The transformation of women’s football continues as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation launches the Legacy Programme on Saturday 16th May 2009. The Legacy Programme is a component of the FIFA U-17 WWC, which seeks to not only promote the competition but also to improve the quantity and quality of women's football in the host country as well as in the region through various activities.
In accordance with this mandate of the U-17 WWC, the TTFF will be launching the Under 15 development programme at several venues tomorrow; the Caparo recreational grounds, UWI grounds, Queens Park Savannah and the Dwight Yorke Stadium.
The screening secession, which targets girls born on or after January 1st 1995, is a major element of the TTFF’s Legacy Programme. Deputy Director of Women's Football and Coordinator of the Under 15 Development Program, Jamaal Shabazz describes the launch of the Programme as a positive and constructive step.
"This is a huge step by the TTFF towards securing the future of the women's game. It is an initiative of Even Pellerud our Director of Women's Football and it is receiving total support from Mr. (Jack) Warner.”
Shabazz says this country and by extension the region possess an enormous pool of talented individuals who are all willing to assist in development and promotion of women’s football.
"Marlon Charles has been chosen to head this development program and he has put together an enthusiastic and committed team of coaches who will be working with girls at a zonal level over the next 6 months” Trinidad and Tobago will host the Women’s World Cup in 2010, it’s an international event which the local federation hopes will not only highlight the progress the female sport has made, but officials are also hoping use the event as an investment into the future.
Shabazz insists that "The seeds that are sown today will bear fruit for T&T from 2011 and beyond in the women's game.” Screening sessions will commence in Central region at 9:00 am at the Caparo recreation ground, and in the East at the UWI back fields. Activates will continue at 3.00pm in the North at the Queen's Park savannah and in Tobago at the Dwight Yorke Stadium from 4.00pm. Shabazz says organizers will be introducing similar activates in other parts of the country "From next Saturday a sessions will continue in the Tobago, Central, East and North zones but will also start in Sangre Grande and South Trinidad,”
Background: The legacy programme has been introduced for the FIFA U-17 and U-20 WWCs 2008 to not only promote the two competitions but also to improve the quantity and quality of women's football in the two hosting countries as well as in the region through various activities (i.e. negotiations with governments re. women's football development; national/regional WF com-unity seminars, ambassadors tours, technical courses etc.). The purpose and goal of the programme is to use the competition as a platform for the further development of girls and women's football in the country.
General objectives for the legacy programme The legacy programme has the following objectives: a) increase awareness of the positive values of football in general and women's football especially b) promotion of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and women's football in Trinidad & Tobago as well as in the whole Caribbean c) strengthen the organisation and development of women's football in the member association, the regional federations, the clubs, in schools etc. d) increase network possibilities with other member associations e) elaboration of a development plan for women's football in Trinidad & Tobago
Screening Activates;
SATURDAY 16TH MAY EAST 9.30AM UWI BACK FIELD, ST. AUGUSTINE - UNDER COACHES –KATHY ANN NIXON, PETER PIERRE AND JOEL WARRICK NORTH 3.30PM QUEEN’S PARK SAVANNAH – REYNOLD GEORGE, DENYSE ARNEAUD CENTRAL 9.00AM CAPARO RECREATION GROUND UNDER COACHES – TREVOR BRIDGELALSINGH, JIM BAPTISTE and KIRT CRUICKSHANK TOBAGO 4.00PM DWIGHT YORKE STADIUM UNDER- COACH CORBIN COOPER SATURDAY 23RD MAY EAST 9.30AM UWI BACK FIELD, ST. AUGUSTINE - UNDER COACHES – KATHY ANN NIXON, PETER PIERRE AND JOEL WARRICK
CENTRAL ZONE 9.00AM WOODFORD LODGE – UNDER COACHES - TREVOR BRIDGELALSINGH, JIM BAPTISTE and KIRT CRUICKSHANK NORTH 3.30PM QUEEN’S PARK SAVANNAH – UNDER COACHES -REYNOLD GEORGE, DENYSE ARNEAUD SOUTH 9.00AM ST. BENEDICT’S GROUND UNDER COACHES – JOANNE DANIEL, MARLENE JOSEPH, SANDRA POMPEY EASTERM COUNTIES 9.00AM SANGRE GRANDE RECREATION GROUND- UNDER COACHES - PHILBERT CHARLES, JOSEPH WEEKES and DONVILLE CHAITAN SATURDAY 30TH MAY 9.00AM POINT FORTIN OVAL UNDER COACHES – JOANNE DANIEL, MARLENE JOSEPH and SANDRA POMPEY.