“Confident.” That’s how T&T’s women’s football captain Karyn Forbes and her team feel ahead of Thursday’s crucial World Cup qualifying encounter with Nicaragua at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Forbes and her charges have been through a lot, from constant changes in the coaching staff to instability among the players that resulted in the sacking of experienced midfielder and striker Maylee Attin-Johnson and Kennya Cordner, just recently.
Coach Kenwyne Jones, had some four days with his entire team, ahead of the encounter, which was due to the limitations at both school and club levels.
Forbes said in spite of the challenges, their main focus was to secure three points against the Nicaraguans at home.
“ It’s never easy when you have your players three or four days back, barring the fact that we have to work with what we have. We have a lot of new faces, so we just have to go out there and do our best.
Right now, we will be using a new system, most of what we are familiar with, but as I said, it is always a task having your players come in a few days before, but that’s what the professional world gives and unfortunately at the schools, you’re not allowed to get out of the school for more time than you’re allotted, so we just have to work together and go out there and do our best to win the game.”
So far, the inclusion of Carlos Edwards as an assistant to Jones has been reaping dividends with most of the players buying into his coaching style and philosophy which is similar to Jones.
Jones has had to sever ties with both Cordner and Attin-Johnson but it has never shaken the confidence of Forbes who believes that with the continued support from her senior players, her team can maybe give the country something to celebrate.
“The coach’s decision is the coach’s decision and me and the players will continue looking forward because we can’t do anything about that. We still have a game on the 17th (February) and that’s where our focus is right now.
“I feel very confident with the team that we have and I think we have what it takes to go forward and win the game. We’re taking each game one step at a time, of course, everybody’s programme is improving so we’re not going to underestimate anybody. All we want is victory and that’s what we’re going for.
“Barring all the COVID-19 that is going on in our country and in the world by extension, I think this will be really awesome if we can have something to celebrate, especially this win, with people getting the opportunity to witness the game.
“I really hope that we get the opportunity to get as many fans because we really need the 12th-man going forward and this will be a perfect time for them to see the new generation coming forward.”
Watch Matchday -3 Matouk, Nakhid-Schuster and Edwards look ahead to opening CONCACAF W Qualifier