T&T received a huge blow yesterday, as it was confirmed at a press conference that defender and skipper Camille Borneo is out of the upcoming Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup (WWC).
American-based defender Lauren Schmidt will instead take her place. Borneo picked up an ACL injury (tear in one of the knee ligaments) during T&T’s final warm-up match in Brazil two weeks ago.
With tears in her eyes, Borneo sat at the back of the room, while Pellerud revealed the team and shared how difficult the news was to him and his team. “We hoped for as long as we could but she cannot play.
But...we have to survive...we have to play,” said Pellerud. “It has been a rough couple of days for us. This is the hardest part of a coach’s job and it is a really stressful process but it was a job which had to be done.
The girls have worked super hard and they were not easy decisions.”
The squad includes nine foreign-based players and 12 local players who have all been a part of the squad along the way with Tineisha Cobham, Patrice Campbell and Nia Walcott being the notable omissions.
Pellerud said he is satisfied with the progress of his team, explaining that the U-17s have set a standard for all teams that will never disappear. The Norwegian went on to explain that the preparation which was afforded to his team, was good and he cannot complain.
“You will always want more as a coach,” he said. “But the quality of our preparation has been good and we cannot complain.” “Are we good enough? “Nobody knows but this is a young age group and it’s hard to tell but we are confident that we are competitive.”
Also sharing a few words was newly appointed captain Schmidt who expressed an assurance that her players would play their hearts out and wear the red, black and white proudly, while striving for gold.
She also encouraged supporters to come out and support the team. Speaking on behalf of Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Anil Roberts, who was unable to attend the event, Parliamentary Secretary in the MSYA, Stacy Roopnarine, said it is a pleasure to host the world in September.
She also took the time to further emphasise the Ministry’s commitment to creating an equal playing field for women and girls in sport.
T&T U-17 Women’s squad
Goalkeepers: Keri Myers, Linfah jones, Shalette Alexander
Defenders: Khadisha Debesette, Patrice Vincent, Rehana Omardeen, Jonelle Warrick, Courtney Bahadursingh, Victoria Swift, Lauren Schmidt
Midfielders: Khadidra Debesette, Jasmine Sampson, Liana Hinds, Emma Abdul, Kayla Taylor
Forwards: Camille Charles, Jo Marie Lewis, Nykosi Simmons, Diarra Simmons, Brianna Ryce, Anique Walker
Staff: Even Pellerud (coach), Richard Hood (asst coach), Jinelle James (manager), Ricarda Nelson (asst manager), Chris Bailey (trainer), Nicole Kristow (physio), Marius Rovde (GK coach), Claire George (equipment manager).
Schmidt to lead U-17s in Women’s World Cup.
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday).
Lauren Schmidt, a California, United States-born defender who was drafted into the training squad in May, will have the distinction of leading a 21-member Trinidad and Tobago team for next month’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, here on these shores.
The 17-year-old replaces Camille Borneo as the skipper, after the central defender suffered a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) during last month’s tour of Brazil. Borneo, who took over as the team captain earlier this year, will miss the World Cup, which runs from September 5 to 25.
The squad was unveiled by coach Even Pellerud in a media conference yesterday at the Diamond/Topaz Room, Hyatt Regency Trinidad.
Pellerud also omitted defender Tineisha Cobham and the midfield pair of Patrice Campbell and American-born Nia Walcott from the 25-member team who went to Brazil.
Identical twins Khadisha and Khadidra Debesette, and Canadian-born cousins Nykosi and Diarra Simmons were selected, as well as Anique Walker and Jonelle Warrick, who are both in Singapore with the national Under-15 team at the inaugural Youth Olympics.
The Norwegian-born coach have chosen eight North American-born players in the World Cup party. Inclusive of Schmidt and the Simmons cousins, the others are defender Courtney Bahadursingh and midfielder Emma Abdul (Canada), midfielders Jasmine Sampson and Liana Hinds, as well as striker Brianna Ryce (US).
“We’re very happy on behalf of the 21 players that were chosen,” said Pellerud. “It has been a pleasure to work with them. We hope they can stay the course for the next three weeks and cross their fingers so that we don’t have injuries coming up.
“If that happens, then we have good back-ups,” he added.
Schmidt, addressing the packed audience, said, “my team will represent the national colours to the best of our ability. We have great dreams and aspirations, but we also have the will-power to see it through.”
This current squad originated from a national Under-15 team which featured in the lone Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Youth Cup, here in Trinidad, in 2008.
Borneo, Cobham and Campbell were a part of that squad, as well as the Debesette twins, Omardeen (who captained the team), Myers, Jones, Alexander, Taylor, Swift, Warrick and Lewis.
North Korea, winners of the inaugural FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, is in Group ‘A’, along with Nigeria, Chile and hosts Trinidad and Tobago — Chile will face the hosts in the opening match on September 5 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Team -
Players: - Keri Myers, Linfah Jones, Shalette Alexander (goalkeepers); Khadisha Debesette, Patrice Vincent, Rehana Omardeen, Courtney Bahadursingh, Lauren Schmidt (defenders); Victoria Swift, Khadidra Debesette, Kayla Taylor, Emma Abdul, Jasmine Sampson, Liana Hinds (midfielders); Camille Charles, Jo-Marie Lewis, Nykosi Simmons, Diarra Simmons, Brianna Ryce, Anique Walker, Jonelle Warrick (strikers).
Technical Staff: - Even Pellerud (coach), Richard Hood (assistant coach), Jinelle James (manager), Ricarda Nelson (assistant manager), Chris Bailey (trainer), Nicole Kistow (physio), Marius Rovde (goalkeeper coach), Glennon Foncette (assistant goalkeeper coach), Claire George (equipment manager).