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There will be maiden international tests for players and coaches alike when the Trinidad and Tobago Boys National Under-14 troops get going in the 2024 CFU Boys Under-14 Challenge Series next month on home soil.
The young national team are led by former World Cup 2006 midfielder Densill Theobald, who also coaches at Morvant Caledonia United and was assistant to Shawn Cooper at the 2022 Concacaf Boys Under-15 Championship.
Photo: RBNYFL/ 12 Media Productions
Theobald has coached with Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) High Performance programme for the past three years. However, the CFU Challenge Series will mark his debut as an international head coach.
Trinidad and Tobago are grouped with Jamaica, Martinique, Aruba, and Saint Kitts and Nevis with the top two nations advancing to the semifinal stage. All their matches will be played at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago.
“First and foremost, I have to say that I am grateful and I feel honoured to be given the opportunity and responsibility placed on my shoulders to lead this high performance under-14 boys group,” Theobald told TTFA Media.
“The High Performance program has really given me a platform as a young, aspiring coach to continue to grow and develop. But more importantly it is allowing me that opportunity to pass on my knowledge and experience and to play a part in nurturing the next generation of international players here.”
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
At present, Theobald has a 23-member squad in training although his troops will be trimmed to 20 players in time for their opener against Aruba on 17 August.
Naparima College and Cox Coaching School forward Adasa Richardson is arguably the standout player in the bunch and the only National Under-14 member who already has international experience.
Richardson represented the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-16 team in both friendly games away to Jamaica in May, when they tallied a 1-0 win and 2-1 loss respectively under coach Cooper.
Patrons at the 2024 Republic Bank National Youth Football League (RBNYFL) will also recognise names like Ackim Duncan (Ball Blasters Youth Academy), Jeremai Nanton (City FC), Jaylon Carrington (Cox Coaching School), Ky-Mani Moore (Arima Araucans Academy), Deron Blackman (Cardinals Football Academy), Essien Thomas (Beatnix SC), Jaimarley John (Maloney Real Footballers FC), Sherkeel Campbell (Union Hall United) and Aaden Jones (Creek Sports and Cultural Club) who are all in the national pool.
Photo: RBNYFL/ 12 Media Productions
“We have been training for quite some time during the program and the boys are relishing the chance to test themselves against players from other countries,” said Theobald. “We’ve got a good group that will be competitive. They have all sacrificed a lot along with their families to get to this point.”
Theobald said the Challenge Series will also be an important gauge for the coaching staff as well, which includes another former international player Yohance Marshall.
“We always want better as coaches and staff and therefore I will tell you that we have to continue working and developing,” he said. “But this tournament will provide a proper measuring stick for us. We will see where we need to improve as a team and where the players themselves also need to keep working on areas of their game that need improvement.”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
The Boys National Under-14 squad is expected to go into a residential training camp in Couva next week before shifting base to Tobago ahead of its opening contest against Aruba on 17 August.
The Trinidad and Tobago Girls National Under-15 Team will be the first TTFA outfit in international battle next month though, as they contest the Concacaf Girls Under-15 Championship.
The two-island republic is in League B, the second tier of the competition, and will again serve as hosts.
Photo: Wired868
And, in an unusual move, Trinidad and Tobago are able to field two teams due to the withdrawal of Nicaragua. So there will be a T&T Girls Under-15 side as well as a Trinidad and Tobago High Performance team—with the latter being effectively a ‘B’ side.
The National Girls team are grouped with Grenada, Curaçao and Antigua and Barbuda while the High Performance (HP) unit faces Guatemala, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the US Virgin Islands.
“To have 36 players able to play in this competition is a great opportunity for us,” said National Girls Under-15 head coach Marlon Charles. “This augurs well for local women’s football, the programme and, in particular, for the players selected.
Photo: SPH-SYOGOC/ Eddie Chen
“When we look at our players and the progress made since the last outing in Antigua in 2023 (CFU Series), there have been significant improvements over the period.
“[…] From a technical and tactical point of view, there is still some progress to be made but I believe they have developed physically, mentally and socially. It is definitely an exciting time for us.”
CFU Boys’ Under-14 Challenge Series
Tier I
(Saturday 17 August)
Trinidad and Tobago v Aruba, Group A, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;
Photo: RBNYFL/ 12 Media Productions
(Sunday 18 August)
Trinidad and Tobago v Saint Kitts and Nevis, Group A, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;
(Monday 19 August)
Trinidad and Tobago v Martinique, Group A, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
(Wednesday 21 August)
Trinidad and Tobago v Jamaica, Group A, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium.
Concacaf Girls Under-15 Championship
League B
(Monday 5 August)
T&T HP v USVI, Group D, 1pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Trinidad and Tobago v Antigua and Barbuda, Group C, 3pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(Tuesday 6 August)
Saint Kitts and Nevis v T&T HP, Group D, 11am, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Curaçao v Trinidad and Tobago, Group C, 3pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
(Thursday 8 August)
T&T HP v Guatemala, Group D, 11am, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Trinidad and Tobago v Grenada, Group C, 3pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
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