Stefan De Four, coach of the Soca Princesses will fine tune his preparations for this country’s participation in the Caribbean Football Union qualifying tournament with St Kitts/Nevis and Dominica this weekend.
Speaking yesterday, De Four who has been elevated to the position of coach after serving as an assistant to Norwegian, Even Pellerud Technical Director of women’s football in T&T said: “Right now we have been in training for a few months now and our final 18-member team will be selected on Wednesday.”
With regards to the team’s prepartions for the tournament which will be played on a home-and-away basis, De Four said his team has been making the best of what is available.
“The team has been in training four days a week but we have not been able to play any notable international warm-up matches since we played against Barbados at home in April.
“Instead we have been using the matches in the national women’s league to keep the players match fit and they have done considerably well, so far, and are atop the standings at the end of the first round.
“Ideally we would have like to get in some international warm-ups under but given the current state of the T&T Football Federation finances it is not possible.
Looking ahead to the matches, De Four was quick to note he would not be underestimating any of T&T opponents and was hoping to recall North American-based duo, Diarra Simmons (Pickering Power, Canada) as well as Liana Hinds (Soccerplus, Connecticut), both of whom represented T&T at last year’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup at home as well as newcomer, Dennicak Edwards.
The 15-year-old Simmons wrote her name into local history books when she netted T&T’s first goal at a FIFA Women’s World Cup event, a 2-1 win over Chile while 16-year-old Hinds got the winner. Hinds also scored in the 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the group stages.
“I want to play with the strongest team possible and both Hinds and Simmons will bring some experience to the team having played at the last World Cup,” added De Four.
Today, the local squad will train at the University of West Indies, St Augustine as well as tomorrow at the same venue until Wednesday. The team is then expected to go into a live-in camp ahead of the matches versus Dominica at home on September 14 and, away four days later.
The winner of the series between T&T, St Kitts/Nevis and Dominica will join other group winners, Jamaica, Bahamas and Guyana in a four-team CFU second round round-robin series from which the top three teams will advance to the CONCACAF finals.
Caribbean Football Union U-17 Group B fixtures
September 14: T&T vs Dominica
September 18: Dominica vs T&T
September 25: Dominica vs St Kitts/Nevis
September 28: St Kitts/Nevis vs Dominica
October 2: St Kitts/Nevis vs T&T
October 5: T&T vs St Kitts/Nevis