Striker Maylee Attin-Johnson and midfielder Ahkeela Mollon have both been drafted into a provisional 35-woman squad ahead of the CONCACAF Women's Championship that will be used as a qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup in France next year.
The girls were added to the squad in the midst of concerns there may not be enough players to don the red, white and black for T&T at the qualifiers to take place on October 4-17 in the United States.
However, it is not confirmed if the two will be part of the final team, but a member of the staff of the team that guided the women's team to second place behind Jamaica at the recent Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Qualifiers in Kingston Jamaica, said it was wise to include them on the squad just in case they decide to show an interest to play.
"If they agree to play then we would have their names in already, but if we did not put their names and they agree to play then it would have been a problem," the staff member, who did not want to be identified explained. The provisional squad was chosen last week in the midst of desperate efforts to chose a coach for the team.
Anton Corneal was caretaker coach of the team following the resignation of Jamaal Shabazz almost two months ago. But with his contract expiring at the end of the CFU qualifiers, and monies owed to him by the T&T Football Association (TTFA), Corneal has decided to withhold his services until payments for three months salaries, as well as other monies owed to him relating to his contractual agreement, are paid.
Meanwhile, members of the TTFA Board of Directors have also raised an issue with the legality of Richard Quan Chan's position as Chairman of the Technical Committee. An Annual General Meeting of the TTFA on June 30 this year, did not contain a quorum and therefore the election of a technical committee chairman was not made, Keith Look Loy, a Board member told Guardian Media Sports.
Meantime, Shawn Cooper, who was an assistant coach to Corneal in Jamaica, has been the front-runner for the job, despite challenges from Haitian coach Stephan De Four and James Baird, the former Guaya United coach for the top job.
Before the CFU qualifiers, the team faced issues of players not being in T&T to train, players unable to return for the CONCACAF Championship as they were at schools in the USA and concerns about injuries, among others.
Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers:
Kimika Forbes, K’lil Keshwar, Saundra Baron;
Defenders:
Arin King, Ayana Russell, Danielle Blair, Jenelle Cunningham, Jonelle Cato, Khadisha Debesette, Lauryn Hutchinson, Natisha John, Patrice Superville, Rhea Belgrave, Anastasia Prescott;
Midfielders:
Janine Francois, Karyn Forbes, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Naomie Guerra, Victoria Swift, Liana Hinds;
Attacking Midfielders:
Ahkeela Mollon, Dernelle Mascall, Summer Arjoon, Tasha St Louis, Kedie Johnson;
Forwards:
Kayla Taylor, Aaliyah Prince, Dennecia Prince, Kennya Cordner, Mariah Shade, Natasha St Louis, Tsaianne Leander.
Women’s Concacaf Championship Groups
Group A:
USA, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama;
Group B:
Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica Cuba.