Diarra Simmons of Pickering Power, Canada, is the lone overseas-based player named in an 18-member national Under-17 women’s for its opening match in the Caribbean Football Union Group B qualifying series against Dominica.
The Soca Princesses squad was selected by coach Stephan De Four following Wednesday’s training session at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Ground ahead of matches against Dominica on Wednesday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar and four days later away.
T&T, which will be skippered by striker Anique Walker, will also face St Kitts/Nevis on October 2 and 5 from which the winner of the three-team group 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.
Speaking following the selection of the squad, De Four said the lanky Simmons, who attends Mary Ward Catholic High School in Toronto was expected to arrive on Monday to link up with the squad.
With regards to the squad selected, De Four said it was a very hardworking bunch that had come together nicely and would be enhanced by the addition of the experienced Simmons.
“We have not had much international matches under our belt but most of the girls have come through the Under-15 programme with Marlon Charles and have made the transition smoothly.
In addition to Simmons and Walker, two other players with experience as part of the previous Under-17 squad which played in the World Cup last year are midfielders, Victoria Swift and Khadidra Debesette, whose twin sister Khadisha, another World Cup player, misses out because of illness.
Another World Cup stand-out Liana Hinds (Soccerplus, Connecticut) and newcomer, Donika Edwards will miss the opener with Dominica as well, but coach De Four is hopeful of securing the services of the duo during some phase of the qualifiers.
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 Liana Hinds got the winner.
Hinds also scored in the 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the group stages. With respect to Hinds and Edwards, De Four said, “Hinds has school commitments at the moment and is unavailable for the first two matches for certain, but we have been in constant contact with Edwards parents and they are hoping to have her here by this weekend, so she could feature in the away match against Dominica.”
Yesterday, the local squad trained at the University of West Indies, St Augustine, while it plays a national women’s league match against Defence Force today at Barataria Oval from 6pm before going into a live-in camp at Halyconia Inn, Cascade, on Sunday.
T&T Under-17 women’s team:
Goalkeeper:
Sheniece David, Shantel Christian
Defenders:
Marlique Asson, Adeka Spence, Abigail Jacob, Corinna Sequea, Tonietta Phillip, Olivia Jaggernauth.
Midfielders:
Victoria Swift, Khadidra Debesette, Marie Guissepi, Shenice Garcia, Darian Diaz, Naomie Guerra.
Forwards:
Anique Walker (capt), Diarra Simmons, Khadisha De Freitas, Zoe Swift.
Reserve:
Shenice Harding, Donicia Prince.
Technical staff:
Lyndell Hoyte-Williams (manager), Stephan De Four (coach), Peter Pierre (assistant coach), Terry Johnson (equipment manager), Judy Harewood (physiotherapist), Clint Mc Kenzie (trainer), Steve Frederick (goalkeeper coach).
CFU Women’s 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