Canada’s Under-17 women’s team will arrive in Trinidad today for the upcoming four-nation tournament fresh from a live-in training camp under new coach Bryan Rosenfield in Vaughan and Toronto. The Canadians, a powerhouse in women’s football, played three exhibitions matches during the camp and Rosenfield says the tournament in Trinidad will fit nicely into his team’s programme ahead of their qualifying tournament for the 2010 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup in T&T this September.
Local fans will get to see top Canadian midfielder Abigail Raymer in action. She was named Canada’s top youth female player for 2009 and is a member of professional club Vancouver Whitecaps. T&T head coach Even Pellerud, formerly in charge of the Canadians, is relishing the meeting between the two teams and possibly another clash at the World Cup later this year. “It’s going to be really good competition for us. Our girls have been hard at work and are really looking forward to coming up against quality teams like Canada, Mexico and of course there will be the Caribbean rivalry with Jamaica. A meeting with Canada at the World Cup would really be something great to look forward too as well,” Pellerud said.
The tournament will see Canada opening against Mexico on Sunday from 5.30 pm at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium with T&T playing Jamaica from 7 pm.
T&T will also play Mexico on Wednesday from 7.30 pm and Canada on Friday from 7.30 pm at the same venue.