Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team programme looks set to re-enter farce mode, after a proffered resignation from head coach Angus Eve was leaked to the public.
Eve’s resignation was dated Sunday 19 October, which is exactly 20 days after the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) re-hired its former Soca Warriors head coach to revive the dormant programme.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
It is uncertain whether the local football body has accepted Eve’s resignation or will push to keep him on board.
However, Wired868 understands that Eve was alarmed at what he felt was interference in the management of his team.
Thus far, there has been no official public statement from TTFA president and technical committee chair Kieron Edwards, director of women’s football Jinelle James, manager Maylee Attin-Johnson or Eve himself.
The Women Soca Warriors are due to play Jamaica in an international friendly at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva from 8pm on Tuesday 28 October. It is their first engagement in two years, with their first competitive match—in the 2026 Concacaf W Championship qualifying series—carded for 30 November in Barbados.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Eve’s technical staff included assistants Densill Theobald and Damian Briggs along with manager Maylee Attin-Johnson, a former Women’s National Senior Team captain.
And his first training squad boasted a combination of youth and veteran players, including 36-year-old national record goal scorer Kennya “YaYa” Cordner.
It has not been a harmonious camp, according to sources close to the team. And it is telling that midfielder Asha James, as talented as she is outspoken, was the first to lift the lid—in an eyebrow-raising, since deleted social media post, which questioned the behaviour and technical quality of her illustrious teammate, Cordner.
“Seems like four years away from the national set up didn’t give Yaya enough time to mature and learn to forgive,” stated a post on James’ timeline. “[…] Whomever the coach choose for the team is his discretion… go and get a coaching license if you KNOW who should be on the team or w.e. (sic)
“[…] Imagine that’s who they giving our captain armband to. Well I tell you… it could only get worst (sic).”
For context, in January 2022, then Women’s National Senior Team head coach Kenwyne Jones cut Attin-Johnson from his squad with Cordner immediately resigning in solidarity with her close friend.
Jones felt that Attin-Johnson, who was 35-years-old at the time, was no longer his midfield ace—it was the then 22-year-old James.
James’ recent social media post suggested that, almost four years later, bad feelings still lingered between the talented 25-year-old midfielder and two bonafide stars of Trinidad and Tobago’s unforgettable 2015 Fifa Canada Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
(via TTFA Media.)
Of course, it is not James’ only seismic social media post this year. In June, the gifted midfielder slammed the Edwards-led TTFA for neglecting its women’s programme.
Wired868 understands that pressure was brought to bear on Eve to drop James for her eye-raising recent post, which criticised the behaviour and technical ability of her own teammate, Cordner.
But considering James’ recent clash with the TTFA, there is some doubt regarding whether the order to discipline the player was an attempt to settle a score.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Eve, the current Naparima College and Club Sando head coach, would have realised he was working in a minefield: a fractured dressing room, a team manager who was not singing from his hymn book, and a boss who had already fired him (after three months together) in the not-so-distant past.
And, after three weeks on the job, Eve handed in his resignation letter to Jinelle James (no relation).
“After careful consideration, I have decided to resign from all head coaching responsibilities related to the Trinidad and Tobago Senior Women’s National Team,” stated Eve. “I want to thank you for this opportunity provided during my time with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and for the support of my coaching staff.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
“I am willing to ensure a smooth transition and gladly assist in any way possible, including providing guidance to my successor.
“Thank you again for the invaluable experience and I am always open to working with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association if called upon.”
On Tuesday 30 September, Edwards said Eve brought “the right blend of experience, leadership, and passion to guide our women’s national team into this important new chapter”.
(via TTFA Media.)
“His deep understanding of the game in Trinidad and Tobago give us confidence that he can inspire and elevate our women’s football to the next level,” Edwards told the TTFA Media.
Less than a month later, Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s football remains in the bamboo.
Naparima College made a strong showing of their title credentials at Lewis Street, San Fernando yesterday, as they swept aside Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve named a 35-member training squad today as the Women Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards trumpeted the appointment of Angus Eve as Women’s National Senior Team Read more
“[…] How is it acceptable, that the person who is head of the Safe Guarding Unit, was able to institute Read more
“[…] Under Anton Corneal, there were efforts to rebuild youth programs and implement coaching education, but questions remain about the Read more
“[…] More possession, more shots, prettier football—none of it matters without results. Sympathy doesn’t qualify teams. Goals and points do. Read more
Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
