St Louis gets armband as T&T start W/Cup drive with Venezuela friendly in Couva

Veteran Trinidad and Tobago attacking midfielder Tasha St Louis will wear the captain’s armband against Venezuela tomorrow as the Women Soca Warriors play their first international under new head coach Carolina Morace.

Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela kick off from 4pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva tomorrow and then from 7pm at the same venue on Wednesday 29 March. Tickets are priced at TT$100 (adults) and TT$50 (children) and will be sold at the venue on match day. Season pass holders can enter for free.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago goal scorer Tasha St Louis (left) and teammate Karyn Forbes (right) celebrate during their 2-1 Rio Olympic qualifying win over Guatemala last night in Houston. (Courtesy CONCACAF)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago goal scorer Tasha St Louis (left) and teammate Karyn Forbes (right) celebrate during their 2-1 Rio Olympic qualifying win over Guatemala last night in Houston.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)

St Louis fills the void left by former captain Maylee Attin-Johnson, who is suspended along with attacker Kennya “Yaya” Cordner. Defender Arin King, who led the Women Warriors before, was named as vice captain along with midfielder Karyn Forbes.

St Louis promised to give it her best shot and said the team is coming along nicely at present.

“The atmosphere now is pretty good,” St Louis told the TTFA Media. “The players are gelling and we are starting to look like a team. Both games against Venezuela will be good for us and I am looking forward to having a great impact as an individual and as a captain.”

Forbes credited the local football body for getting an early start to Trinidad and Tobago’s 2019 World Cup qualifying series. The two island republic has never qualified for a FIFA women’s competition—although coming within a whisker of the Canada 2015 tournament. Forbes hopes they can go one better this time.

“It’s great that we are starting this early [with] things that will help us achieve our common goal which is making it to France 2019,” said Forbes. “I am really excited that we have the privilege to come in and do these team building exercises that we have been doing in camp. Because this is all part of the preparations for moving forward and achieving success.”

Photo: Oilers captain Karyn Forbes (centre) shows off her kicking technique while Rush forward Crisbelis Abraham looks on during 2015 WPL action. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Oilers captain Karyn Forbes (centre) shows off her kicking technique while Rush forward Crisbelis Abraham looks on during 2015 WPL action.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Morace, who coached Canada at the 2013 World Cup, said she shared the excitement of her players and staff and is anxious to see her charges show what they have learnt on the training ground—in particular, their ball possession and shape in possession and marking and covering without the ball.

“This is my first game in charge of Trinidad and Tobago and of course I am excited just like the rest of my staff,” she said. “This game will be used to measure where we are as a team. We know that we have worked a a lot physically and now we want to see where are at.

“In this camp we have had a chance to bring the local players and US-based players together and set up the professional environment that is required to play in the national team. The last two or three days, the players have focused more on the technical and tactical aspect [and] I have to say that the atmosphere is great.”

King, the 2014 Trinidad and Tobago Player of the Year, hopes the fans come out to witness the start of their journey.

“It feels great to be back with all my sisters,” said King. “It’s a good atmosphere coming back in, training again and being around everyone, getting that chemistry going again. We’d love to have the support of the fans come out.


“We are excited to show you where we are with our passion and drive to make it to France.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender and 2014 TTFA Player of the Year Arin King (left) dives in to tackle Colombia's Tatiana Ariza during the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. (Copyright AFP 2016)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender and 2014 TTFA Player of the Year Arin King (left) dives in to tackle Colombia’s Tatiana Ariza during the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
(Copyright AFP 2016)

(T&T Women’s Squad)

Goalkeepers: Kimika Forbes, Shalette Alexander;

Defenders: Arin King, Patrice Superville, Anastasia Prescott, Liana Hinds, Lauryn Hutchinson, Chevonne John, Annalis Cummings;

Midfielders: Dernelle Mascall, Tasha St Louis, Karyn Forbes, Nia Walcott, Ranae Ward, Ke’die Johnson;

Forwards: Mariah Shade, Shenelle Henry, Laurelle Theodore.

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16 comments

  1. Good luck ladies. Go for it concentrate play hard Red White&Black

  2. Have the right game attitude on and off the field . Never give up .

  3. Rally yuh troops tasha st. Louis

  4. Today is a good day , wear the r?? with pride . God is good .

  5. Atkins disappointing me fr d second time as a T&T player an skipper shame on u ex skipper.

    • Sometimes certain personalities don’t mix easily. Yes, the coach is boss but the player has the right to decide what work environment is healthy for her too.
      Hopefully this can be smoothened out eventually. Quickly too with any luck.

    • I hear u Liburd, bt hear dis dis is a brand new professional coach all d other players r gelling an talking d time out to fit in with new tactics. Y Messi an other big players say they nt training in winter or playing. If remember Leonson Lewis his wen and watch train wen he was playing overseas. U know wat his father ask him to do correct word he beg him to com home an told he didn’t hav go Tru Dat kinda training to Liv com hom son I Wil mind U. Saying al d to say is U don’t walk away or giv up as a professional.

    • Attins playin to long an as a skipper sh should b leading by example dis is world Cup time to step up nt down.

    • We make to many excuses for our local players they ajust when they leave an go but when coming to home some of then act as if they to big for their boots

  6. Great move time to get tuff with those players like the fomer skipper an her fowlers who want things her way .

  7. At least we doing some things right, start early !

  8. good on you Tasha … good luck girl

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