Recently appointed T&T senior women’s football team coach Richard Hood said he is very pleased with the coaching staff put together for the Concacaf 2023 Women’s Gold Cup qualifier.
The 2024 Women's Gold Cup qualifying tournament will take place during the FIFA Women’s International Match Windows of September, October, and November/December 2023 and will include the participation of 35 Concacaf Women’s senior teams divided into three leagues.
T&T will play away to Mexico in its opening match on September 26th. Followed its home match against the Mexicans on October 27th before facing Puerto Rico (away) on December 1st and at home on December 5th.
Following consultations with newly appointed head coach Richard Hood, the Technical Director Anton Corneal and Director of Women’s football Jinelle James, the T&T Football Association (TTFA) on Monday confirmed the appointments of Hood's technical staff. The technical team is made up of Dernelle Mascall (assistant coach), Glennon Foncette (goalkeeper coach), Anthony Marcano (physical trainer and video analyst), Natalie Harper (equipment manager), and Jelani Baptiste (rehab specialist/physiotherapist) while a second assistant coach is to be finalised.
Hood, a Sergeant with the T&T Police Service, said, “I’m extremely pleased with the quality of the staff that we have assembled to guide the senior women’s team through the process of qualifying for the W Gold Cup. Each staff member brings a level of experience and expertise in their respective field that would no doubt redound to producing the best quality on the field of play.”
He added, “The committee (TTFA Technical committee) and myself met on several occasions to discuss who would be the best fit for this team and I believe that we have made the absolute best possible selections for the technical staff. Dernelle Mascall brings a wealth of experience as an international player which would certainly assist the younger players mentally as it relates to the demands of international football. She is considered one of the brightest young coaches in the country.”
He pointed out that, “Glennon Foncette has been the Goalkeeper coach of choice for so many national coaches in the past having served under Even Pellerud, Jamaal Shabazz and Carolina Morace; his expertise is unquestionable. Meanwhile, Anthony Marcano is perhaps best known for his work with the TTOC and the Hockey Federation but his expertise in the field of Strength and Conditioning is second to none. In terms of the process adopted for selection, we have invited all players that have been within the local pool, that would have represented T&T at youth and senior level in the recent past as I believe that it’s critical to have a strong local unit.”
The former T&T Women’s Under 20 head coach noted that he has already begun a dialogue with overseas-based players on their availability to join the training squad.
“I have also communicated with most of the top players that are foreign-based as well as several new players that have expressed an interest in representing us. We will be training five days per week inclusive of at least seven sessions at a very high intensity as we believe that improving our fitness levels is most important at this time,” explained the former head coach of Police T&T Premier League club.
After 90 group stage matches, which include home and away play within each League and group, the top finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup Group Stage. Furthermore, the second-place finishers in each of the League A groups (three teams) and the first-place finishers in each of the League B groups (three teams) will advance to the 2024 W Gold Cup preliminaries.