Shabazz: We showed talent but couldn’t keep pace with Canada; T&T look to end on high

With a group game to spare, hosts Trinidad and Tobago were yesterday eliminated from the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship tournament. Canada produced a come-from-behind 4-1 victory at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva to send the Junior Women Warriors crashing out in the first round despite their home advantage.

The 16-year-old forward Jordyn Huitema bagged a hattrick to position herself at the top of the goal-scoring charts with five goals. And, in doing so, she propelled the North American women giants into the semi-final round.

Photo: Canada striker Jordyn Huitema (right) takes on a Costa Rica defender during CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship action against Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on 18 January 2018.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

There they will join Haiti who had earlier conjured up a nervy 3-2 win against Costa Rica after “Los Ticos” battled back from 0-3 down at the end of the first half.

Canada and Haiti are now perfect on six points each and face each other in tomorrow’s penultimate Group A encounter with the all-important first place up for grabs. Finishing atop the group is not just important for keeping momentum but it is also likely to mean earning the bonus of avoiding perennial champions, USA, in the semi-finals.

“I think that internally we are very clear that we want to win the group,” Canada’s head coach Beverly Priestman told the media at the post-match briefing. “I think it sends a statement about where we are at as a nation and, with that, we know what we need to do to get the three points from Haiti.

“I think tonight’s game brought some great challenges that we feel we will learn from. Haiti […] would be a similar style of opponent (so) we’ll take care of that and make sure we’re ready.

“This goal is about qualifying for a World Cup and then, internally, we want to go all the way and win this tournament!”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Shenieka Paul (centre) pressures Canada midfielder Sarah Stratigakis (right) during CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship action against Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on 20 January 2018.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

In complete contrast to the confidence of the Canadian coach was the resigned demeanour of Trinidad and Tobago head coach Jamaal Shabazz in his post-match assessment. His long experience led him to believe that what had once again proved his team’s undoing was lack of consistency over extended periods of time and the sheer superiority of their opponents.

“We started well but we’re not able to keep pace with the opponents,” Shabazz offered. “Canada is a superior opponent and we couldn’t be very open. It bore fruit for us as we were 1-1 at the end of the first half.

“The ability to be consistent […] and stay in battle is something that we need to work on. But certainly, we’ve shown the ability to get our goals in front and it’s a very positive thing for us.”

The performance in the tournament will not have lifted spirits but one area about which few will have any complaint is the scoring of early goals and brilliant ones at that. The Junior Woman Soca Warriors provided the roughly 2,200-odd supporters with some déjà vu, as they were once again treated to the spectacle of a Prince celebration wheel-away after a 3rd-minute strike.

Dennecia Prince, scorer of the first goal against Haiti on Thursday, turned provider this time, serving up a low corner which her namesake, Aaliyah Prince, swivelled and hit a beauty of a first-time shot which curled in for the opening goal.


Photo: Trinidad and Tobago attacker Aaliyah Prince (left) tries to control the ball while Canada defender Jessica Lisi looks on during CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship action at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on 20 January 2018.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Prince (A), one of the youngest members of the squad at 16, was promoted from the Under-17 National Team. She was largely frustrated against the Haitians but she found her feet and her goal-scoring boots against the fancied Canadians.

The visitors are not short on confidence—and with good reason. Within six minutes, they responded with an equaliser, Huitema recording her first goal of the evening after an error by T&T custodian K’lil Keshwar.

Despite her slip-up, Shabazz describes Keshwar as having “a very bright future.” The reason is that, had it not been for her, the score-line would have been much worse heading into the interval.

And Shabazz saw the team’s inability to settle down and take charge of the game as the result of their trying too hard to live up to the home crowd’s expectations.

“I thought when they [T&T] got ahead, the burden of responsibilities, [of] playing at home [affected them]. The girls are very emotional,” said Shabazz. “They feeling too much like ‘Okay. If we don’t win, we let down the country.’ I think they focused too much on the result.

“The result comes at the end, the performance is here and now. We want them to play in the here and the now and to stay in the moment.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago attacker Dennecia Prince (left) drives the ball across the face of the Canada goal despite the efforts of opposing goalkeeper Lysianne Proux and Caitlin Shaw during CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship action against Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on 20 January 2018.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Heading into the tournament, Shabazz had said that he hoped the team could embrace the pressure and give T&T supporters and the nation at large something to smile about.

Shabazz’s counterpart in the opposing dugout also felt that her own team’s less-than-perfect performance in the first half was attributable to the fervent support by the excited crowd on hand.

“We played in front a lot of home fans and that brought some chaos I felt in the first half,” said Priestman. “These young players, they let that get to them in the first half but, second half, I felt that we brought our style of play and stuck to our process and I thought we dominated the second half.”

At the interval, the English coach brought on her rested captain Gabby Carle, who had been given a breather with an eye towards going all the way in the tournament, to help settle the team and turn the tide in their favour.

She did just that.

Carle, a 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist, began to set the tempo and ensured that Canada were able to head off any further threat from the speedy T&T attackers.

Photo: Canada captain Gabrielle Carle (left) cushions the ball during CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship action against Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on 20 January 2018.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Huitema, the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, also credits Carle with enabling them to return to playing their brand of football and rallying to claim the victory.

“It was very chaotic but we brought down the tempo and played our style of soccer,” Huitema told the media post-game. “As far as goals, I can’t do it without my team so I’m just happy for the support from them.”

The hotshot striker ran the T&T defence ragged and produced a clever improvised finish in the 50th minute to give the visitors the lead. Just before the end of regulation time, she notched her third after outpacing her markers to pounce on a loose ball.

Sandwiched between Huitema’s items, Carle dispatched a penalty after T&T captain Natisha John was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and was subsequently given her marching orders by the official.

On the balance of play, John’s sending-off may not have altered the overall result but it is certainly no understatement to say it was harsh—it being virtually impossible for her to have prevented the ball from hitting her hand.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago forward Laurelle Theodore (left) pressures Canada right back Emma Regan during CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship action at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on 20 January 2018.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

In the opening encounter in Couva, though there were some moments of genuine concern for the Haitians, there was no such controversy.

Star Haitian forward Nérilia Mondésir was not even needed on the score sheet as Roseline Éloussaint, Nelourde Nicolas and Melchie Daelle Dumornay punished some charitable and sometimes downright suicidal defending by the Costa Ricans.

It was the tenacious and skilful midfielder Dumornay who produced the best of the lot, though, with an expert header from a right-side free-kick to cap off a fine first-half performance. Haitian head coach Marc Collat concedes that, in the 15-year-old, he has a special talent on his hands but he was quick to point out that she is still quite young and has more developing to do.

“Dumonay is very young, very young but is a good player and has what it takes to go the distance as she is very talented,” said Collat, via a translator.

In the second half, with Mondésir consistently on the end of some rugged challenges and Dumonay’s influence waning, Costa Rica threatened an unlikely comeback.

Photo: Haiti attacker Roseline Eloissaint (right) tries to shake off the attentions of Costa Rica players Maria Salas (left) and Fabiola Villalobos during CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship action at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on 20 January 2018.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)

On the heels of Daela Coto’s fortuitous free kick that floated straight in, Hillary Corrales produced a remarkable run and finish to reduce the arrears to one. What followed was a frantic 15 minutes for the Haitians but, to Collat’s relief, they were able to weather the storm.

Costa Rica head coach Amelia Valverde admitted after the game that she would be looking to give opportunities to the younger players in her squad for the final group game against T&T on Monday.

With injuries and suspension a concern, Shabazz is also expected to shuffle his pack since he wants his team “to continue to play and give credibility to the tournament and the country and come out and give 100%.”

With much more on their plates and on the line, however, Canada and Haiti can be expected to give perhaps even more than that.

More from Wired868
Corneal: Talent was not the issue! TD discusses T&T’s shortlived Concacaf U-20 adventure

“[…] We saw an array of talent across the board and not with just 20 players. I’ve said it before Read more

Haynes: “I could have prepared better!” T&T coach discusses Canada defeat

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team head coach Brian Haynes admitted that his players were not fully prepared for Read more

Outclassed! Canada KO Trinidad and Tobago U20s, in one-sided showdown

A shellshocked Trinidad and Tobago were eliminated from the Concacaf Under-20 Qualifying series at home tonight, after a 3-0 loss Read more

Haynes suggests three-pronged plan to beat Canada, after T&T whip Dominica 5-0

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Brian Haynes says his team can beat Canada in Tuesday’s deciding Concacaf U-20 Championship Qualifier Read more

“We played into their hands!” Haynes disappointed despite win, explains Noel sub

Trinidad and Tobago head coach, Brian Haynes, expressed disappointment with his team’s first half performance last night after their 3-2 Read more

Chaves rescues win for T&T U-20s against “Vincy Heat”; Canada demolish Dominica

Trinidad and Tobago got their Peru 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign off to a winning start last night, as Read more

About Amiel Mohammed

Amiel Mohammed is a sports enthusiast and has worked in communications for Central FC and the Women's Premier League TT. He has also pioneered numerous projects geared towards creating opportunities for the differently abled such as the Differently-Abled Football Camp 2015 and Focus Football Coaching Academy.

Check Also

Corneal: Talent was not the issue! TD discusses T&T’s shortlived Concacaf U-20 adventure

“[…] We saw an array of talent across the board and not with just 20 …

174 comments

  1. Shabzz yuh aint able with coaching. If yuh not fit dont expect to compete.

  2. All the comments here i totally agree with everybody could see what the coaches cannot because they donot do their jobs properly. Physical fitness is a problem, tecnical ability is a problem, and DJW and the administration is the biggest problem. We had a gentleman from the USA who was doing a fantastic job but he was fired ad DJW came into office. Lord help us.

  3. It is the same comment he made after the Haiti game.Shabazz took the team to where they are now and cannot go any further.

  4. Every one of the National football teams have the same problem and they have DJW fingerprint on it.He fingers the the system.Total count.

  5. And I suppose the coaches accept no blame. Saddens me that DJW is to TnT football what David Cameron is to WI cricket.

  6. I have been say for many years that we do not lack talent but we are woefully unfit and lazy to work. These girls were roasted in about 20-25 mins of the game. The same thing with the men’s teams. When they become roasted, they lose the ability to think and rationalize.

  7. Y’all were surprised by the speed of these players ” you for real yow, didn’t you do your homework on these teams? With these statements coming from the camp I’m surprised that you still have a job.

  8. And we are not taking these perennial Coaches to task, just juggling them around.

    Tournament about to begin Coach: “underdogs”….beaten by Haiti, Coach: we were surprised by the speed and aggression of the Haitians. Beaten by Canada, Coach: they are one of the favourites…

  9. WATCH: Post-match comments from Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz following Trinidad and Tobago U-20 Women’s 4-1 loss to Canada.


  10. Mark, you still expecting people in charge of anything in this country to follow successful patterns, systems and processes? This country sadly has no leadership or management in ANYTHING.
    Happy to hear examples of how we have done the right thing to improve anything in this blessed land.

  11. Maybe we are being unfair picking on football in T&T. Structures, systems, planning & discipline in execution using data is lacking throughout society here. It is all adhoc & off the cuff. It will take ten years to execute a proper strategic plan. We have best practices around the world in Iceland, England & Germany. Why is it so difficult to copy. That is my only beef.

    • Firstly Mark Durham….finance..
      These countries see Football in 2 lights…
      A business and a way of life…
      And when a Country can marry both….you jus hit the jackpot….
      Countries with proper development programmes will always succeed…..
      Who….where… and how are our boys and girls being developed…..
      Development is the key….it must be thought at the early years so as to marry technical ability with creativity….this is how we will create the next Russell Latapy…

    • Let’s not use finance as an excuse for incompetence. We have the money & it would be a great way to diversify the economy. Tired of lame excuses.

    • Mark….the kind of money we talking bout….you hav to see the Sport a particular way to spend that kinda monies

  12. I am seeing a consistent problem with TT men and women at all levels of Senior and Junior sport. It goes beyond talent and seems mental/psychological. Haiti as well as the top performers in Concacaf makes most if not all our games even when we seem to have an advantage difficult. The few times when we are able to climb out of the hole like our senior team victory versus USA we do not capitalize on the best practice for subsequent encounters. Our development plan has to be one that understands one output is input to the other stage and coaches and Administration must work together rather than as isolates seeking personal glory. We are a small country but I still think we haven’t found pride that produces a killer instinct to how we approach competition. The Canadian coach indicated her unsteadiness with the TT crowd support but the stands were unkind to an effective 12th man showing.

  13. Ah hadda side with Mango on this one. Shabazz allyuh relly good yes.

  14. Coaching the u20 or the public u fail

  15. Haiti to fast Canada to quick, why not say T and T to slow

  16. What is sad with adequate training this team would have been shining. Speaking from an analysis point

  17. Well they fired our real professional foreign base coach and also our real professional foreignbase Technical Director Kendall Walks and recycled the same coaches and Technical Director who have no kind of winning stats with any team in our sweet country, so where do you think that we are going from here eh Prof Earl Carter not only backwards eh. Them really good yes.

  18. Is there a Marcro plan , are there any Micro, and Meso cycle planning. Please

  19. it takes time to turn people into athletes girls/women in particular need special attention in that regard IF they did not already have training and experience in that regard, You can’t pit “girls” against athletes and expect to have success……..at the the highest level football is a thinking man’s game, how many of our coaches show that they think on the game on more than the most basic level. As long as the tactical, mental and physical requirements of this sport continue to be ignored and as long as we continue to recycle dinosaurs like shabazz that have no intention of upgrading dey coachin *ehem*education dat dey get in d 60/70s we ain’t going no where

  20. Like I wrote about before. As a journalist you have see our poor structure for soccer. Lasagna, can you please ask the Technical Director of soccer where do we go from here? Please

  21. Allyu eh tired of talking…can’t you see that this is just a Mickey Mouse thing…
    We have good talent but no coaches to develop it.
    Look as I have said before once I see a big belly man coaching any football team… I know that it’s a subliminal image to the players… who wants to play for a big belly coach. I said it about Babwah…
    That’s like going to a doctor to ask for help to quit smoking and he puffing away on a cigarette.
    When Carolina Morace said they were unfit they crucified her in the press.
    We will never catch up to other nations.

    • What does a man’s belly have to do with what he knows and can impart or teach? That has honestly got to be the most ignorant and backward statement I have read anywhere. Sounds so ridiculous coming from a grown person too..

    • Imparting knowledge is one thing.. . Coaching is another…you create an image and a philosophy to your athletes of fitness. Go to one of the practice sessions and see the struggle these coaches have in executing the plan.
      I look at other coaches in this same tournament..do you see any others that are unfit.
      Images that you create to athletes allow them to believe in you.
      Now that I have enlightened you take a minute to read about the philosophy of coaching. Determine a philosophy in your coaching and your athletes will follow you.
      Its all subliminal Brian Jordan.. Coaching now is just not imparting knowledge..its leadership… it’s influence.
      That is our we are behind.. . We thinks it’s only knowledge… and how many certifications you have.
      It’s about your ability to lead and influence.
      See how fragile our egos are.

    • It’s nonsense if you are able to teach and the players are able to learn. Just poppycock.. but you are entitled to your opinion no matter how superficial..

    • Trust me on this one..i have coached..ordinary couch potato runners… State Champions… National Champions.. and Olympians.. . I know the importance of image and leadership by example.
      Take the example of teaching in schools..the teacher who you related to and was able to build rapport with was a better teacher not the one with the most knowledge.
      Poppycock is why we are where we are. We still believe in an abundance of certificates and not in ability to COACH.

    • No…. what is the difference….a statement like that tells me you are far apart.

    • There you go. Now I understand why the superficiality..

    • Brian do you think getting someone to the Olympics is superficial?

    • I think that someone who coaches one sport and thinks he knows all about coaching other sports is..

    • It’s not only superficial, but also arrogant and foolish

    • Success is not sport specific. That tells me how well you know about COACHING… pay attention to the capital letters.

    • You can have a tremendous amount of knowledge about the sport and know little about COACHING.. which is leadership.. . an ability to gain confidence..a philosophy.. etc. etc…

    • Tony, leadership is knowing nuance. You are not a football coach and don’t understand the psyche of football coaching or players. Plain and simple.. hopefully you’re a decent track coach..

    • Brian read my profile..or i can send you my CV..the respect I have here and I other countries tells you that I have been successful at what I do.
      Again you still think that success is sport specific.
      Does your qualifications in Geography make you a a better TEACHER than the one who is qualified in History.
      You have certainly missed the philosophy of COACHING.
      Can I take a football player and make him into a National runner …yes.

    • But you can’t take a runner and make him into a footballer and that’s my point.. or could you?

    • I couldn’t… absolutely not make him into a National footballer.. but I can certainly improve his fitness and his belief in himself… which the majority of our football teams are lacking

    • Ok.. so finally you admit to not being super man..

    • I never said I was… you in an eloquent remark you said that my knowledge of football was lacking so I could not offer an opinion on COACHING … which exposed your ignorance of COACHING…and I stand by my philosopy that if you as a COACH does not project an image of fitness in a sport that requires it.. then you lose the confidence of your players/athletes

    • Not what I said. I said your original statement/opinion was superficial, arrogant and foolish. Feel free to quote me correctly

    • Brian Jordan it’s good rapport.
      Let me give an example of knowledge versus ability to COACH.
      It’s recent so I don’t have to go back 30 years.
      In 2016 I proposed to the NAAA a plan to improve middle distance running on National teams representation.
      It was accepted and I came to Trinidad to run the program. I employed two assistant QUALIFIED coaches.
      We selected 20 Under 20 runners and I conducted a 9 week program with 3 days a week sessions at the various stadiums.
      In that limited time we were able to place 6 middle distance runners on the National team after they made the standards for selections… a specified time for the event.
      It was the first time in many years that we had athletes in middle distances at the CARIFTA games.
      Three of those made the finals one won a medal all had personal bests.
      The following year in 2017 I proposed the same plan because I had a sponsor who took care of my accommodation etc.
      They rejected the plan and said they had QUALIFIED coaches who could run the program.
      Unfortunately no athlete made the standards and we had no middle distance representation.
      In 2018 I made the same proposal available and it was rejected.
      Now you see my point about having knowledge in the sport and being able to COACH.
      Coaches are QUALIFIED … some are Level 4 IAAF.. but can they COACH.
      The difference I made was the ability to relate to those athletes… recognize strengths and weaknesses and motivate them.
      That is COACHING.
      Yes I have the knowledge as I am also a Level 4 coach but there is a difference being a COACH and being knowledgeable about the sport.
      We shall see if any middle distance athletes make the team this year.
      I hope they do…but it’s unlikely.

    • Tony Maxwell Hatt…every single player i ever COACHED has total confidence in me up to this day….
      I hav a belly now…and nobody in this world stresses on fitness to players more than me…
      Also Mr Hatt…anybody….and i mean anybody…no matter how successful u are….anybody who makes decisions without all the specific knowledge is a FOOL…
      People and Coaches like you is what is wrong with Trinidad Football…
      I am sure that you may be able to give suggestions to a certain level…but to criticise in that way is being single minded and Foolish….
      You have never been there…and you have never done that….
      Dont ever think for one moment Mr Hatt…that you can understand the specifics of Coaching football bcuz u can get people fit….i see you being a very good fitness trainer…and thats all….
      Anybody who makes decisions without all the necessary information is a FOOOOOOOOOOL

    • Thank you for the observation. As I have said before our egos are fragile. Did I ever question your ability to COACH football.
      To coach State and National champions and Olympians is not ‘fitness training ‘ that’s how much you know about the sport.
      I never said I could coach football. I stand by my belief as so many others coaches do that knowledge of the sport is not the only factor in coaching. If as you said that you stress on physical fitness then tell me why our players are hopelessly unfit as we have seen with our National teams. You see fitness is relative. There is cardio vascular fitness and match fitness… our players lack cardio vascular fitness.
      Your comment is seriously misleading Dexter Cyrus.
      Don’t beat up on the messenger ..fagile egos are what is killing our sports.
      We don’t take criticism well. But consider crticism as a learning experience not an attack.
      By the way.. Jamaal said in his post match interview that we could not keep up with the pace of the Canadian team and that was one of the reasons we lost the game.

    • What Jamal said has nothing to do with your comment that a football coach with a belly couldn’t be successful..

    • Brian Jordan.. My comments about what Jamaal said was in responce to Dexter Cyrus post about all his players are fit and he stresses fitness.

    • Tony Maxwell Hatt to be fair has a point. Brian Jordan. Among the biggest problems with our teams is mentality & fitness. Having a big belly coach certainly not going to help is it. Those days have long gone.

    • Mark.. anyone who thinks only skinny peeps can coach kids or adults football is very ignorant

    • It’s obvious that you are twisting the point I made… Brian. I never said skinny in any of my posts. You are forcing the conversation to go you way. This is dialogue and your usage of the word ignorant is surely indicating that you are not capable of discussing the topic of how image can be a factor in coaching.
      Whenever someone resorts to the usage of the words like “ignorant” and “fool” then they are using the bully tactic in the conversation.
      Like I said fragile egos are our weakness here.
      Spend some time in any football or athletic academy and you will learn how to accept criticism and learn from it. It’s part of the learning process in any sport academy.

    • Lol.. truth becomes bully tactic. Pretty humorous

    • We talking at the elite level. Can’t think of one big belly coach in the Premier League in England for instance. Being fit & looking fit should be a requirement of the job. Not saying you can’t work in some aspects of the structure.

    • Waste of time trying to have dialogue with Brian …make a relative point and I will take you seriously…as I have already destroyed your point of knowledge being the only contributing factor in coaching …
      Brian has no experience at the Elite or International level so its a mute point

    • Rafael Benitez…
      Sam Allardyce…
      They both hav bug bellies..
      Allardyce was chosen to lead England…
      And i say again Mr Tony Maxwell Hatt…anyone who makes decisions from their corner.. without all the knowledge is a fooooooooool….

    • Ok I give you those two. Big Sam in fairness was one of the first to introduce new training techniques & nutrition into the english game. While Benetiz despite being a tactical genius is the exception rather than the rule.

    • Then there is Alfio Basile…over 300lbs…every player in Brasil regarded him as the Best they had ever seen…

    • Big Phil…only criticised about his weight by Europeans…never once criticised about his weight in Brasil…

    • Cyrus, smh.. wonder if Mr “Coach” Hatt knew of these coaches you have named?

    • Brian….Good Morning…stick to finance you are way over your head.
      Let me ask you about image and the subliminal effect it has.
      If you are making a presentation to one of your international groups or clients would you enter the boardroom with your shirt outside your pants or your belly sticking out?
      I am sure you know all too well about the physcology of buying and selling.
      If you are selling an idea or a financial package as you do, don’t you think that your image will lend credibility.
      Image sends a subliminal message to your clients/players/athletes etc.
      Correct me if I am wrong.

    • Good morning. Lets stay on topic. Do you know the coaches Coach Cyrus mentioned?

    • We are on topic…my original point was ‘image’ and how it pertains to success…. and you are a successful man in your field.. . until you deviated with name calling

    • Good morning. Lets stay on topic. Do you know the coaches Coach Cyrus mentioned?

    • Yes I have heard if them…seen them in games on TV.

    • But please answer question above on image and success as that was the original topic….

    • K. Coaches who have been pretty successful?

    • I am sure there are big belly successful financial consultants

    • Clearly, image has not prevented those coaches from succeeding

    • Size has no bearing on being a good coach in any sport..

    • Four out of how many… 40,000 you are groping?

    • Let’s agree to disagree… I have known you a very long time… acquainted of you….since the days of Carla… Vishnu etc… I applied to TIDCO once for funding a program and Vishnu was accommodating

    • No problem.. I will continue to pray for enlightenment on this topic

    • Not prayers Brian ? you project a good image to your clients.. .well dressed…and knowledgeable..it has led to your success. But knowledge alone did not contribute to success.
      The image you created helped

    • Tony.. image is nothing without knowledge. Knowledge and an ability to impart no matter how big you are is the key. That’s been my experience.

    • I agree… and as I say…knowledge is nothing without image… the ability to teach..to educate is important… knowledge by itself is nothing

    • That will save our football..if all the coaches come together and form an association.
      North.. South..East..West. and share their knowledge..the proprietary way coaches approach football in Trinidad is killing the game.
      No coach want to share his knowledge .
      They keep everything under wrap. So you have a disjointed approach.
      Its the same in athletics in Trinidad…no sharing of knowledge

  22. Too many times when we were in possession in the building phase we were too hurry to get to the next
    ,possession phase

  23. My final evaluation of the game.
    Canada won the game psychologically. In part , the aerial ball was not contested .Three goals from set pieces, we mark them but didn’t track them we gave away too many ball via rout 1. We did not pressure well particularly when they were in our half . They ran at us because we gave them space. We rented at them at times when there weren’t any space.When we were in possession in close proximity our technical issues were very visable.

  24. Tell that to the T&TFA . When will we get it, where do we go from here? I don’t know

  25. Yeah they need to also recycle Bertile St. Clair the same to yes. who also took a youth team to the youth World Cup. Them really good yes.

  26. We have here Zoran Vranes, the most successful Youth national Coach, and he was still sacked. Yet we have persons who have never gotten out of CONCACAF, yet they keep getting back the same job. Zoran took a team to a WC.

    What is the criteria?

  27. And I will reinforce the point…they are not technically sound…and were not properly prepared; lacking too much.

  28. So if we have all what you said Trevor Bridglalsingh eh why is it we continue to fail in all these tournaments over the years eh. Them really good yes.

  29. A license does not mean you are an expert driver, same as in coaching!

  30. Don’t forget we have two persons, Trinidadians , at the highest level in FIFA technical department
    Don’t forget we doing Dutch license A B C D certificates and we have various coaches working with Real Madrid and Barcelona and Man U ……..ent

  31. And who say that these ladies are not being developed at a young age eh maybe it is ah set ah bootleg coaches that are developing them that doesnt have a clue and is there any real organized primary school tournament for the young ladies the same as the young boys eh and yes I agree with Brent Bennett there should be organaized leagues and travel teams the same as in Canada and in my second sweetest country of which I mehself have been saying many moons ago . Them really good yes

    • We cannot have any established leagues and expect to compete. What, assemble some players for 6 months without any prior development in their games and expect to compete? We are failing both the players and coaches and setting up the nation for failure

    • And it will only continue until somebodies really gets tired of the madness and organize a football revolution yes the same thing that took place in Venuezela eh alyuh remember when every South American country use to beat them up just so just so with plenty of goals when qualifying for the World Cups eh look at them now even my greatest team in the universe Brazil does ketch their tails to beat them up eh ah guess somebody or bodies say that it was enough eh and put the right people and things in place eh. Them really good yes.

  32. So my Prof Zoran Vranes are you saying to us that my Prof Jamaal Shabazz and the president and the TTFA after being involved for over 40 yrs or more in the beautiful game doesnt really know what it takes to be very successful in all these tournaments eh and he was very successful over the years with his professional team W Connection eh maybe he should have just let the most winning coach my Prof Stuart Charles Fevrier and his assistant Earl Jean coached the team yes and the outcome might have been different eh. Them really good yes

    • My dear Earl , l don’t talk about coaches or president but about potential that Trinidad has . And believe me l am right about that. But , the same time we ( Trinidad ) don’t work hard to develop players to be what they could be …

    • Maybe it is the players to that doesn’t want to work very hard to be developed to what they want to be eh because do you know how many of them shudda be millionaires today but because of the lack of the right attitude and discipline it never happened., but I ketch your drift Them really good yes

    • Earl , l hav excellent inspiration with players in Trinidad. Belive me , they are working very hard when see that they are improving . Especially young ones. They are not stupid to miss opportunity to be god , to get something good for them , their families , country . But , you need to open their mind …

  33. Well with all said about the game Trinidad and Tobago football has no development programmes. The players where naturally weak and lack alot of basic skills seeing that we couldn’t even put Canada keeper to the test and players lack heart for the game no passion at all. But as time go by maybe they will get there no matter how many Coaches change.

  34. Concacaf has 2 powerhouses…the US and Mexico. Costa Rica is the 3rd best team in the region. Saying TT has potential to be between the 3rd or 4th best team in concacaf is equivalent to saying TT has potential to be second rate or last

  35. It maybe naive of me but knowing that your preparation was poor, you had the tremendous fortune of being up in two matches you expected to lose. Why not put 11 Women behind the ball?

  36. Our adminstration past and present continues to fail us with lack of a football developmental programme…admit it…we have d talent but it is only getting us to a certain point….put a proper developmental structure and in 10 years time we’ll see d results…but again…we like it so

  37. Can we start with a youth league for young women? They must have access to playing competitively. Any weekend in the US there is an unlimited number of youth women games. They US is so deep, our roster would be the 50th ranked team in the US. Let’s not kid ourselves. There is zero women’s development going on to my knowledge

    • David John-Williams promised to reintroduce WPL, which did okay. But reality is the economics are not there for something that grand.
      Surely there is more we can do though. Nwadike Holder can probably say more on that. Or Allister Ramdoo.

    • What do you think Joel Maloney? Trincity Nationals?

    • Having more football will always benefit d development but it needs 2 start at d lowest level

    • Lasana, where do these girls play outside of the national team? The SSFL women’s division is ridiculously poor so I’m hoping that is what we are depending on? Froom the age of 8 or 9, young girls should have a league in which to play. Until we do that, we will continue to be mediocre.

    • We could, depends on the “we” though. The FA, no way, they aren’t even running the adult league ‘TTWolf” efficiently. I think the last two seasons ended abruptly, and as small as the female football circle is, there is politics in play in that as well.

      The closest thing we have is the school’s league, but not all schools participate and more often than not the coach is a teacher or a parent or someone not qualified to develop a player. Most school’s coaches regardless of their Qualifications are concerned with winning in any event, so the quality is very poor, since they don’t take time to develop players.
      Short term success >long term development.
      Sad but true.

    • Even the Republic Bank National Youth League doesn’t have girl teams Brent. I think there are girl teams at primary school level so that might be someplace to start.

    • We continue to do the same thing at all levels and expect different results. We all know that is insanity, no? Anyone could have seen this coming tho

    • In many cases in d SSFL d girls who play most of dem never played any kind of organize football…. in my case d school I coach only 4 players played football for club teams the rest are just players who like football n wanted 2 play

    • I think we have always tried and continue to try elite squads rather than really trying to better football all across the country. So occasionally we get funding and proper coaching for a team–like Zoran Vranes and Anton Corneal’s youth team that made two World Youth Cups–but after that side is gone, it is back to square one.

    • There is no quick fix. The US is really good at women’s sports because of Title IX. Colleges and Universities have to legally spend the same amount of money on women’s sports as men, and women’s soccer is one of the biggest benefactors. You have girls who aren’t that great getting a full ride which is why so many girls play soccer. They start at age 5 and through training and playing they develop. Of course the best ones make state, regional and now developmental academy teams. We can’t do that, but we could at least start it at the primary school level.

    • Yeah. I’ve noticed a school team would have a National player playing alongside a girl who started the game a few months ago.
      So inevitably, the national player tries to compensate with constant solo runs.

    • We wanted to offer some coverage to primary schools last season but couldn’t raise funding in time. We will try again in 2018.

    • N mind u d girls never played football till forms 4 & 5. I feel it has 2 start wit educating the parents cus plenty parents don’t want dey girls playing football

    • To Joel Maloney point, imaging you trying to coach 4 players who’ve played before and no others. Your practice sessions are almost always basics, i.e. trapping and passing. Trying anything more is fooling yuhself….

    • Brent, if you’re in a situation where the principal would pull the plug on the whole programme if he/she doesn’t see some trophies… Well, you can imagine what position that would leave coaches in.

    • I know where you’re going but if winning is all that counts on the secondary school level, then we are focused on the incorrect things. I don’t remember why Rougier left Fyzo, but I remember him saying he wanted well rounded players. We have to want move that footballers. Academics, well rounded athletes are a win in my opinion

    • Brent, Rougier’s departure, according to him, had something to do with the stuff behind the scenes that led to the principal and PE teacher being arrested.

    • The coach and the boss must be on the same page or it won’t work.

    • We now know that Fyzabad care so much about the education of their players that the school captain didn’t even know what form he was in.

    • Agreed.. Rougier had the right idea. That’s why I say the SSFL is a fraud league. Any schools league should have minimum academic standards. There aren’t any except for being enrolled and even that is questionable. But to the ladies game, the administration of the TTFA must do more. Align themselves with primary schools or all the clubs and academies. Mandate some kinda girls program or no funding. Do something

    • Dey don’t see primary school football as important in my opinion. Dat is where d most time n effort shud b placed so we cud have a good base

    • It have to much under hand thing going on for to long n d football paying d price

    • Just to get back on topic. There is a need for coaches at both primary & Secondary school level to be qualified at player development. There is a need for parents’ education, not enough girls are participating in sport. There is a need for leagues to get the girls match play to aid their development.
      Schools have a role, early coaches have a role, parents have a role.
      The qualification of coaches, the education of parents, teachers, and sundry, the involvement of players in football, and the hosting/running of leagues/tournaments are all the responsibility of the various bodies,
      TTFA and to an extent Min of Sport and Min of Education are those most responsible they are NOT functioning as a direct result nothing else will.

    • Well, W Connection never had a girls team and most Pro League clubs are the same. I thought the signing of the Italians last year was a positive sign for the women’s game. But that fizzled out quickly in more ways than one.
      I agree with all your points Nwadike Holder

    • Lasana Liburd you should, i don’t make bad points ?

    • Hahaha. Thought you might say that!

    • We have 2 start somewhere to try n change the state of our football

    • Brent Bennett and Lasana here are some factors to consider also.
      – Most times by the time they get to standard 3 in school the after school lessons start. (Yes we’ve allowed teachers to perpetrate this fraud on us for over 40 years) 2 – 3 days a week and once on the weekend right up until after SEA.
      – Many mothers don’t want ‘dey chile to fall down and get Bobo on dey foot, boys wudden like yuh’ I’ve heard from a few.
      – Some don’t want their children to stay out in the sun cuz ‘me eh wuh she to get black/er’.
      – 45% of our population are east Indians who don’t play the game further limiting the numbers playing.
      – primary schools are the only real place for Lil ones to play but the PE teacher or dad who agrees to be coach is unqualified to so do and even if he was, he will have to compete with lessons for time on afternoons. A competition he/she will certainly lose.

    • Kester all good points. My sister got a sport scholarship. More people need to understand that apart from good health and discipline—which should be enough—there are real benefits to sport too.
      From Darryl Smith come down, we probably lack officials with the gravitas to make that point at the moment.

    • Lasana, as you know, I’m very familiar with ur sister’s sporting and professional careers. My hockey friends get offended when I say hockey is still mostly the territory of an educated & upper middle class grouping here.
      It is very unlikely that they would have some of the challenges mentioned.

    • Kester Lendor Those comments about the parents are funny. I would think some would have that perspective but others may not.

    • Kester Lendor wat u said is so true I worked in a primary school for 3 years n parents wud tell me dat d sun 2 hot dey ain’t want dey red child get dark….. n lessons everyday except Sunday

  38. Trinidad has potensal to be between 3 – 4 best teams in CONCACAF but need right selection of players and proper preparation for competition…

  39. ..No leadership. No vision. No development planning. No results..

  40. And against my second sweetest country and Mexico and some of the other Central and South American real football countries they need to really stop fooling themselves and put the right coaches, administrators, and players in place eh Mr Live Wire. Them really good yes

  41. Why is Jamaal Shabazz repeatedly given the helm of national teams….what’s his success rate as a coach at club or national level?

  42. Which is not to say that this team did all it could because clearly preparation was inadequate.

  43. That said… We don’t expect to catch up to Canada in one cycle or a couple of months right? That is a nation with real pedigree. We have to do years of developmental work and strategising to be able to expect results against them I think.

  44. Well the man is only doing the coaching thing for the monies eh Alyuh really feel that he and his staff didnt know that our lady Soca Worries wasnt going anywhere the same like all the other previous tournaments eh .Them really good yes hahahahaha

  45. F it give someone else a chance, after over 25 years, we deserve that much

  46. Resign again, Jordan did not resign so often

  47. Well I will be waiting very patiently for the statement to be made against Costa Rica eh and if my Prof Jamaal Shabazz looses that one to well he and his staff should resign the same like Bruce Arena when our Soca Worries beat up my second sweetest country eh. Them really good yes

  48. Maybe my television is too old, but again despite scoring first, I never saw where we were in the game. It was just a matter of time before Canada won, and won my more than 2 goals.

    The referee erred to assist in our demise, but we were not a match, and our tactics again (whatever they were) were lacking and meaningless.

    My question for the past 15 years is where do we go from here?

    I hate listening to most local coaches and players at after game press conferences, it actually shows why we lost during the press conference.

    • The more things change the more it remain the same. We have pick up sides with loyalists as coaches, Beverly ‘ bite your ankles’ Priestman is a world class coach from England. She works in a top class system and been in it for many years. Our technical staff has been there before with nothing to show. We did not support the former coach and her staff. JW is not held to answer as the former JW. We are a banana football nation. The other local teams will face the same embarrassment. Sorry young ladies that’s how our politics and football is run.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.