The Soca Princesses tackle the Reggae Girlz in the second game of a double-header, while the 5.30 p.m. opener is a match-up between Canada and Mexico.
The tournament continues on Wednesday and Friday with double-headers at the same venue. On Wednesday, T&T clash with Mexico from 7.30 p.m, while Canada play Jamaica in the opening match and, on Friday, Jamaica go up against Mexico, while Trinidad and Tobago’s toughest test may be in the final match with Canada.
The entry fee on each of the days has been limited to $20 for adults and $10 for children under 17 to ensure there is big crowd support for the Soca Princesses at the southern venue.
Norwegian Even Pellerud, Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation technical director of women’s football, is using the tournament to see how far his team have progressed ahead of playing in the World Cup.
Pellerud, who was in charge of the Canadians before being recruited by the TTFF, is relishing the meeting against Canada and possibly another clash at the World Cup later this year.
’It’s going to be really good competition for us,’ he said. ’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 to as well.’
A week after playing the four-team tournament at Marabella, the Canadians move on to Costa Rica to contest the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, from which two of the eight teams will qualify for the U-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago. The Canadian girls come here fresh from a live-in training camp under new coach Bryan Rosenfield.
Canada, a powerhouse in women’s football, played three exhibition matches during the camp in January and Rosenfield said this week’s tournament in T&T will fit nicely into his team’s programme ahead of the qualifying tournament for the Women’s World Cup.
’I was very pleased with the players’ progress,’ said Rosenfield. ’The coaching staff was given a good indication of what needs to be done to maximise the players’ strengths. We also know as a group what we need to do to improve before our final preparations for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship.’
Canada are looking to qualify for a second straight FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Two years ago they finished third at the inaugural CONCACAF Championship and then reached the quarter-final stage of the World Cup in New Zealand.