Trinidad & Tobago Women´s Footballers got two consolations from the CONCACAF Under 20 Women´s Tournament in Vera Cruz on Sunday.
The Jamaal Shabazz coached team defeated Panama 3-1 to finish third in Group A of the CONCACAF Under 20 World Qualifying series. A hattrick from US-based striker Maylee-Attin Johnson helped T&T to third spot behind Mexico which they lost 2-0 to and Canada which defeated them 7-1 in the opening match. Canada and Mexico will now move on to the semi finals to be played Wednesday.
However so impressed was Mexican Coach Leonardo Cuellar with the T&T team that he invited them for two warm up matches at senior women´s level in April in Mexico City.
"The T&T girls have made tremendous improvements in their play and apart from the mistakes they made at the back proved that they play with the top CONCACAF teams,” Cuellar said.
"I do not know why your team did not play like this way against Canada,” he added. Cuellar stated that he felt T&T was now a team that would pose as a strong opposition to Mexico and others.
“T&T would be an excellent opponent for us as a warm up going to our UNCAF qualifying tournament at the end of April. They are quick and skillful and on the same level with our Central opponents.”
A hattrick by Johnson with goals in 6th, 45th and 69th paced T&T to its only win in the tournament.
The star striker who was a favourite with the Mexican fans completed a hattrick with a spectacular header and 69th minute, to become the first T&T player to score a hattick at CONCACAF level. Joan Rodriguez got the only goal for Panama ten minutes from the end.
T&T Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz said he was a bit disappointed with the results and the errors made at the back because of lack of composure by the T&T girls.
"I think we can feel happy that knowing that we can play at this level but we need psychological particularly in terms of the girls believing in themselves and being better focused. We gave up soft goals against Canada just as we do against the USA but we came out and fought against Mexico who is just as good a team as Canada. We need a specialist person in Psychology to help us in our work of developing the women´s program,” admitted Shabazz.
"I am what you will call a Ghetto or Bush Psychologist who can tell them about how David slew Goliath and to strive to be like the male ‘Soca Warriors’ and get them to listen to Maximus Dan´s song but the team needs more than that. We need an expert in that field who can teach them techniques in total concentration.”
"I remember I asked Mexico for a game last July and they refused and now without us asking, they want to play us at senior level.
At the conclusion of the first round on Monday, the winners and runners-up of each group will earn a place in the event’s semifinals at Veracruz’s Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes on 25 January, with the winners of the semifinal games earning a place as CONCACAF representatives in FIFA’s U-20 Women’s World Championship. The T&T girls were expected back last night (Monday night).