Eight overseas-based players have been drafted into a 26-member T&T Under-20 Women’s squad which goes into a live-in camp today for the Caribbean Football Union Final-Leg Qualifying Tournament next week.
The four-nation tournament which also includes Cuba, Jamaica and St Kitts/Nevis will be played at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya from Wednesday November 18 to Sunday November 22 from which the top three teams will qualify for the Concacaf Final Round competition in Guatemala next January.
Five of the eight players in Renel Dennis (New York), Candace Seaton (Georgian Court University) and the Concordia, New York trio of Kareena Seaton, Ayesha Ollivere and Rhea Belgrave joined the squad on Monday and were put through their paces by the technical staff headed by coach Jamal Shabaaz at the University of the West Indies Ground, St Augustine yesterday.
The duo of Latifah Kelly (Georgian Court University) and Karissa Rodney (Colchester United/England) were expected to link up with the team yesterday while another US-based player, Taylor Mims (Seton Hall) arrives on Friday. The squad, captained by prolific striker Moriah Shade of Debe High School also includes five national Under-17 players in Kayla Taylor, Linfa Jones, Kerri Myers, Camile Borneo and Victoria Swift. The camp will end of Sunday after which the final 20-player squad will be named.
T&T U-20 women’s training squad
Goalkeepers: Kimika Forbes, Kerri Myers, Linfa Jones.
Defenders: Felina Jack, Sharice Arthur, Tiana Bateau, Taylor Mims, Stephanie Reid, Rhea Belgrave, Camile Borneo, Cassie Mc Kenzie, Latifah Kelly.
Midfielders: Karyn Forbes, Afiya Matthias, Cassie Mc Kenzie, Jenelle Kissoon, Kareena Swift, Renel Dennis, Ayesha Ollivere, Kamile De Gale, Candace Seaton, Victoria Swift.
Strikers: Moriah Shade, Natasha St. Louis, Stacy Arthur, Jo-Marie Lewis, Karissa Rodney.
Technical staff: Jamal Shabaaz (coach), Marlon Charles (assistant coach), Steffan De Four (assistant coach), Steve Frederick (goalkeeper coach), Brent Elder (trainer), Dave Issac (physiotherapist), Kurlyn Smith (massage therapist), Liselle Henry (assistant manager), Kenrick Hoyte (manager).
CFU Women’s U-20 Final Round fixtures:
Venue: Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya;
Wednesday November 18:
Cuba vs Jamaica, 5pm.
T&T vs St Kitts/Nevis, 7pm.
Friday November 20:
Jamaica vs St Kitts/Nevis, 5pm.
T&T vs Cuba, 7pm.
Sunday November 22:
St Kitts/Nevis vs Cuba, 10am.
T&T vs Jamaica, 5pm.