Dear Editor: If Kenwyne gets ‘Yaya’, King and Baron back, the Women Soca Warriors can make history

“[…] I believe to win the Concacaf W Championship—and we should want to win, and prepare to win—we need to bring back former Trinidad and Tobago Women Soca Warriors who are immensely talented and have significant international experience.

“We need to invite Kennya ‘Yaya’ Cordner, Arin King and Saundra Baron back on the team, and have them help us unleash our potential…”

The following Letter to the Editor on the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Football Team was submitted to Wired868 by an anonymous football fan:

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago attacker Kennya “Yaya” Cordner tries to escape from Mexico player Veronica Perez during the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
(Copyright AFP 2016)

While watching the Women Soca Warriors earn their place in the Concacaf W Championship, I had to get up and dance, shout, and even scream a bit. They renewed in me, maybe in all of us, an immense sense of national pride.

The coaching staff and the team pulled together and got the job done. The Warriors showed the world that our country believes in hard work—we don’t quit, we collaborate, and we find ways to persevere.

Now is the time for our team to take extraordinary steps to prepare for the fierce competition expected in the Concacaf W Championship. We must move from a moment of glory back into the lab of strategic preparation. That means we must enhance our capacity to win, which includes adding some of our most talented players back onto our roster.

I believe to win the Concacaf W Championship—and we should want to win, and prepare to win—we need to bring back former Trinidad and Tobago Women Soca Warriors who are immensely talented and have significant international experience.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Arin King (left) leaps in to tackle Colombia’s Tatiana Ariza during the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
(Copyright AFP 2016)

We need to invite Kennya ‘Yaya’ Cordner, Arin King and Saundra Baron back on the team, and have them help us unleash our potential.

I believe that Arin King and Saundra Baron want to return and support their country; all they need is a simple invite or a call from the T&T coaching staff asking them to come back and join the team.  

One phone call, one moment of connection can help our team move from good to great and solidify, for all of us, a Women Soca Warriors experience in Mexico that will be memorable for a lifetime.

As for Kennya ‘Yaya’ Cordner, her talent is unquestioned. She may be amongst the greatest players in the history of the Women Soca Warriors. It is unfortunate that she left the team in unfortunate circumstances, but a disappointing moment doesn’t have to lead to a devastating end.  

Her talent and love for the game, coupled with an enhanced focus from the coaching staff on player development and winning as a team, should give Kennya and the staff a path to renewal. 

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Saundra Baron (#20) prepares to make a save against a USA opponent during the 2018 Concacaf Championship.
(Copyright MexSport/ Concacaf)

We encourage both sides to see the bigger picture for the Women Soca Warriors. It’s not about yesterday, it’s about tomorrow. It has to be about teamwork and country.

This moment in history is ours to seize and we need everyone to put personal differences aside, drop the offences of the past, and then work as one. I know the players would welcome Yaya, Arin, and Saundra back on the team.

Trinidad and Tobago coaching staff, it’s time to take action. Invite all three of these Women Soca Warrior players back on the team and let’s go to Mexico and make history!

 

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2 comments

  1. Totally disagree. U really think three former players can compensate for two years of no preparation?

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