A Trinidad and Tobago Senior Women’s team arrived in Costa Rica on Monday night for a nine-day tour as they prepare for the 2015 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
The team will play four games, two against the Costa Rican National Women’s team and a further two games against two local clubs.
Marlon Charles is the team’s head coach and TTFF technical Director Anton Corneal has also accompanied the team which was originally scheduled to play in the LA Vikings Cup. The team’s trip to LA was called off after the organizers failed to fulfill their initial commitment.
The team’s trip to Costa Rica was made possible through assistance from the Ministry of Sports.
Looking ahead to the camp, Charles said: “It’s a really good opportunity to get the program on stream leading up to the qualifiers next year. The squad itself has a good blend of players who have been to some of regional tournaments in the past and some who have the experience of playing in overseas leagues as well.”
“We will use these matches to assess exactly where we are at this stage of our preparations ahead of the year to come.”
The 2015 Women’s World Cup will the first tournament that will include 24 teams and consequently the FIFA Executive Committee has decided on a new slot allocation with the increase of teams for the upcoming World Cup.
The allocation is as follows:
AFC: 5 slots
CAF: 3 slots
CONCACAF: 3.5 slots
CONMEBOL: 2.5 Slots
OFC: 1 Slot
UEFA: 8 Slots
HOST: 1 Slot (Canada)
With the new allocations, CONCACAF has 3.5 slots which gives our own Trinidad and Tobago Women's Team an even better chance of earning a final berth in a Women's World Cup Finals.
T&T Women’s Squad:
Goalkeepers: Keri Myers, Shalette Alexander
Defenders: Arin King, Ayana Russell, Anastasia Prescott, Patrice Superville, Afiyah Matthias, Rinelle Findley
Midfielders: Janine Francois, Karyn Forbes, Denecia Prince, Jonelle Warrick, Tasha St. Louis, Patrice Campbell
Forwards: Maylee Attin- Johnson, Kennya Cordner, Marlique Asson, Shanelle Warrick
Staff:
Vernetta Flanders- Team Manager
Marlon Charles- Head Coach
Claire George- Equipment Manager
Donna Wickham - Physio