U-20 Women's Team Thread.

[madness]

what experience can u learn from.  how to lose..... wow 

[dreamer]

Taking 6, especially from Jamdown, is a sign that the coach Is out of his depth, must take responsibility and do "the right thing".
Heck, even BraveHart resigned from the Canadian team after taking 6 from Honduras.
From now on only the most pipin' hot coaches should be coaching the various warrior teams.

[Tallman]

Taking 6, especially from Jamdown, is a sign that the coach Is out of his depth, must take responsibility and do "the right thing".

But these teams drew 2-2 in October.

[Deeks]

what experience can u learn from.  how to lose..... wow 

Dude, why you banging your head against a wall. This team was not properly prepare for this tournament. The results shows that. They were caught in the election circle where the focus was not on football on the field, but football in the halls of power.

[dreamer]

Tallman, ah not taking 6 from no Jakan team. Dem is not real ballers.
Just unacceptable whatever was the strategy AT THAT time.
Watch good, we go soon be seein' reggae fan snoopin' around wit' his comments.

[Deeks]

Dreamer, I honestly feel this team should not get 6 goals from a team that got 7? by a team that beat us by 2. The coach is the fall guy, anyway you take it. But these girls were not prepared sufficiently. We hardly heard anything about this team and their preps. Who they played before going to Honduras. They were not ready for this tournament.

Now unlike the senior WNT going into the Olimpic qualification. 2 games against the US and 3 games in Brazil. So is a guaranteed 5 games and possibly 1 more if the do well. I will be more disappointed if our ladies don't do well in the Rio qualification. They been together for 2 yrs and more. They are practically 'sisters' by now.  Now you really have issues with JA give you talk about taking 6.  Wha happen, you cyah take "fatigue"?

[dreamer]

Nice fair thinking Deeks.
But ... When yuh know yuh eh fit , and yuh go bun easily, then play to save energy and prevent collapse in 2nd half.
If Randy or BraveHart-like coach had that team, i believe they would have studied more how not to lose and use defense to frustrate the oppo.
You won't here me cutting dong the girls.
Sorry if I gave the impression of disrespect to the coach but a coach's job is to get results. Whether is Shabbazz, Eve, Barber, King, Cornmeal, Vidale, Issa, Spence, Creece, Russell, Latas, Gally, BraveHart.
Daiz it. Licks to the level of a "drubbing", not my words, means resign, lick yuh wounds, retool yuhself, boost up with some top football courses, beef up your defense strategy and come back in 1 yr proving to the fans that yuh have new ammunition.
.... And no, I eh taking no fatigue from no Jakan. Iz war!!!

[Deeks]

Dreamer, I acknowledge your concerns. All I hoping is that this new administration will be proactive for all things concerning the 8 national teams that they have to deal with. All teams have to get the "same" attention for future tournaments. John Williams has to go to corporate TT and convince the corporations take a serious look at our football. The coaching situation is another situation. Apart from Hart and Waldrum, the coaching staff needs a new direction. That is a job of the technical director, the president and the general secretary. We don't know if John-Williams will keep the present TD or not. So let's wait and see.

[dreamer]

Deekos,
I have faith in DJW making at least SOME improvement in the TTFA culture of underpreparation
Remember I am the person happiest like pappiest to see Uncle Tim gone, because a certain sickening mindset is gone with him.
No doubt things will get better even if the outgoing syndicate has cleaned out the TTFA treasury.
The future looks bright and this last U20 result is a legacy of the last admin.

[Deeks]

dreamer, more "fatigue" in yuh tail. We B team got steam rolled by Brazil in Natal. I eh go mention the score.

[Tallman]

After CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship experience, T&T looks to future
CONCACAF.com

It may have been the end of the tournament for Trinidad & Tobago, but head coach Jason Spence is hoping that a new wave of growth in the women’s game in his country is just beginning.

T&T bowed out of the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship (CU20W) at the group stage after a 6-1 loss to Jamaica on Tuesday, but for Spence – managing at his first confederation-level event -- there was much to take away and use going forward.

“I’ve been getting a lot of experience from the exposure with what other teams are doing,” said the 44-year-old. “I can bring this back to my federation and hopefully we’ll be able to bring it all together, to keep the teams together and start preparing for the next cycle.”

There have been some promising signs at the senior level with Trinidad, which finished fourth in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship to reach a playoff against Ecuador for a place in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The South Americans won that two-game series, 1-0, taking the second leg on the road by the same score, before 23,000 fans at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

In the aftermath, the team has continued to get games against quality opponents like the current Women’s World Cup champion United States, Canada, Brazil and Mexico.

Tournaments such as the CU20W provide young players with experience against teams that may be just a step or two ahead in their development. Spence is hoping the youth sides can play friendlies against high-level competition as part of the perpetual learning process. He also feels that this will allow the teams more time together as a group, which would aid them in the tactical, physical and mental elements of the game.

“It’s very important for us,” he expressed. “I think we are a country that has been blessed with raw talent. The game has evolved and has gotten a lot more physical. It’s about concentration and discipline and that is a side that I think in my country I think we have to invest a little more in to make sure that when we reach this level, we don’t continue to just coming just third or fourth and being eliminated.”

[Tallman]

Trinidad and Tobago set for 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship
CONCACAF.com

CONCACAF announced Tuesday that Trinidad & Tobago will host the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, scheduled for January 18-28, 2018. The draw for the event will be held on November 7 in Port of Spain.

The event will crown the champion at this age level and qualify three teams to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018.

“As women’s football continues to grow across the Caribbean and the CONCACAF region, we’re happy to bring this tournament to Trinidad,” said CONCACAF General Secretary Philippe Moggio. “This is an important age group for development, and we’re looking forward to watching these talented athletes compete for the CONCACAF title and a place at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup.”

"With the progress made in the women's game in Trinidad & Tobago, now is a great time for the country to host a CONCACAF championship at the junior levels of the discipline," said Trinidad and Tobago Football Association President David J. Williams. "We look forward to partnering with CONCACAF on a great event, and we're sure fans will rally behind our young ladies to support the team, and to demonstrate Trinbagonian hospitality to our visitors from across the region."

Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva will be the venue for all sixteen matches that are to be played across eight matchdays.

The 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship will include a field of eight teams. Trinidad & Tobago will participate as host, along with two additional teams from the Caribbean (champion and runner-up of the 2017 CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Under-20 Qualifier).

Three teams from North America will compete -- Canada, Mexico and United States – as well as the two top finishers from the 2017 CONCACAF Central America Women’s Under-20 Qualifier played earlier this year, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

The finals of the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Under-20 Qualifier 2017 will take place at Warner Park Stadium in St. Kitts & Nevis, from November 22-26. St. Kitts & Nevis, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are competing to join the other six qualified nations in Trinidad & Tobago.

In the previous edition of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship played in Honduras in 2015, the United States won its fourth straight championship at this level, with a 1-0 win over Canada in the final.
 
CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship Trinidad and Tobago 2018
Date: January 18-28, 2018
Site: Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
Teams: 8
North America: (3)
Caribbean: (3)
Central America: (2)

Number of teams to qualify for the World Cup: 3 (Champion, runner-up and third place)

Competition Format: The eight participating teams will be sorted into two groups of four for the Group Stage. After round-robin play, the two group winners, plus the two second-place finishers will advance to the semifinals. The semifinal winners will automatically qualify to the championship final and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The semifinal losers will dispute the tournament’s third place match for the last available ticket to the World Cup.

[Tallman]

Trinidad and Tobago U-20 Women drawn in Group A with Costa Rica, Canada, and the runner-up of the Caribbean Qualifiers.

[Cocorite]

Well hard luck dey T&T. Let's start planning for the next rounds

[Tallman]

Draw reveals groups and schedule for the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship 2018
CONCACAF.com

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) conducted this morning the draw for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship Trinidad & Tobago 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad &Tobago.

The draw, which determined the groups and match schedule for the tournament that kicks off on January 18, 2018, in Couva, was opened with welcoming remarks from Sonia Bien-Aime, FIFA and CONCACAF Council Member and Turks and Caicos Island Football Association President, and David John-Williams President of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association. The event was conducted with the assistance of two current and prominent senior national team players for Trinidad &Tobago, Tasha St. Louis and Mariah Shade.

For the official draw, tournament host Trinidad & Tobago was seeded into Group A, and will face Caribbean 2, Costa Rica and Canada. Group B seed and five-time champion United States, was joined by Nicaragua, Mexico and Caribbean 1.

The other two Caribbean finalists will be determined at the finals of the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Under-20 Qualifier 2017, which will take place at Warner Park Stadium in St. Kitts and Nevis, from November 22-26. St. Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are competing to join the other six qualified nations in Trinidad & Tobago.

The Ato Boldon Stadium, in Couva, Trinidad, will host all sixteen matches, to be played across eight match days in January. The tournament will qualify three teams directly to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018.

In the previous edition of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship played in Honduras in 2015, the United States won its fourth straight championship at this level, with a 1-0 win over Canada in the final.

CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship Trinidad & Tobago 2018 – Match Schedule

Thursday, January 18, 2018
16:00 Costa Rica v Canada
18:30 Trinidad & Tobago v Caribbean 2 

Friday, January 19, 2018
16:00 Mexico v Caribbean 1
18:30 USA v Nicaragua

Saturday, January 20, 2018
16:00 Caribbean 2 v Costa Rica
18:30 Canada v Trinidad & Tobago

Sunday, January 21, 2018
16:00 Nicaragua v Mexico 
18:30 Caribbean 1 v USA

Monday, January 22, 2018
16:00 Caribbean 2 v Canada
18:30 Trinidad & Tobago v Costa Rica 

Tuesday, January 23, 2018
16:00 Nicaragua v Caribbean 1
18:30 USA v Mexico 

Friday, January 26, 2018 – Semifinals
16:00 1B v 2A
18:30 1A v 2B

Sunday, January 28, 2018 – 3rd Place Match and Final
16:00 L13 v L14
18:30 W13 v W1

[Tallman]

Jamaica’s U-20 Reggae Girlz coach upbeat as team heads to Trinidad and Tobago
By Sherdon Cowan (Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica's young Reggae Girlz will move one step closer to qualification for the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship as they depart for Trinidad & Tobago for two valuable friendly matches against the hosts.

The delegation will depart the island today at 1:00 pm for the twin-island republic, where they will do battle tomorrow at the Ato Boldon Stadium at 6:30pm and again on Saturday at 4:00 pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

From there the delegation will depart for St Kitts and Nevis on November 20, where they will get down to the meat of the matter in the final phase of Caribbean qualifiers, which will be held November 22-26.

Assistant Coach Xavier Gilbert stressed the importance of the two friendly encounters as they hunt one of two spots in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship to be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in January next year.

“We had our final camp last weekend and it was good. The fitness has improved somewhat and that is a positive as we head into the qualifiers. The two games against Trinidad should assist in further strengthening the team from a fitness standpoint, and it will also assist in the girls finding the right chemistry and bond,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

There will be a few additions to the team, which easily progressed through the first phase of the Caribbean round with 10-0 and 2-1 beatings of Curacao and Bermuda, respectively.

Under-17 striker Olufosade Adamolekun, along with Florida-based Shayla Smart and Maya Swaby-Wallerson, who were both a part of the Under-17 unit which contested the CONCACAF round in Grenada last year, have now been included.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Yazmeen Jamieson will be the only new addition to the set-up to partner Sydney Schneider.

“As you know, quite a number of them attend schools in the States, so this will be the first time we are assembling the full squad since the last tournament. So this (the friendlies) is a positive step forward as we will spend five to six days together before moving into St Kitts.

“So we are looking forward to that and we anticipate that it will bring a lot of good to the team to ensure that they play well in the qualifying tournament to ensure that we are there again in Trinidad in January,” Gilbert noted.

In St Kitts and Nevis, the young Reggae Girlz will square off against the hosts, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Should the Jamaicans advance to the CONCACAF Championship as the Caribbean champions, they would find themselves pitted in Group B alongside defending champions United States and another powerhouse in Mexico along with Central American outfit Nicaragua.

If they progress as the runner-up team, they would be pitted in Group A alongside Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica and Canada.

The top three teams of the tournament will qualify for the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in France.

Squad — Olufosade Adamolekun, Jadyn Matthews, Gabrielle Gayle, Jody Brown, Peterkaye Green, Tarania Clarke, Tateyana Pitter, Sashine Smith, Sherice Clarke, Alyssa Julien, Ebony Clarke, Emily Caza, Erin Mikalsen, Giselle Washington, Marlee Fray, Kevena Reid, Shayla Smart, Sydney Schneider, Maya Swaby-Wallerson, Yazmeen Jamieson.

RELATED NEWS

U-20 women step up preparations with Jamaica friendlies.
T&T Guardian Reports.

T&T’s Under-20 women’s football team will meet Jamaica’s under-20 team from 6:30pm today at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, in the first of two friendly matches between the Caribbean rivals. The second match happens on Saturday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium from 4pm and will cap the TTFA’s contribution to the recognition of CONCACAF’s Women’s Football Day celebration, which will also include the NLCB Elite Youth Development Program Girl’s Under-14 tournament at 9am.

T&T and Jamaica are looking ahead to the CONCACAF women’s tournament in January, for which T&T has qualified automatically as hosts while Jamaica hopes to be one of two remaining teams along with St Kitts and Nevis, Haiti and Dominican Republic progressing from the final Caribbean qualification round which takes place from November 22-26 in St Kitts and Nevis.

Head coach of the T&T team, Jamaal Shabazz, says that the matches against Jamaica are ideal for his unit which he says is not where it needs to be in preparation but can get an accurate measure by taking on their Caribbean rivals.

Shabazz said, “Jamaica are in an advanced stage of their preparation for their final CFU qualifying round to qualify for the CONCACAF round in January. We thought it would be a good opportunity to test the work that we have been doing, and these two games would provide an interesting measurement to see where we are at right now.”

Shabazz took over the team after the sudden departure of Carolina Morace and her staff in July, seven months after being appointed. Since then he oversaw the Under 17 team which failed to move on from the Caribbean round in their quest to qualify the Uruguay 2018 World Cup after a 3-1 loss to Jamaica and two draws against Bermuda and Grenada at their Caribbean tournament in Haiti last month.

Meanwhile, T&T forward Laurel Theodore admitted that the transition from one coach to another has been difficult but is confident that she and her team-mates have adapted well to Shabazz’s coaching and are ready to put on a worthwhile display for the T&T public.

Speaking to Guardian Media Sports, Theodore said, “Mentally it was a very rough transition but the girls have already gotten accustomed to the new coach and the team will progress under the circumstances because we really want to make Trinidad and Tobago proud. The girls are a hard working group of girls, sure to work for each other. We play a very beautiful and solid game which is sure to get the crowd involved.”

Fixtures

Thursday November 16

T&T Under 20 Women vs Jamaica, Ato Boldon Stadium 6:30 PM

Saturday November 18

T&T Under 20 Women vs Jamaica, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium 4:00 PM

[Flex]

Soca Princesses pip Jamaica 1-0.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Shabazz not too excited by the win

Laurelle Theodore’s wonder goal was enough to propel T&T’s Under-20 women’s football team to a 1-0 win over Jamaica’s Under-20 team on Thursday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Chelcy Ralph zipped in a curling free-kick from the right, which Theodore connected with on the volley, to smash an unstoppable left-footed shot past Erin Mikalsen in goal for the young Reggae Girls.

Playing down the result in the friendly match, head coach Jamaal Shabazz said, “This was a very useful exercise today, we are happy for the result but the game itself showed up a lot of things that we’ve got to work on. We need to work more on team play, playing together, more combinations, more passing and moving. But I am very encouraged by the efforts and aggression of the players.”

“We are far from where we need to be come January. There is this fallacy in the school teams, where one school only has two or three players, that they are stars in the school but in the international game they are not stars.”

The former T&T women’s senior team coach noted that the Jamaicans displayed their usual grit and determination but still did not test his team in the way he might have expected.

In a first half dominated by the home team, Jamaica limited themselves to shots from distance as the T&T defence found life relatively easy against the Caribbean rivals.

Theodore, the former St Augustine Secondary School student, wearing the number nine shirt, had earlier struck the Jamaicans’ upright with a left-footed volley from about 20 yards out and also managed to create a clear cut chance for her captain and attacking partner, Dennecia Prince, releasing the latter down the right flank, but with only Mikalsen to beat in goal, Prince’s final shot, though well hit, was straight at the custodian.

Prince was causing problems again in the 19th minute and drew the foul from Emily Caza which would lead to T&T’s goal.

Shabazz and his young team cringed at the start of the second period when Prince was scythed down by Nevillegail Able about 30 yards from goal after collecting the ball on the turn. Able was shown a caution for the reckless challenge while Prince was later stretchered off the field after attempting to play on.

In that period, T&T continued to create chances, none better than when Theodore played in Ralph but the latter saw her fierce drive from inside the penalty area, crash off the crossbar and back into play.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s second match against Jamaica at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium from 4pm Shabazz said, “We will have at least seven foreign based players coming in. While for this game we used more of the local players, after Saturday we will be in a better position to make a judgement of how we go forward in terms of player personnel.”

Shabazz noted that there were still many areas this team needed to improve on before they are tournament ready for the CONCACAF leg of World Cup qualifiers in January.

RELATED NEWS

T&T U-20 Women win versis Jamaica.
By Shakira Thompson (TTFA).

Trinidad & Tobago started their Female U20 campaign with an exciting 1-0 win over Jamaica at the Ato Boldon stadium in Couva on Thursday night. In a keenly contested affair forward Laurelle Theodore's neat flick gave T& T the lead in the 19th minute.

Theodore slotted home after a teasing Chelcy Ralph freekick was placed behind Jamaica's backline leaving the Jamaican goalkeeper motionless. "It felt really good to score the winner”, stated an elated Theodore. "This game was important for us to see where we are at and how much harder we have to work towards securing a top 3 spot in January", added Theodore.

First time skipper Dennecia Prince echoed her teammates sentiments about the importance of the game. " We needed to know where the team was in terms of actual game intensity and match fitness. Everyone had a good game, especially the defence and the players all played their role and put it in the work", stated Prince.

T&T had a couple half chances in the first period with Theodore's shot from just outside the 18-yard box slamming into the crossbar after having already beaten the goalkeeper getting the small crowd on their feet at “The Home of Football”.

In the second half the ladies had more ball possession and were more attack minded, plus the defensive tactic of two players closing down the ball put Jamaica under pressure when they were in possession. Most times, it was just an all-out midfield battle.

U17 Striker Aaliyah Prince was a second half substitute and troubled the Jamaican defence with her dribbling skills. However good goalkeeping by the Jamaican custodian Yazmeen Jamieson denied Prince a goal on her U20 debut. Prince was one of three U17 players drafted into the squad. Both teams meet again on Saturday afternoon (4pm) at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

Teams

T&T STARTING XI: (GK) Klil Keshwar 1., Crystal Mollineaux 2., Natisha John 4., Abishai Guy 6. (Jassiel Forde 12.), Dennecia Prince 7. (Lauren Duffy 15.), Laurelle Theodore 9.(Aaliyah Prince 10.), Ranae Ward 11., Kedie Johnson 14.(Sydney Boiselle 16.), Alexis Fortune 17, Brittney Williams 18. (Kenedie St Mary 3.), Chelcy Ralph 19. (Shenieka Paul 13.)

UNUSED SUBS: Moenesa Mejias 5., Tianna Daniel 20., Malaika Dedier 21. Megan Rampersad 8.

JAMAICA STARTING XI: GK. Yazmeen Jamieson 13., Sashine Smith 2., Nevillegail Able 4., Kevena Reid 5., Gabrielle Gayle 6., Sherice Clarke 8., Jadyn Matthews 15., Alufoloshade Adomoluken 17., Emily Caza 18., Alyssa Julien 19.

[Tallman]

WATCH: Highlights of Trinidad and Tobago Women’s U-20’s 1-0 win over Jamaica in the first of two International Friendlies

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/pUu5-bpVP1U" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/pUu5-bpVP1U</a>

[Flex]

Prince scores for the Princesses in 1-0 win.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).

T&T Under-20 Women footballers edged their Jamaican counterparts 1-0 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella yesterday and will now head into a live-in camp to enhance preparation for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, scheduled for January 18-28, 2018 in T&T.

Like in their opening game last week, the Soca Princesses got a single strike, this time from the boot of their captain Dennecia Prince in the 3rd minute which they held on to until the final whistle, but not without surviving a major scare in the dying moments of the game as goalkeeper Klil Keshwar had to pull off a diving save to preserve the scoreline.

T&T coach Jamaal Shabazz said there were lots of positives to take from the match such as the players’ ability to mesh in-spite of the fact they the locals were only recently joined by several foreign based players. He said after just one week with the team he was encouraged by what they saw from the incoming players, but believed a lot more work is needed to be done on combination plays and fitness.

Shabazz who took over the coaching duties from Italian Carolina Morace, said he could not make predictions on the team’s readiness for the tournament in January but feels he would be in a better position to do so after the camp next month at which time he will have the opportunity to work with both the overseas based players who joined the team last week, along with the locals.

“When you think about when the tournament will be held and that we have had just one week with the girls, but yet we were able to beat the Jamaicans twice, it can only be encouraging for us.” Shabazz explained.

His team will intensify its preparation in the coming weeks and is expected to face Venezuela in a practice match or two in December.

Shabazz said attempts are also being made to secure a few other international friendly matches before his girls head into the tournament as hosts.

The Soca Princesses have been drawn in Group A of the tournament with Costa Rica and Canada as well as an undetermined Caribbean team. They need to be among the top three teams from two groups of four teams each, to qualify for the 2018 Women’s Under 20 World Cup in France in August.

Teams

T&T Starting XI - Klil Keshwar, Crystal Molineaux, Natisha John, Dennecia Prince (captain), Aaliyah Prince, Ranae Ward, Lauren Duffy, Sydney Boiselle, Alexis Fortune, Brittney Williams, Cecily Stoute.

Subs: Kenedie St Mary, Amaya Ellis, Renah Campbell, Megan Rampersad, Laurelle Theodore, Jaasiel Forde, Shenieka Paul, Kedie Johnson, Chelcy Ralph, Malaika Dedier.

Jamaica Starting XI - Sashine Smith, Maya, Swaby-Wallerson, Kevena Reid, Marlee Fray, Nevillegale Able, Erin Mikalsen, Yazmeen Jamieson, Tateyana Pitter, Emily Caza, Alyssa Julien, Shayla Smart.

Subs: Peterkaye Green, Gabrielle Gayle, Sherice Clarke, Tarania Clarke, Chavelle Henry, Jaydn Matthews, Ebony Clarke, Alufoloshade Adomoluken.

[Tallman]

Shabazz on T&T U20 women’s task: “We have a serious act to follow”
CONCACAF.com

The last Trinidad & Tobago national team -- of any kind -- to play at home in a competitive match earned a huge win, one that sent shockwaves throughout the football world.

That’s why head coach Jamaal Shabazz realizes an intense spotlight will be on his side, when it hosts the 2018 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship in January.

“We have a serious act to follow with Trinidad & Tobago’s victory in the men’s game against the USA,” said Shabazz, referring to the Soca Warriors surprising 2-1 win on the last day of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a result that eliminated the Americans. “Now, the public’s interest has really peaked.”

A feel-good factor from that October 10 evening is expected to carryover into the U20’s CONCACAF campaign. It will be the first time that T&T has hosted the finals of Confederation women’s competition since the 2008 CONACACF Under-17 Women’s Championship.

Although T&T has never qualified for a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup – falling agonizingly short in 2014 -- Shabazz is shaping a team for the challenge and pressure generated by performing in front of the home supporters.

“It’s a great pleasure to play at home and to host the United States, Mexico, Canada, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the rest of the Caribbean teams,” he expressed. “In our country, a lot is expected of you when you play at home.

“The women’s program, at one time, was the top in the Caribbean. Then, it fell away because we did not do the development work. Under this new administration, we’ve started to put things in place at U13 and U11. This under-20 team that is participating in this tournament, they themselves came out of a development program some years ago. They’ve done well in CONCACAF at U-15 level some years ago, so we expect a lot from them.”

What can we ultimately expect to see from the T&T U20s come January?

Shabazz smiled and finished: “Commitment, exciting football and the desire to finally pass that threshold and qualify for a World Cup.”

That should be enough to get the supporters out in large numbers to Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva from January 18-28, 2018.

[Flex]

National Women’s U-20s camp for Thanksgiving.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Coming off a successful brace of matches against Jamaica, Head Coach of the Women’s National Program Jamaal Shabazz and his staff have taken advantage of the Thanksgiving school break in the USA to assemble a team that includes eight foreign based players for the local live in camp.

Shabazz told Guardian Media Sports, “This is an extremely important week towards our preparations for the Concacaf U20 Qualifiers, when you have so many foreign based players, the team has to be built in parts and opportunities like these are welcomed, this week we are going to work, work and work to lay the tactical foundation of the team.”

Shabazz who spent his first week with the U20s Women prior to the Jamaica friendlies says he was encouraged by the talent pool available.

“ We must get them fitter and focussed. Once that happens this crop of players will make T&T proud in the short and long term, we inherited a group of players who had previous international exposure under some good coaches like Rajesh Latchoo, Marlon Charles, Jason Spence and Ken Elie, and they have reignited my passion for the football of the field and as a staff we are just as excited as the players,” revealed Shabazz.

The foreign based contingent includes Amaya Ellis, Renah Campbell, Kenedie St Mary, Lauren Duffy, Sydney Boiselle, Rebecca Almandoz , Asha James, Shadi Cecily Stoute, Alexis Fortune and Megan Rampersad.

Speaking about the sessions Shabazz pointed to the sacrifice made by the players.

“We have locally based players training with us in the mornings then going to school and returning for the late evening sessions.

“Its important for us to keep it real and not lose sight of the fact that they are student athletes.

Ranae Ward, Brittney Williams, Klil Keshwar ( Bishop Anstey High School) Jaasiel Forde (UWI) Malika Dedier ( Bishop’s East ) Chelcy Ralph and Kadie Johnson ( St Augustine Senior) are some of the players still in school.

The staff has been joined by Saron Joseph who was been drafted from the men’s senior team as a Trainer.

Camp goes until the weekend ending with a game versus the National U15 Boys team.

[Flex]

U-20 Women Happy with Camp.
By Wayne Cunningham (TTFA).

The Trinidad and Tobago Under 20 Women’s Team, inclusive of eight foreign based players completed their one-week camp at the Turning Point Christian Centre in Maracas St. Joseph with a 1-1 draw against a Presentation College U-16 Boys’ team on Saturday.

Describing the exercise as "beneficial", foreign based utility player Amaya Ellis, stated. “The camp was very useful and important especially for the foreign based players to meet and gel with the local based players”. The 18-year-old, who currently plays for Los Gatos High School in California is the daughter of former St. Mary's College standout Mark Ellis and is no stranger to the national team having represented this country at U15, U17 and U20 levels.

Commenting on the 1-1 draw against the Boys team, Ellis said. “We still have a lot of work to do but our performance was very encouraging and we competed very well against the boys. Ellis who plays both in midfield and central defence has some European experience having played three seasons for German outfit Frankfurt Football Club (FFC).

Describing the coaching staff as "experienced" and "passionate " Ellis was happy with how the team adapted to Coach Jamaal Shabazz’s, focus on defensive organization. “I felt that the players grasped the concept of having everyone defending; whether it was supporting or cutting off the opponent’s options. We have certainly improved in one week and I look forward to returning in December”, added Ellis.

[royal]

U-20 Women Happy with Camp.
By Wayne Cunningham (TTFA).

The Trinidad and Tobago Under 20 Women’s Team, inclusive of eight foreign based players completed their one-week camp at the Turning Point Christian Centre in Maracas St. Joseph with a 1-1 draw against a Presentation College U-16 Boys’ team on Saturday.

Describing the exercise as "beneficial", foreign based utility player Amaya Ellis, stated. “The camp was very useful and important especially for the foreign based players to meet and gel with the local based players”. The 18-year-old, who currently plays for Los Gatos High School in California is the daughter of former St. Mary's College standout Mark Ellis and is no stranger to the national team having represented this country at U15, U17 and U20 levels.

Commenting on the 1-1 draw against the Boys team, Ellis said. “We still have a lot of work to do but our performance was very encouraging and we competed very well against the boys. Ellis who plays both in midfield and central defence has some European experience having played three seasons for German outfit Frankfurt Football Club (FFC).

Describing the coaching staff as "experienced" and "passionate " Ellis was happy with how the team adapted to Coach Jamaal Shabazz’s, focus on defensive organization. “I felt that the players grasped the concept of having everyone defending; whether it was supporting or cutting off the opponent’s options. We have certainly improved in one week and I look forward to returning in December”, added Ellis.

Mark Ellis went to QRC not CIC

[Tallman]

Forbes sees wonderful opportunity for U-20 Women in January’s CONCACAF tourney
TTFA Media

Trinidad and Tobago Senior Women’s team goalkeeper Kimika Forbes believes that next January’s CONCACAF Under 20 Women’s Championship is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the current T&T squad members and a chance for this country to promote the women’s game on a big scale.

Forbes is coming off another successful season with Colombian-club Independiente Santa Fe with which she won the Colombian Women’s League. On arriving home a few weeks ago, she immediately got involved in the game locally, serving as assistant coach for the Signal Hill Secondary Girls Team during latter stages of the 2017 Secondary Schools Football League season.

Forbes and her sister Karyn have represented T&T at the Under 20 level before graduating to being fixtures on the Senior Women’s Team which is currently gearing towards the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers next year.

But before the Seniors get their turn next year, the Under 20s, led by coach Jamaal Shabazz, will have their time to enter the spotlight when the 8-nation tournament takes place at the TTFA Home of Football, Ato Boldon Stadium from January 18th-28th.

“I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Under 20 girls. It’s a very exciting period in their careers and they are virtually one step away from qualifying for a World Cup. It’s an excellent opportunity for them with us being the hosts of the final round and I’m really happy for them but at the same time nervous as well as excited to see how the tournament will play out,” Forbes told TTFA Media on Friday.

“I think there is a lot of talent in local women’s football and the girls have been hard at work under Jamaal (Shabazz). I remember when we were coming up as youth players, the chance to play in the qualifiers was something great to look forward to. Now these girls look up to us as senior players and it is important that we give them the right kind of support. Having us around them is also a form of motivation. I haven’t seen them much recently in terms of matches but I will surely try to get involved in some way before the qualifiers come around,” Forbes added.

The 27-year-old custodian also had some words of encouragement for the T&T Under 17 team which was eliminated from qualification last month.

“It will be disappointing but they are still in the early part of their careers and have a lot to look forward to. They need to stay focused and keep their heads up. They must not let the disappointment hang over their heads and many of them will have a second bite at the cherry as Jamaal would say and may even be able to get into the current Under 20 team,” she said.

Forbes recently signed a contract extension until May 20187 with Santa Fe and will travel with the Colombian side to face Athletico Bilbao’s women’s team in Spain at month end.

The 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship will be the 9th edition of the CONCACAF Championship, the biennial international youth football championship organised by CONCACAF for the women’s under-20 national teams of the North, Central American and Caribbean region. A total of eight teams will play in the tournament.The top three teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France as the CONCACAF representatives.

[Flex]

Forbes sees bright future for T&T U-20 women.
T&T Newsday Reports.

Trinidad and Tobago women’s football team goalkeeper Kimika Forbes believes that next January’s CONCACAF Under 20 Women’s Championship is a once in a lifetime opportunity for T&T. She said it is also a chance for this country to promote the women’s game on a big scale.

Forbes is coming off another successful season with Colombian-club Independiente Santa Fe with which she won the Colombian Women’s League. On arriving home a few weeks ago, she immediately got involved in the game locally, serving as assistant coach for the Signal Hill Secondary Girls team during latter stages of the 2017 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season.

Forbes and her sister Karyn have represented TT at the Under-20 level before graduating to being fixtures on the women’s senior team which is currently gearing towards the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers next year.

But before the women get their turn next year, the Under-20s, led by coach Jamaal Shabazz, will have their time to enter the spotlight when the eight-nation tournament takes place at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, from January 18-28.

“I believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Under-20 girls. It’s a very exciting period in their careers and they are virtually one step away from qualifying for a World Cup. It’s an excellent opportunity for them, with us being the hosts of the final round. I’m really happy for them, but at the same time nervous as well as excited to see how the tournament will play out,” Forbes said on Friday.

“I think there is a lot of talent in local women’s football and the girls have been hard at work under Jamaal (Shabazz). I remember when we were coming up as youth players, the chance to play in the qualifiers was something great to look forward to. Now these girls look up to us as senior players and it is important that we give them the right kind of support. Having us around them is also a form of motivation. I haven’t seen them much recently in terms of matches but I will surely try to get involved in some way before the qualifiers come around,” Forbes added.

The 27-year-old custodian also had some words of encouragement for the T&T Under-17 eliminated from qualification last month.

“It will be disappointing but they are still in the early part of their careers and have a lot to look forward to. They need to stay focused and keep their heads up. They must not let the disappointment hang over their heads and many of them will have a second bite at the cherry as Jamaal would say, and may even be able to get into the current Under-20 team,” she said.

Forbes recently signed a contract extension until May 2018 with Santa Fe and will travel with the Colombian side to face Athletico Bilbao’s women’s team in Spain at month’s end.

[asylumseeker]

Forbes sees bright future for T&T U-20 women.
T&T Newsday Reports.
...

Forbes recently signed a contract extension until May 2018 with Santa Fe and will travel with the Colombian side to face Athletico Bilbao’s women’s team in Spain at month’s end.

The match will be versus Atlético Madrid, not Bilbao. The original idea was to play it on August 31, but that date was not compatible with other logistics.

The game will be played on January 31. Ah might be able to make that flex.

[Tallman]

WATCH: Coach Jamaal Shabazz gives an update on preparations for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/qFWzbI8P0LM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/qFWzbI8P0LM</a>

[Flex]

Overseas players to join U-20 women’s camp on Friday.
T&T Guardian Reports.

National Under-20 Women’s coach Jamaal Shabazz will welcome a cadre of overseas-based players at a live-in camp by Friday, as the team continues to prepare for the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship at the Home of Football in Couva from January 18-28.

Shabazz saw his team go under 2-0 to the T&T Senior Women in a training match on Friday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in the opening game of a double header.

Despite the loss, Shabazz believes his players showed some positive signs. “For us we saw some good things with the Under 20s. They showed a good attitude towards bringing the ball out of the back and building the attack. We did not get a lot of penetration and this we could do better. I felt there were situations where on the sides of the field the wingers could have tried to go back the wing backs. They lacked a bit of bravery there,” Shabazz said.

“But generally we saw a couple good things from them and it was the kind of practice game that we wanted leading up to this tournament in January.”

“Three weeks ago we had a camp mainly for the foreign-based players and some local-based. The foreign-based will come back in from December 15 and then we will have our full contingent. The local-based players currently competing for a place in the final squad got a chance on Friday to show themselves. They will train for one week again, this week and then we will select the best group to go into camp alongside incoming foreign-based players who we have called back. And then from then we will be in a better position to compare apples with apples,” Shabazz stated,

He added that efforts are being made to arrange practice matches with a couple South American opponents for later in December.

T&T are in Group A and will face off with Haiti in the second game of a double header on the opening day of the championship on January 18. Costa Rica faces Canada in the opening match. Group B comprises United States, Nicaragua, Jamaica and Mexico.

[Flex]

No Christmas for U-20 footballers.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).

There will be no Christmas for this country’s Under-20 Women footballers, preparing for the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, January 18-28 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain Couva.

National coach Jamaal Shabazz said he expects a formidable group when the overseas based players join the locals at a live-in camp from today, but his major concern will be to get adequate international friendly matches to fine tune. Yesterday Shabazz, who has taken over the coaching duties of the team from Italian Carolina Morace and her staff, told Guardian Media Sports he already has an idea of the strength the overseas based players will come with.

“I also know what our local players have to offer, so when I put them both together it will be nothing short of a formidable group of players,” Shabazz explained. The players are expected to be sent home only for Christmas day but will be required to return to the camp on Boxing day.

According to Shabazz, “While everyone will be enjoying the Christmas season, we will be hard at work. Christmas for these players must include a football at their side because we will be entering competition soon after.”

The Under-20s who were beaten by their senior counterparts last Friday, will contest Group A of the Championship along with Costa Rica, Canada and Haiti, while Group B comprises giants United States, Mexico, Jamaica and Nicaragua.

The Soca Princesses will begin their campaign against the Haitians on the opening day, before taking on Canada two days later. Their last match will be against Costa Rica on January 22. The top three teams to emerge from the play-offs will earn automatic qualification to the World Cup.

Shabazz said he is waiting to see if his team will get the opportunity to warm-up against adequate opposition. Only last month the team prevailed over regional rivals Jamaica 1-0 in two matches at the Ato Boldon and then at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.

Yesterday the names of the squad’s 35 players were submitted to the Concacaf ahead of the tournament.

[Flex]

Under-20s’ training intensified with GPS monitors.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).

T&T Under-20 Women’s team has intensified its preparations for next year’s CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship at the Ato Boldon Stadium, January 18-28, courtesy of quality time with both the locals and overseas based players.

Coach Jamaal Shabazz said he has been capitalizing on the down-time of the girls, particularly the overseas, who are away from schools and the girls have responded positively.

The team’s preparation has become even more meaningful as Shabazz was able to borrow the GPS monitors from the national senior Men’s team.

“The under-20s have been very competitive with each other, fighting for a spot on the team. The intensity is there and we were fortunate to get the GPS heart rate monitors borrowed from the senior national men’s team, so we were able to monitor the intensity of the work, the quality of the work, as well as the rest and recovery periods” Shabazz said.

He noted “It is a joy working with them right now. We’re singing that we wish it could go on forever, because now the training has a lot more meaning, a lot more purpose and the girls have been competing very well and taking things in stride.”

The under-20s have been at a live-in camp while the senior players train five days a week ahead of another CONCACAF Women’s tournament later this year. Both teams will meet a second time on Saturday, the closing time for the camp, at 3”30pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium in another friendly. The first meeting between the teams ended in a 2-0 victory for the seniors on December 8 at the Ato Boldon Stadium. But this time Shabazz said both teams with be strengthened by the inclusion of their respective foreign base players.

After the game the u-20s will break for a couple days and return on December 27. The camp comprises 28 players, of which seven are from overseas. The team will be joined by two other foreign players, expected on Boxing Day, and another in early January.