T&T’s senior women are currently on a weight programme as they engage in preparation for the qualification of the 2012 Olympic Games now that their 2011 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign is over.
The team, under coach Jamaal Shabazz returned from Cancun, Mexico earlier this month after finishing third in their final round group behind eventual tournament winners Canada and runners up Mexico.
And with those chances now dashed, Shabazz’s team has set its sights on the Olympics for which the qualifiers begin in April/May next year.
And because of its showing in Mexico, where it defeated Guyana 4-1, Shabazz explained T&T have booked a spot in the 2011 Pan American Games which is carded for October.
“The team will embark on a weight training programme three days per week. The preparation has started and we are looking forward to it as we believe qualification is certainly within our reach” Shabazz said.
“We qualified to play in the Pan Am games by virtue of our showing in Mexico and that tournament is in October 2011 and we are definitely not going there just to make up numbers but we believe our chances of taking the title are as good as any.”
Shabazz added that T&T have demonstrated that they possess what it takes to compete against the best in Concacaf based on its recent showings in a 1-0 loss to Canada and 2-0 defeat to Mexico.
“Our women’s program at the TTFF is now year round. We have shown that with the right preparations, we can compete with the best as was evident at the Under 17 Women’s World Cup and the World Cup qualifiers in Mexico.
It’s up to the Government and private sector to back the Federation's women's programme some more and I believe with the right amount of support we can achieve success on the world stage,” Shabazz said.
The Caledonia AIA coach was also present at the recent FIFA “Win in Concacaf with Concacaf” programme in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
He was part of a TTFF contingent which reported to Fifa on what has transpired in local youth football, the TTFF's development plans and what kind of courses the Federation would want Fifa to conduct over the next year aimed continued development.
"I think this is a huge opportunity for us to really jump start youth football again throughout the length and breadth of T&T, stated Shabazz. "Not just in the TTFF's Centres for Development but at the grassroots level as well.”
"I think from here on you will see the TTFF as one of the major crime fighters in the country with the programs for our boys and girls. No village will be left out we will cut across all borders and boundaries, he added.