purposeful.

This country’s Senior Women’s Team will play on home soil for the first time since April, 2022, aiming to put points on the board following their opening 6-0 loss to Mexico last month.

Head Coach Richard Hood has been overseeing preparations during a residential training camp and will announce his final squad on Wednesday for Friday’s encounter which kicks off at 7:00pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Swift, one of the veterans in the current set-up, believes that T&T can pick up points on Friday.

“Preparations have been very intense since we got back from playing Mexico. Thus far I’m extremely proud of the players for all their efforts in each and every session,” Swift told TTFA Media.

“Words can’t explain how excited I am to be playing in Port of Spain before the home fans. This is going to give us the opportunity to bring back joy and passion of women’s football to Trinidad and Tobago. I know there are a lot of players hungry to get opportunities and do well in women’s football here and a positive showing by us can only boost the local women’s game,” she added.

Swift knows the importance of seeing T&T advance to the next Women’s Gold Cup, especially with sights set on the next World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

“Getting a positive result on Friday is of utmost importance. This would keep our dream alive of qualifying for the first ever Women’s Gold Cup. It’s an opportunity to create history.

“A lot of the focus has been on how we want to play as a unit. We plan to go out there as a team and play with heart and soul… laying it all on the line,” she added.

Tickets for Friday’s match cost $50 (Covered Section) only and will be on sale at the venue on gameday. Kids 12 and Under are free.

Following Friday’s match T&T will travel to play Puerto Rico there on October 31st. Puerto Rico are currently second in the three-team group, with a -1 goal difference as opposed to T&T’s -6.

The Road To W Gold Cup involves 34 participating teams split into the three leagues: League A, League B and League C.

T&T are in League A which has the nine top-ranked teams divided into three groups of three. League B will consist of 12 teams split into three groups of four teams, while League C will have 13 teams in total. In League C, Group A will have three teams, while Group B, Group C and Group D will have three teams each.

In all three leagues, the teams will play each other home and away.

The three group winners from League A will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup while The three second-place teams from League A will advance to the Playoffs which will include the three group winners from League B. The League A second-place teams will play a single leg Playoff match against the League B group winners to determine the final three places in the 2024 W Gold Cup.

[Tallman]

Women Soca Warriors target 2nd spot in Gold Cup qualifying group
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

The Trinidad and Tobago women's football team play Puerto Rico twice in the space of five days in Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifying, with the first of those two meetings kicking off from 7 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Friday.

After their tussle on T&T soil, the two teams will meet at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on Tuesday night. Both teams have played a game apiece in the League A qualifying group which also includes Mexico. Both T&T and Puerto Rico are without a point after falling to contrasting defeats to the Mexican team. On September 22, Mexico overturned a first-half deficit to get a 2-1 win over Puerto Rico at the famed Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Four days later, Mexico turned up the heat as they scored all of their goals in the first half to run up a 6-0 scoreline against T&T in Pachuca. Puerto Rico are second in the group by virtue of a better goal difference.

Ahead of their effective home-and-away tie with Puerto Rico, T&T coach Richard Hood said his team are going into the matches with positive intent and they want to make home advantage count.

"It's critical that we get something out of this game. If not a victory, we certainly need to get something out of it," Hood told the media in a pre-match press briefing at the match venue on Thursday. "On the day, you don't know what you are going to get from the girls but hopefully we'll get a good performance and get the job done.

"We can expect a much more positive approach to the game and much more offensive play. I think going into the Mexico game the idea was to set up defensively and that really didn't work. Therefore, a lot of the preparation this time around has been based on offence."

With Mexico already stamping their dominance in the group with a maximum six points from two games, Hood says the focus is to ensure second spot doesn't escape T&T's grasp as they look to secure a historic Gold Cup spot.

"The girls are aware of the situation and they know if we get to the Gold Cup it can open up a lot of doors for local football and local footballers. We're very much intent on finishing second in this group and getting to the Gold Cup proper."

Hood believes attaining four points in the next two games could just about do the trick for T&T.

"I wouldn't say the Puerto Rico games are must-win games. A win and a draw would not be too bad. Certainly, they are the two most important games. We are approaching it as such, particularly our home game."

At the end of group play, the top teams in each of the three League A groups will qualify for the group stage of the 12-team 2024 Concacaf women’s Gold Cup. The three runners-up in the League A groups will play the three winners of the respective League B groups for a spot in the Gold Cup group stage.

As his team continues their journey, Hood is relying on his experienced players such as Victoria Swift, Asha James and captain Karyn Forbes to lead the way.

Karyn's sister and veteran goalkeeper Kimika Forbes misses out through disciplinary reasons according to Hood. French-based utility player Kedie Johnson misses out through injury and could be sidelined for a month.

[Tallman]

Puerto Rico edge Women Warriors 2-1
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

THE ROAD to the 2024 Concacaf Gold Cup got much harder for Trinidad & Tobago's Women National football team following a 2-1 defeat to Puerto Rico in a Group A, League A, Concacaf Nations League qualifier on Friday night at Hasely Crawford stadium where just over 700 persons turned up.

Trinidad and Tobago now have defeats from their opening two matches, having been defeat 6-0 away to Mexico on September 26.

Skylynn Rodríguez provided Puerto Rico with the lead in the 30th minute, scooping the ball over new T&T goalkeeper Simeon Eligon and central defender Victoria Swift for the opening goal. Forward Juelle Love blew by Trinidad & Tobago captain Karyn Forbes and cut-back to Rodríguez who lifted her shot high in the net.

Alexcia Ali briefly had Trinidad & Tobago level at 1-1 in the 49th minute, with a dipping shot over goalkeeper Jlo Vasquez from out wide, after running on to Asha James' through ball. But just four minutes later, the Puerto Rican captain Jillienne Aguilera (54th) produced the match winner, picking up a loose ball as T&T defenders ran into each other and unleashing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Simone Eligon.

Youth striker Talian Martin had a chance to level for T&T soon after, but was foiled by goalkeeper Vasquez, who got a vital touch when fending the ball away from the T&T striker, who had already beaten her defenders to a through ball. Trinidad & Tobago can still keep diminished hope of appearing in next year's Concacaf W Gold Cup alive, but only with victory away to Puerto Rico in Bayamon on Tuesday.

Trinidad and Tobago showed brief glimpses of good play, but not sustained pressure on the opponent, and so in a cagey opening quarter hour, the Women Warriors manage a couple shots on goal, but nothing strong enough challenge Puerto Rican goalie.

Coach Ricard Hood put captain Karyn Forbes back in the defensive role she played earlier in her career, but she did not excel, often being indecisive, inviting pressure with the ball at her feet, and was far too easy to get around. In contrast, Victoria Swift, the other central defender, was solid as always, and came up with several timely interceptions. Wide defenders Christa Waterman and Yale University left-back Abigal Moos also both looked capable, especially when actually got defensive help from the midfielders.

Following a couple of early awkward moment with crosses, new T&T goalie Simone Eligon also more than proved her worth, with three first half saves to keep Trinidad & Tobago alive and in the match. First, Eligon got a vital top to turn Love's low shot around the post, and also producing a double-save just before the first half ended. There was little she could do about either goal conceded.

Trinidad & Tobago also found a good, creative player in USA-based former Brown University midfielder Zoe Maxwell, while locally-based winger Ali was not just a goal-scorer, but looked exciting going forward. Youth striker Talia Martin also did quite well and looked dangerous as a second half substitute.

However, coach Hood would have expected more from his captain Forbes; foreign-based striker Maria Serrant, who held onto the ball too much and defended too little: and playmaker James, who looked mainly out-of-sorts and below top fitness, although she did provide the pass for Ali's equalising goal.

On Tuesday, Trinidad & Tobago gets a chance to do it all again, and maybe will put together an overall better effort.

[Tallman]

Hood very disappointed: Women Warriors go for win in Puerto Rico Tuesday amidst fitness concerns
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

FITNESS LEVELS remain a concern for an overall disappointed Richard Hood, head coach of the women’s national football team, following Friday night’s 2-1 home defeat to Puerto Rico in a Group A, League A, CONCACAF Nations League qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Hood will now look for a win in the return match between the teams, to be played at the Juan Ramón Loubriel stadium on Tuesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, from 7 p.m.

“We have to go for a victory. We lost this one by two goals to one, if we get a 2-0 victory, then we are back in it,” Hood stated, “That is going to be the mindset, to go out there and try to get a victory. We have to try.”

“We will try and address the deficiencies we saw in today’s game and hopefully the medical people can do their jobs, and get them recovered, so that we could go out and try give a performance on Tuesday,” the national coach added.

Hood admitted being displeased with the overall effort two nights ago.

Puerto Rico broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, with Juelle Love making a run to the end-line and cutting back to Skylynn Rodriguez, who fired in a right-footed shot for a 1-0 Puerto Rico lead. Trinidad and Tobago pulled level in the 49th through Alexcia Ali, who gathered a pass on the right wing and fired in from the narrowest of angles to make it a 1-1 affair.

However, Puerto Rico quickly regained the lead in the 54th when captain Jillienne Aguilera, pounced on a loose ball and blasted a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Simone Eligon for a 2-1 advantage.

“Rather disappointed in the result and some aspects of the performance as well, “Hood stated, at the post-match press conference.

“But I believed that the girls tried, they worked hard. They tried to do what we asked them to do, in the second half certainly, early in the first half as well.”

Where Hood thought his team went wrong, was in falling flat after what he assessed as a good opening 20-minute period. And he deduced that composure and fitness may have been contributing factors.

“I thought that we lacked composure in critical times of the game, in the offensive third, in the defensive third as well,” he explained. “The energy level in the first half was not what we were looking for. At the end of the day, we really did not execute like we would have really wanted to.”

Hood also addressed a fitness deficiency within his team, with the likes of Asha James and Chelcy Ralph struggling to run back and keep the middle compact, while attacking players Maria Frances-Serrant and sometimes Ali, were at times ill-disciplined and did not pay attention to their defensive duties on the side of the field.

“Physically we seemed a little short,” Hood admitted, “Fitness remains a concern. The energy level was not there,” he admitted, despite his Women Warriors initially implementing the game-plan of pressing the Puerto Ricans.”

“I though in the first 15, 20 minutes, we did a pretty decent job of that. We won a lot of balls up the pitch and we created opportunities that we should have finished off with a little more composure. Following that, I thought we fell rather flat. We stopped doing the job that we were doing. We allowed them to come into the game.”

Hood might also have been a bit caught off guard that his girls are still short of fitness, given the work they had put in recently.

“Following the Mexico game, we did a lot of work on our fitness. That would have been the people who were here. We would have sent programmes to the people that were abroad as well, but really, we have no real way of monitoring that.”

Hood supported his assessment with his explanation of the reasons for his substitutions, in which he took off goal scorer and exciting winger Ali, one of the top players in the local Women’s League (Wolf) and also James, the team’s most creative midfielder, who just did not fire and looked woefully short on fitness.

“Alexcia was winded from since the first half. She was struggling physically for one reason or another. She started the second half well, she got the goal, but then, we needed to get something else into the game,” Hood said. “We needed to add something else to the offensive thrust, similar to the change with Asha later in the game as well.”

Hood admitted his team’s overall fitness level is not helped by the low standard of the local league and also having overseas-based players who have left college and are currently unattached.

“You look at the Mexicans, everybody is a professional player. You look at our team, you have some players locally in a league that is not of a high standard, and then we have a lot of players (overseas) that are unattached as well. We do not have many professional players. This is what we have at the moment and we are trying to do the best that we can as well.”

To lift his players, Hood had to be forceful with his half-time talk and felt the second half performance was much better.

“I had a bit of an aggressive talk with them at half-time, in terms of commitment and heart and desire and stuff like that, and I thought that basically it gave them a little impetus. We came out with a certain amount of drive in the second half and we were able to score a goal and that lifted us a little bit. Unfortunately, we conceded soon after. So all the good work was kind of wasted.”

Hood did credit his players for trying to do what he wanted in the second half - to get behind the Puerto Ricans and be a little more direct. As a result, T&T got a couple of opportunities but again Hood felt they did not have the composure to finish.

The coach also gave a good assessment of the performances of debutantes Zoe Maxwell, who was good down the middle of the field and Abigail Moos, at left-back, who did not get as much support as she should have from either Serrant ahead of her, or captain Karyn Forbes behind.

“I though Zoe (Maxwell), in the middle of the field particularly, she demonstrated that level of composure that we required from her in that position. Abby (Abigail Moos) struggled a little bit because that (Puerto Rican) player was going at her, and she lacked defensive support as well. I’m actually satisfied with their performances. I thought it was a good debut for both of them.”

Hood also felt that goalkeeper Simone Eligon “did really well”, having replaced veteran Kimika Forbes, who had been between the posts for over a decade. After initially struggling with a couple of high balls, Eligon produced at least three key saves in the first half alone.

“I though she did well in certain circumstances, others not as well. Certainly, she is not big in stature. Cross-balls were a bit of a challenge, high balls,” was Hood’s assessment. “But she is something we can work with.”

[Tallman]

Women Warriors hit by visa issues ahead of Gold Cup qualifier
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)

Key players Maria-Frances Serrant and Chrissy Mitchell will not feature for Trinidad and Tobago in Tuesday night’s Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifier match away to Puerto Rico, because of visa issues.

Serrant and Mitchell did not travel with the team to Puerto Rico on Saturday for their third group match despite both featuring in Friday’s 2-1 home loss to Puerto Rico, at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The players’ absence was confirmed by T&T Football Association (TTFA) media officer Shaun Fuentes on Monday.

“Full squad didn’t travel. Chrissy Mitchell had no visa and Maria Serrant won’t receive hers in time to get there,” he said via WhatsApp message on Monday.

In Friday’s match, Serrant played the entire game while Mitchell was substituted on in the 85th minute for Asha James.

Serrant also played full-time for their opening group match against Mexico, which T&T lost 6-0, while Mitchell was started by coach Richard Hood, and was then replaced in the 62nd by Naomie Guerra.

Both national team regulars will be missed as the women warriors remain in pursuit of their first point of the Gold Cup qualifiers.

Currently, the winless T&T are third in group A of the three-team League A standings. Mexico (six pts) are unbeaten and Puerto Rico (three pts) second.

After Tuesday’s match, T&T play Mexico in their final group test in early December.

The top finishers in each League A group (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 Women’s Gold Cup group stage.

Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each League A group (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each League B group (three teams) will advance to the Women’s Gold Cup prelims.

This means T&T needs favourable results from the final two matches to possibly qualify for the Gold Cup group stage or the prelims. A loss against Puerto Rico on Tuesday would see them eliminated.

In Friday’s post-match press conference coach Hood said the team might only be able to get in a full session and a half of training before kickoff, since the entire squad is not travelling together.

Three points against the Puerto Ricans, he said, remain top priority.

“We have to go for a victory. If we get a 2-0 victory then we’re right back in it. That is going to be the mindset, to go out there and try to get a victory.”

After Friday’s match, Hood said fitness remains a concern for the team but is optimistic his unit has what it takes to bounce back from the two losses.

[Deeks]

Wow, I thought the NC was supposed to take care of all the "shortcomings" of the past. They have been in power for more than 2 yrs.

[asylumseeker]

Putting Karyn Forbes on the field is one thing. Putting her in that line is another. That has to be one of the most unsupportable decisions in the modern nonsense of T&T football! No way, no how, that was wukkin!

Yuh getting lapped by Stevie Wonder,  Richard Hood!

[Tallman]

Women Warriors play to goalless draw vs Puerto Rico
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO battled to a goalless draw against Puerto Rico at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Puerto Rico on Tuesday in Group A of League A in the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers.

It was T&T's first point of the campaign after losing 6-0 to Mexico and 2-1 to Puerto Rico last Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. T&T still have an outside chance to qualify for the Gold Cup preliminary phase with a win over Mexico in December. The top team in the three-team group will advance to the Gold Cup and the second-placed team will qualify for the preliminary phase. Mexico are on six points, Puerto Rico are on four points and T&T one.

Puerto Rico had the stronger showing in the first half creating more chances on goal. In the ninth minute, a free kick was cleared by T&T and the follow-up shot from outside the 18-yard box was easily saved by T&T goalkeeper Simone Eligon.

Eligon was busy again two minutes later as she pushed a free kick 25 yards from goal over the crossbar. T&T spent most of the first half in their own half of the field, but in the 18th minute T&T got a corner kick. However, Asha James did not get enough height on the delivery and it was easily cleared.

Puerto Rico continued to attack more than T&T and in the 23rd minute, Cristina Torres got a shot outside the box but did not get enough power on it.

T&T struggled to maintain possession, but after the 30-minute mark, the Women Warriors started to keep the ball for longer periods of play.

In first-half stoppage time, Zoe Maxwell dribbled around Puerto Rico goal-keeper Jlo Varada Vazquez but a defender was in perfect position to deny T&T a shot on goal.

T&T created more chances in the second half as players like Alexcia Ali, James and Maxwell showed quality in the attacking third.

In the 60th minute, Maxwell dribbled into the box but her effort did not lead to a quality chance on the Puerto Rico goal. Two minutes later, Ali showed speed up the right side and evaded two defenders. She found James in the box, but her effort went wide of the target as Vazquez was not forced into action.

T&T captain Karyn Forbes did not capitalise on a free kick 30 yards from goal as the ball never found the target.

T&T almost gave away a goal in the 72nd minute as a back pass from defender Victoria Swift did not have enough power on it. Eligon and a Puerto Rico attacker got to the ball at the same time, but the former just managed to win the ball.

Substitute Talia Martin then took a shot from distance, but the T&T player's shot got a deflection and went out of play for a corner kick.

As the match entered the final ten minutes, Puerto Rico responded with some attacks on goal giving T&T problems on the right flank.

Tempers flared in the closing minutes of the match with players pushing each other which led to a short delay in the match as referee Merlin Vanessa Soto tried to lower the temperature.

Jonelle Cato long distance free kick was well-struck, but it just went over the crossbar as the match ended in a goalless draw.

Maria Frances-Serrant and Chrissy Mitchell of T&T did not travel to Puerto Rico because of visa issues.

[Tallman]

Pretty happy: Women’s coach Hood satisfied after Puerto Rico draw
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

Women’s national team head coach Richard Hood is extremely satisfied by the improved showing as Trinidad and Tobago drew their 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup qualifier 0-0 with Puerto Rico on Tuesday night at the Juan Ramón Loubriel stadium in Bayamon.

It was an improved effort on what the Women Warriors showed when suffering a 2-1 home loss to the Puerto Ricans in the first game of the two-match series in Port of Spain on Friday.

“Overall, I told the girls I was very proud of their efforts. Not all the time the football would have been what we wanted throughout the game, but we are improving, we are gradually improving,” Hood announced in a post-match interview.

“We have to remember that these girls are very young in their careers, really. So, I was pretty happy with what we did tonight, and again, incremental improvements,” stated Hood.

“The performance was a good one for the most part. I thought that the girls really worked hard and they tried to do the things that we wanted.” He added: “That’s what I ask of the ladies, that in every game they show incremental improvement and I think we got that tonight.”

Where Hood thought there was most improvement was in the middle of the field and the defending.

Puerto Rico were not allowed to dominate the flanks, since the wide midfielders paid attention to defence; and the addition of Jonelle Warrick-Cato also boosted the centre of the defence.

Puerto Rico were restricted mainly to shots from outside the penalty area. “In the first half, particularly, we had to weather the storm a ‘lil bit. They did that,” Hood noted. “Again, Simone (Eligon) was very good in goal. I thought the back-four was tremendous as well.

“I believe all-around we were better today. I thought the back-four was solid and I thought we were solid in midfield as well,” said Hood who also felt that shifting captain Karyn Forbes from central defence to defensive midfield, also boosted his midfield strength.

“Moving Karyn into the midfield, she did a tremendous job for us, and Zoe (Maxwell) was her normal self in the middle of the field, working hard and a very good, calming presence in the middle as well.

“Up front, we created opportunities. We had more combinations, more passes in the final third,” he said. “Early on as well, I thought we pressed the ball pretty good as well on the defensive part.”