...Focus on adaptability
National women's coach Richard Hood has selected a 23-member squad to face Mexico in the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday.
The unit is almost equally balanced in numbers, according to those players that play abroad at clubs or universities and those based at clubs locally.
The squad comprises midfielder Maria Frances-Serrant, defender Chrissy Mitchell (Mc Conell University), Jolie St Louis (University of Alabama), defender Victoria Swift (Unattached), defender Kedie Johnson (Lille FC in France), and striker Tsaianne Leander of Luton Town Women's FC, all of whom are among 11 overseas-based players in a squad of 23.
Hood, following a training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva yesterday, said he chose the best squad available to him at this point in time.
"As we all know, a number of players were not available, so I think that the squad that we have is the best squad that is available to us at this time. The ladies have been hard-working, they are really committed to representing the country and I really look forward to seeing what they can do.
"Because of the availability, we tried to utilise the more experienced players in critical roles centrally, as central defence and central midfield, etc. It's not ideal but I think the girls are really excited about what they want to do. They really want to get out there and play their hearts out for their country," Hood explained.
The team is expected to leave in groups over the next two days with the first batch scheduled to leave last night for Mexico, who they will face in two days. They will wing in to face the Mexicans in high altitude conditions and then head back home.
According to Hood, it will be about adaptability for his charges who he said have improved their football and level of fitness since they began training.
“For me is to see how we adapt to the high altitude and adapt to the pressure that we're expecting to get from the team, as well as from their fans. It's more about adaptability than anything else. We know that Mexico is the top team in the group based on its ranking," Hood said.
"We're expecting a difficult game. We see what the Mexicans are doing now, they are very different from the traditional Mexican teams, so we are prepared to deal with what they have to offer."
SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Kimika Forbes (Unattached), Simone Eligon (Unattached (foreign base), Malaika Dedier (St Augustine/Cunapia United)
DEFENDERS: Crystal Molineaux (Trincity National FC), Tamara Johnson (AC Port of Spain), Chrissy Mitchell (Mc Connell University), Victoria Swift (Unattached), Karyn Forbes (Unattached), Brittney Williams (St. Augustine/Cunapia United), Christa Waterman (Unattached (foreign base), Kedie Johnson (Lille F C - France),
MIDFIELDERS: Chelcy Ralph (Police FC), Renee Mike (Club Sando), Alexcia Ali (Club Sando), Asha James (RC Saint Denis - France), Talia Martin (Tobago Chicas FC), Sarah De Gannes (Western Illinois University), Naomie Guerra (AC Port of Spain FC), Taliah Simon (Alabama A&M University)
STRIKERS: Jolie St Louis ( University of Alabama), Reanah Campbell (Unattached- (foreign base), Maris-Frances Serrant (Unattached (foreign base), Tsaianne Leander (Luton Town Women FC).