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Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 Team head coach Ayana Russell named nine overseas-based players in her 21-member squad today, as the young Women Soca Warriors prepare for Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers action.
Russell’s troops start their campaign on Saturday 24 January against hosts Curaçao at the FFK Stadium in Willemstad, before they meet Guadeloupe, Barbados and El Salvador on 26 and 28 January and 1 February respectively.
Photo: TTFA Media.
The group winner advances automatically to the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship, along with the best two runners-up from six groups.
Russell attempted to boost her team’s chances by adding nine players from Trinidad and Tobago’s diaspora, including United States-born attackers Sanni Wilson and Giuliana Meyer—who both played for the two-island republic in the 2025 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
They are among seven survivors from the last Championship, along with goalkeeper Alexia Dolland, defenders Jessica Nesbitt and Hackeemar Goodridge, and midfielders Zyesha Potts and Rori Gittens.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Goalkeeper Zofia Richards was also part of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 squad for the earlier qualifying round during their 2025 campaign.
Russell’s team endured a chaotic weekend due to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) Home of Football being overbooked. However, Wired868 understands that a solution was found today—courtesy of a generous, proactive parent.
The Women’s Under-17 Team were due to spend the week in camp at the Home of Football and have twice daily training sessions at the nearby Ato Boldon Stadium, until their departure for Curaçao on Friday 23 January.
Photo: TTFA Media.
However, instead, the TTFA allowed the Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Men’s National Under-20 Teams to use the venue as part of their arrangements for a tri-national exhibition series to help the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s Under-20 outfit.
As Grenada and Saint Vincent both arrived this weekend, it meant there was no room for the majority of Russell’s team. And, with players coming from varying distances, it was deemed to be impractical for them to return home and then come back out for double sessions this weekend.
Thankfully, an unnamed parent was able to source a sponsor for the girls today. And, by this evening, they should all be lodged at the Cascadia Hotel instead.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Wired868 reached out to TTFA president Kieron Edwards and general secretary Kareem Paul for an explanation to the mix-up in the coordination of the Women’s National Under-17 Team camp, which caused a scramble this weekend and potentially deprived the team of two training sessions.
Neither Edwards nor Paul responded by the time of publication.
The Grenada U-20s play Defence Force from 6pm tomorrow at the Ato Boldon Stadium, while the Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Under-20 teams meet from 8pm at the same venue. Admission is $20.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Thirteen members of Russell’s final squad were involved in last month’s Jewels of the Caribbean tournament, when the U-17 Women finished bottom of a four-team group and, astonishingly, below a combined Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) team.
They would hope for a significantly improved showing in Curaçao.
(Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 team)
Goalkeepers: 1.Saiya Smith (DPSFC—USA), 18.Alexia Dolland, 21.Zofia Richards (both Pro Series);
Defenders: 3.Hackeemar Goodridge (Trendsetter Hawks), 20.Alia Toussaint (Petersfield United), 5.Mateja Leben, 2.Jessica Nesbitt (both Pro Series), 16.Gyasi Lewis (Combined Ballerz), 4.Layla Gregoire (Downtown United SC—USA);
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Midfielders: 14.Gianna Changar (United Futbol Academy—USA), 8.Chelsea John (Pickering FC—Canada), 6.Rori Gittens (Club Sando), 10.Jade Jones (FC Stars Blue National Team—USA), 15.Zyesha Potts (Jewels SC), 19.Khloe Kirton (Pro Series);
Attackers: 13.Giuliana Meyer (Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals—USA), 7.Shiyah Matthews (La Surf—USA), 12.Sydney Pollard (Pro Series), 9.Tori Jean-Jacques (Pickering FC—Canada), 17.Shemaiah Toussaint (Cox Football Academy), 11.Sanni Wilson (Florida United—USA).
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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.
