T&T Girls U14s face Grenada tomorrow in CFU opener at Ato Boldon Stadium

Editor Thursday 24 October 2019 Global Football, National Football, Volley 1 Comment

The Trinidad and Tobago Girls’ National Under-14 Team will make their bow at the Ato Boldon Stadium tomorrow evening as the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 Girls Challenge Series gets underway in Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago tackle Grenada from 7pm in the second game of a Couva double header while Cuba take on Suriname from 5pm. Admission is TT$25.

Photo: The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s U-15 Team warm down after their 4-0 win over the Dominican Republic on 10 August 2016 in the Concacaf Championship.
The Women’s U-15 Team were forced to miss the 2018 Concacaf Championship due to the TTFA’s late application for visas.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)

The tournament involves 22 Caribbean teams split into five groups hosted by Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.

“This competition follows last year’s Women’s Challenge Series and drills down on the CFU’s commitment to grassroots football generally and the advancement of the women’s game specifically,” said CFU President Randolph Harris. “[…] This competition is also important for us from a developmental perspective, as it gives us the opportunity to appoint budding referees from the respective territories to officiate in the matches. This will shore up their skills and give them some of the much-needed practical experience required to advance to the next tier.”

Head coach Marlon Charles named an 18-member squad to represent the twin island republic and he told the TTFA Media that his players are excited about the tournament and keen to show what they can do.

“From day one, we decided that the players must put their foot on the ball and play the possession game,” said Charles. “This is a very important phase. There are so many things to take into consideration with these young ladies when it comes to their mindset.

“It’s very important for their development and it’s a good thing that the TTFA has going on with the CFU and it can help with the development of women’s football.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago women’s U-15 coach Marlon Charles (background) instructs his team during an international fixture against Chile in the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore, 12 August 2010.
(Courtesy SPH-SYOGOC/Seyu Tzyy Wei)

(Trinidad and Tobago Team)

Goalkeepers: Sadiel Antoine, Mikaela Yearwood (Empire FC);

Defenders: Faith Alexander, J’eleisha Alexander, Jeniceia Benjamin, Angel Berot (Maracas United), Carissa Cowan (Black Panthers of Tobago), Akia Morris, Gamie Waldron (Jewel Sports Club);

Midfielders: Rasheeda Archer (MSA, St George’s), Arie Bhagan (W Connection), Orielle Martin (SKHY FC), Talia Martin (Speyside Junior Academy), Mikayla St Clair (Cutler Ridge Soccer Club—USA), Twinkle Thomas (Jewel Sports Club), Jewel Benjamin Edmond (Talent and Energy);

Forwards: Nikita Jackson (Fever United—USA), Breana Smith (Laventille FC).