Seventeen months ago, Norwegian Even Pellerud travelled from Canada, where he was head coach and technical director of the women’s football programme, to T&T to perform similar duties.
Today, women’s football in T&T has benefitted tremendously from his input and the U-17 players will show what they have learnt from the ace coach at the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup from September 5. Beyond that, he says, will be a question of how far those in charge locally want to take the women’s game.
“We are not there yet. But, can we get there!”said Pellerud.“My answer is a loud and clear YES – when the political desire is there. And most importantly, the women’s national teams need to be coached by the best coaches available.”
According to Pellerud though, T&T will give a good showing at the World Cup. “The U-17 team has become a competitive one, and we can play good football on a given day,” he said.
“However, many of the girls still vary very much in their performance level, and that contributes to inconsistent team performances. Our goal is to showcase a team that has become competitive and mentally ready to play the big teams. That has been a consistent goal, and it still is.
“We know we drew tough opponents in our Group ‘A’, but we remain confident in our ability to reach the next round of this World Cup final.” Pellerud has done more than just moulded the U-17 women in his 17 months her. He has had an impact on all women’s teams and even the sport’s culture to some extent.
“I have had to go through a little culture shock since I started to work in T&T,” he explained. In his usually amusing way, he described T&T’s laid-back culture: “I do find myself envious sometimes when I realise that people are on their own clock and really do not pay much attention to my urge for timeliness.” “There seems to exist a never ending series of excuses for showing up late to practice sessions and meetings, if at all....”
“I need to start to enjoy that kind of quality of life, too ... later in life,” he joked.” He indicated there has been a clash with the casual approach to discipline and the level of intensity and team thinking.
But, the 56-year-old coach explained that he has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “I have truly enjoyed it, I have learned a lot from it, and I feel like a much better coach today than when I arrived 17 months ago,” he said.
“I have loved working with the girls and enjoyed fun times with a very hardworking staff and feel welcome by all local people, football people and otherwise. It took sometime before the locals around St. Augustine and Tunapuna (where he lives) acknowledged my presence in the neighbourhood, but that has changed over time.”
So have the players, he said, “It would not be fair to compare these players with those I met the first time 17 months ago. At that time some of them had just started to play football and were not very advanced in this sport.” He said their fitness, skill, game awareness and tactical understanding has blossomed immensely.
“They are also bigger and stronger and smarter. But first and foremost, I met a team that did not show an interest in intensity and competitiveness – and this is the biggest change that has occurred.” He said the standard has now been set, and the U-17 World Cup will establish women’s football as the major sport for all young women.