Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Carolina Morace’s tenure as Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team coach began with a committed but uninspired performance today as the Women Soca Warriors played to a goalless draw with Venezuela in a friendly international at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
Substitute Laurelle Theodore had an excellent chance to snatch a result in the 80th minute but shot disappointingly wide after being sent clear through the opposition defence. But Venezuela had the better of the match and pinned the host team in their own half of the field for much of the closing 30 minutes.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Morace pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago lost 2-0 in their last meeting with Venezuela, three years ago, so she chalked this afternoon’s showing as an improved result. But that was just half the story.
For starters, the Women Warriors had stand-in coach Jason Spence running the bench for that 2-0 loss on 8 July 2014 while the newly appointed Randy Waldrum sat in the stands. And Trinidad and Tobago rested several key players—including then captain Maylee Attin-Johnson and attacker Tasha St Louis—after whipping Venezuela 5-0, just two days earlier.
St Louis wore the captain’s armband today as Attin-Johnson missed out due to an internal suspension along with attacker Kennya “Yaya” Cordner while winger Ahkeela Mollon also withdrew her services weeks ago after issues with Morace’s technical staff.
Inevitably, after a limp offensive showing, Morace was asked about the fate of the trio. Is her door open to the talented former internationals? Would she consider mediation with the players?
“I don’t have any comment on that,” said Morace.
The Italian preferred to talk about her present roster.
The two nations played to a goalless draw at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
“The difference between a group and a team is the rules,” she told Wired868. “The needs of the team is on top of everything; it comes first. Individual needs come second.
“This group understood that and it is exactly as it has to be… This week was a pleasure to see them off the field because they were friends, they worked together and also today I could see that they encourage each other.”
There are also, as Morace pointed out, several North America-based players who are still to return and should add depth to the current player pool. And, with more than a year to go before the France 2019 Women’s World Cup qualifying phase gets started, these are early days.
“We need to improve everything,” said Morace. “But I think we need five or six months to be ready.”
Today, the Woman Warriors still had eight players from the squad that got to the CONCACAF semifinals in February 2016 under then coach Richard Hood. But there was little to get the sparse crowd of roughly 1,000 patrons off their seats.
Skipper St Louis provoked some “aaahs” as she turned opposing midfielder Maikerlin Astudillo inside out, near the centre circle in the 10th minute. And she forced Venezuela defender Petra Cabrera into an awkward tackle, four minutes later, as the two tried to get on the end of a low cross from Trinidad and Tobago winger Mariah Shade.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
But, by then, Venezuela captain Paola Villamizar had already made it clear who was running the show. Skilful, composed and technically sound, Villamizar was at the heart of everything memorable from the South American squad. And, in the 29th minute, she produced a slick move between Trinidad and Tobago veterans Lauryn Hutchinson and Dernelle Mascall that drew warm applause from even the most partisan onlookers.
Venezuela’s shooting did not match the quality of their approach play though and was often high and wide. So, for all their possession, Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Kimika Forbes got little more than catching practice at the back.
Cabrera came closest as her effort on the turn skimmed the top of the bar before going over in the 57th minute, off a Villamizar cross.
While, in the 73rd minute, Venezuela midfielder Tahicelis Marcano hit wide of an open goal from 22 yards, after a Forbes clearance deflected into her path.
To be fair to Marcano, her shot was rushed. Trinidad and Tobago central defender Arin King, ably assisted by Anastasia Prescott, made sure that the Venezuela frontline did not have it all their own way. And, on the flank, Patrice Superville was virtually unbeatable for the hosts at right back.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago might have grabbed an improbable win too as, within seconds of her entrance, Theodore found herself clear through on goal. But she failed to keep her nerve and did not even force a save from Venezuela custodian Micheel Rengifo.
Morace was satisfied with the showing but promised a lot more from her troops in the future, once she gets them up to speed—she pointed to too many backward passes and a lack of aggression from her midfield. The former Canada World Cup coach suggested that the Warriors were about 70 percent there.
“What I asked for was more movement on the wing,” said Morace. “But of course if you want to play on the wing with the overlap and the movement of the forward and the overlap of the internal midfielder and the wing back, we need to have good condition.
“We know that we are not in the best physical condition but we are growing.”
Morace was non-committal on the fate of Attin-Johnson, Cordner and Mollon. For now, she suggested that the harmony and ethos of her squad is an asset.
“We are not the best team in the world,” she said. “We have to work on other strengths which we can have.”
Theodore missed a late opportunity as the two nations played to a goalless draw.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
The Women Warriors will get a second chance to show off those strengths on Wednesday night when they meet Venezuela again at the same venue from 7pm.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Kimika Forbes (GK); 8.Patrice Superville, 3.Anastasia Prescott, 5.Arin King, 20.Lauryn Hutchinson (15.Chevonne John 46); 12.Ranae Ward (19.Laurelle Theodore 79), 7.Dernelle Mascall (6.Nia Walcott 46), 14.Karyn Forbes; 13.Shenelle Henry, 10.Tasha St Louis (captain), 9.Mariah Shade.
Unused substitutes: 21.Shalette Alexander (GK), 2.Ayana Russell, 4.Crystal Mollineaux, 11.Liana Hinds, 16.Ke’die Johnson, 17.Annalis Cummings, 18.Kelsey Henry.
Coach: Carolina Morace
Venezuela (4-4-2): 12.Micheel Rengifo (GK); 17.Yeiny Rosal (20.Paola Camacho 60), 6.Rafanny Mendoza, 2.Petra Cabrera, 4.Barbara Serrano; 10.Paola Villamizar (captain), 8.Tahicelis Marcano, 16.Maikerlin Astudillo, 7.Milagros Mendoza; 11.Joemar Guarecuco (5.Nayle Quintero 90), 19.Vimarest Diaz (18.Hilaris Villasana 52).
Unused substitutes: 1.Oriana Palacios (GK), 13.Andrea De Oliveria, 21.Diosely Mendoza.
Coach: Josefina Infante
Referee: Crystal Sobers
“[…] In local women’s football history only the outstanding Robbie Greenidge of Rossi Potentials fame has a better track record Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team picked up their first point of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team are rock bottom of Group A and unlikely to qualify for the Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team suffered a chastening start to their 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup qualifying Read more
Former Police FC head coach Richard Hood will lead the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team into the 2024 Read more
For the first time in 11 years, coach Richard Hood played no role in Police FC’s match day plans over Read more
Will really like to see Maylee and Kenya return. We cannot dispose of our heroes so easily.
I hope Morace got an ass whooping for this!! Against minnows – a draw!! And she screwed our betters players atghe first instance!! She must get the same!!! We must be hard on our selves but must be even more hard on others we bring at 10 times the price!!!
Yeah u hope so based on what info
Only hope!! Only hope!!
Sterling Obrian Kareem Perry Bevon K Bass read the comments?
As for the ‘cool down’ .. that is one of the players responsibility. I coach middle and distance running and every workout session one of the athletes takes the responsibility of conducting a cool down session … that is not my responsibility .. I oversee it Justas I do with the warm up .. but as an athlete you have to be responsible …
Alyuh see when I called them bootleg Coaches eh some people does get vex with me eh, so the Coach, her assistants, the Manager isn’t suppose to checked all this madness from in the locker room eh Sharmain Baboolal and even the referees are bootleg to because they themsleves does check all the players for this and that before taking the field by the lockers rooms eh or that doesn’t happen again in our sweet country steeuuppss. Them really good yes.
And Tasha St Louis was left to conduct the warm down with her players after the game which looked unprofessional. At this stage, a teaching stage, one of the assistants could have taken things in hand. Another assistant was taking the players on the bench through a drill at the same time.
Yes she and her staff should check it but at this level she shouldn’t have to be telling them that. Then we don’t want a coach we want a babysitter
And even from in practice or when they first came to our sweet country and met with our players all that madness should have been cleared up a matter of fact when our players are nominated to represent our sweet country the manager of the teams should always present the players with the rules and regulations and this is the same thing that I use to do when I use to do my thing back in the days so when they break my rules and regulations I use to fine my players very heavily because if is one thing I don’t believe in all this talk, talk, and more talk, especially when these players feels that they reach eh, Them really good yes Steeuuppss
In terms of the players’ nails and stuff, I think that would be the manager’s responsibility more than the coach.
Usually, the trainer/physio would do the warm down. Not sure if that is such a big deal though.
Lasana,
Not sure I agree completely, The Coach is ULTIMATELY responsible for the team and referees are the enforcers as we know it. In the US, NFHS (High Schools) rules, the coach is shown a “Yellow Card” if the players are not in compliance of the dress code. i.e. wearing earring etc.. At the pre-game conference, the coach is also asked: “Will your players be properly dressed and equipped at the start of and during the game”..
Keep in mind too the local level referees that are assigned to games in schools, clubs etc.. coaches and managers are given the same rules as referees, All are partially responsible for not enforcing the rules….Managers want the “WIN: so they accept minor alterations of rules by their “STAR” players….Referees, who are not confident enough to 100% enforced the rules at the lower levels because they want to make their little $$$ “change” and go home. This is NOT limited to girls earring etc…guys and girls who tape socks, no shin guards, friendship bracelets etc…
However, the bottom line is the players at all levels…if they are continually “STOPPED” at practices and on game day and not allowed to participate they will learn or leave the sport…
Well of course it is a big deal and some of the players didn’t get to play because of that reason eh. Them really good yes.
Yes but at this level this should nit have been an issue. When I worked with QRC football 2002-2007 the players knew that they don’t come onto the pitch with earrings, chains or any form of jewelry. Come onto the field with shin pads, proper socks and attire, no printed t shirts either royal blue or white and always a blue shorts. At professional club and at national level this should nit be an issue. My fiend who coaches division one soccer at a USA university would go ballistic if he has to explain in a session these rules of courtesy and preparation to his team and indeed in e benched a prominent TT youth player for flaunting what he called “basic football protocols”. Let’s not make excuses for these women or our men
Or you mean’t the warming down, sorry eh Mr Live Wire. hahahaha
Lasana Liburd not trying to make big deal, but professionalism demands that these little things are dealt with. She took an assignment in a third world country and should be in teaching mode at all levels…
Fair enough Sharmain. Hopefully we improve on such things then.
I agree it was so amateurish and looked foolish to see the situation with the nails and earrings … that is not a coach responsibility .. it is a big deal when you are a professional ..
I don’t buy into the third world comment. So we should always expect people from first world to come in and teach us? Even basic things. So we in the third world cannot be professional? So professionalism comes naturally to first world people but not us in the third world? How about by now the players should have known. I’m sure their previous coaches told them that
I actually don’t believe in the third world talk at all eh. We should stop seeing ourselves as that.
where was “third world” mentioned
No, we can handle our own stories, as we have proven, But if you are first world and you play that all over us, then show/ teach us, if you think that we are not good enough.
Tony, read Sharmain’s comment above.
Demanding more doesn’t mean that they don’t think we good enough. It means the exact opposite- that they believe we can and should do better
And Brian Harry let’s tell the TRUTH with respect to dealing with our players compared to other players from other part of the World, our players isn’t normal eh it came to a point when I started to get anxiety attacks eh, couldn’tt sllep at nights because always thinking what to do on game day with respect to picking the best players etc, etc, perfect example the capatian of the boatrides broke camp the first time eh, and he went and do it a second time again eh, a player going away on a real professional contract abroad eh, and got shot in his leg the night before he suppose to travel because he went out to celebrate on the boat ride the same eh, he must be the vice captain of the boatrides and I am positively certain that you can shre plenty stories the same ent, well that is the reason why I done with the Coaching business and now I only want get the Players Association up and running and continue to honor the top goal scorer of our professional league with $ 5000 monies and the boots of their choice and eventually do it the same for the Super League and the flow youth league eh and of course also assist my police team in the league, no more stressing with some our players, who suppsoe to be millionaires and they are just not getting it nah. Them really good yes.
Something from School girl’s football reared its ugly head yesterday at the Ato Boldon Stadium. Dont know if Lasana observed. When Nia Walcott was supposed to go on- she was delayed because her nails too long. She started to bite them, anxious to go on the field and Morace slapped her hand away, on two occasions. Again, Hinds did not go on because after her ears were taped to cover earrings, she was blocked. She went back to the bench. This is common in the girls SSFL, I have observed. Just a month ago, I passed in at an SJCPOS training session and saw a male coach- who should know better, coaching girls with short socks- and no shin pads- and the captain was guilty as charged and wearing earrings too. He is a paid coach. Worse yet, parents were looking on and not thinking of enforcing that discipline on their daughters. So, to see this at the national level, like yesterday is no surprise. Carolina obviously has not made a good /holistic assessment of her charges.
So what about the corrupted TTFA that really needs to also stop exploiting our Local Coaches and our players to eh Royce Russell Them really good yes.
that is why we have FB…to call them out….
NO MORE 1989…..
Wrong answer eh so you better go to the back of the class, that is why my Father God gave Mr. Live Wire his vision to come up with wired 868 volley eh so I myself could start the bacchanal to always expose them mehself. Them really good yes hahahahaha
Not in my opinion. Students too smart for that now. They see what the adults are doing and they’re not letting us fool them so easily anymore.
TT schools have to drill to the students DISCIPLINE PRODUCTION TOLERANCE….that is our problems….
fellas my beef is simple….the TTFA hire a coach….respect that….
What is the definition of patriotism? Is if just support and accept what the “country” throws at us? Then I’m not a patriot and don’t want to be
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel — Samuel Johnson
I understand your patriotism. But I totally disagree. Whether you’re a football coach, a doctor, a contractor or what have you… You EARN your kudos.
My job isn’t to cheer at whatever the Big Boss gives me. You think this is North Korea?
I respect what Carolina did earlier in her career. And now we will be looking to see what she is giving us here.
BOOM.
so all these news is now coming out…what is your position in TTFA…Earl Mango Pierre?????
Lasana you getting your dose. I had mine a few months ago. Good luck
This is good. We need to buckle down on our fitness levels and discipline.
Lasana Liburd GO BACK to the last 10 yrs. all you give FOREIGN coach…NEGATIVE HYPED….WHY….this is the lady first match…
First of all, show an example of that on Wired868.
You’re wrong. But it doesn’t even matter really. Wrong place for empty mindless cheering.
The idea of Wired868 is to discuss. And to use our brains as much as our hearts.
Mindless stuff is for political fanatics.
the last FOREIGN male coach…he was fired before he start…did Dennis get an ULTIMATUM????????????????????????? eh…
The last foreign male coach got no respect even from his employers. That is because he has no record of success.
Carolina Morace, Francisco Maturana, Leo Beenhakker, etc all started off in an environment of respect because their records demanded it.
Thereafter, it was up to their performances to keep or lose that respect.
The only ULTIMATUM Coach Dennis got is that he has to play the ball game with my dictator president eh, Them really good yes.
Ridiculous comment Royce. Hype is not real. That’s not talk for intelligent people. Maybe you want to rephrase that. Apart from the fact that Morace got loads of positive comments since January based upon her CV.
GIVE MORACE THE SAME HYPED….YOU ARE GIVING TO DENNIS…please….
Quite a number of the people in the covered stands were not paying patrons either. Question begs to be asked what is Morace building/rebuilding?
The 4 are very close most national women coaches got problem with her
If you say so……..BOOM
Guys we didn’t lose .. that’s key ..lol… better than loosing… Venezuela played all over us. We were just lucky… had a fantastic opportunity to make it one nil but I guess it was too real to be true that you were one on one with the keeper. Shot went easily wide. We will get it right in the next meeting… that I know. .. Boom
Very early days with the team. I expect us to get better with additions obviously. It was challenging to enjoy today’s match as a Trini.
Venezuela gave us a little more excitement,especially their skipper
Apart from poor football,the management/administration/marketing of our national football,is not helping a bad situation.
We just know we can do better than this. That’s the frustrating thing. Too many own goals off the field.
And no matter how the fearless one Andre Baptiste and Roxanne continues to beg our people to come out and support the Soca Worries on I955fm radio eh, it seems that plenty folks are not taking them on and maybe it is because how my Coach Hart was treated and also because of the madness that continues with my dictator president and the corrupted TTFA so they are boycotting the games eh. Them really good yes.
Locals just do not like to support local players. Even the pro league players who complain that no one goes to watch them play, they do not go and support others either.
As with anything else,once there is a good product,the public will buy in.
I will continue singing the same song over and over until the football is returned to our communities , with the players representing from the communities at least the majority of them, only then they will get the real crowd support, look at the kind of crowd support that Morvant Caledona gets whenever there is a game eh, but they need to fix the field for them and with the same stadium lights. Them really good yes.
And I will bet 1 million dollars that if the women’s game was played at the Hasley Crawford stadium, there would have been more patrons than the 1000 that went to the game today, but as we all know that field is being reserved for the game Soca Worries vs Mexico on Tuesday night coming, so I don’t know what was the big rush to play these two women games now, the corrupted TTFA should have waited until the both Soca Worries game had played and then scheduled the women’s game the next weekend in town. steeuupss. I myself decided to head to movie towne today to watch King Kong because as I said that I won’t be going to games and supportng the football anymore until the corrupted TTFA do the right thing for our local Coahes and players with respect to paying them their well deserving monies on time and if Alyuh see people at the movies eh, so this will be my new entertainment from now on eh. Them realy good yes,
Thanks Lance, glad to hear someone else say it
And yes, the marketing is 10times worse than the quality.
Patriotism aside,the quality of football is poor,hence the poor attendance.
You went to the game Lance? It really was pretty drab to be honest. As a supporter, you have to console yourself by saying you were there to support from the start.
Yes I did.
Well you all know that our people really like a good product and a winning team before they will really start supporting the football instead of the saying, win , draw, or lost no matter how the team is playing we supporting still so maybe that is why there were only 1000 patrons eh. Them really good yes.
Earl that’s only a part of the story. If people felt inspired and saw good things happening around them, they will show up simply because they would feel a sense of pride and understand the needed commitment. When every Monday morning is another drama and some poor administrative behavior people say “wtf I going dey for ? Dem ain’t care about nobody”. And so …….
Our fans are not much different to others but people get a rise for a cause they believe in
The momentum with respect to our people supporting our football was broken a very long time ago when the corrupted Jack Warner sold out the game to the USA in 1989, and then when he orchestrated the 2006 Soca Warriors trip to the World Cup in Germany and then our 13 players had to take the corrupted Jack Warner to court in order to get their well deserved millions of monies again the momemtum went down again that it got so bad that even our people that living in my second sweetest country stopped supporting the both Soca Worries and the women’s team when the game to play their games, the only supporters were the families of the players and a few other die hard fans like mehself. Them really good yes.
I was really surprised at that crowd. I thought that game would get 4,000 or 5,000 easy. And the crowd was poor for the men’s game against Panama too. Not sure what is going on.
Unemployment on the rise coupled with people more worried about their pockets?
I’m so accustomed to Trinis spending like there is no tomorrow. But maybe you’re right.
Money worries……
The people who continue to have large pools of disposable income are not the people that would usually attend games. They are the ones last to hitch on the bandwagon. Whereas the ones that do support are very likely being hit in the pocket. Still jammin, but in moderation
Covered stand entrance fee for recent TT v Barbados Men friendly at same venue was $50. Entrance fee for TT v Venezuela Women (without TT’s big 3 – Maylee, Yaya & Ahkeela) was $100!
Lol
Wired868 the same HYPED you give to Dennis….give Morace equal HYPE….
I think you should go to the TTFA’s website and Facebook page Royce. This is a news group and forum. We are not paid cheerleaders.
Well surely our three real professional players were missed and if they had played that game the result would definitely be different, and only 1000 patrons attended the game, these people in our sweet country isn’t really serious about the beautiful game . Them really good yes.
I wasn’t at the women’s game but but I guess it would take time for them to gel and of course like the West Indies cricket team…the best players must be picked! as for the game on Friday I was present and when I saw the sparse crowd [notwithstanding the ridiculous entrance fee]I was optimistic of a win…because I knew those who turned up were true ‘Warriors’ and patriots…not a bunch of fair-weathered supporters who only support when things look good…win or draw come Tuesday…Warriors forever!