Jamal Shabazz, coach of the national Under-20 women’s football team, has described his team’s Concacaf Under-20 Final Round grouping as the “Group of Death.”
The Under-20 Soca Princesses were drawn with regional powerhouses, USA, Mexico and Jamaica in Group B; while defending and two-time champion Canada will face Costa Rica, Cuba and host Guatemala in Group A.
The draw was conducted on Monday during the Concacaf Executive Committee meeting in New York and match schedules are expected to be announced next month.
T&T battled to a 1-1 draw with Jamaica on Sunday in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Championship to win the four-nation competition with seven points—the same as Jamaica, but with a better goal-difference. With regards to the draw for the eight-team tournament to be held in Guatemala City from January 19-30, Shabazz said it was a huge challenge for T&T.
Shabazz said he would be calling on a few more overseas players in Shonelle Warrick, Natasha Prentice, Arin King and Stephanie Williams, who were all part of the team at the Under-17 level last year.
“The four players are expected to join the rest of the team for a training camp from December 13-22 and make the best possible preparations that we can, given the resources available.”
“We are getting enough assistance from the T&TFF, because we are also preparing for a World Cup (Under-20) and the entire technical staff and players are all focus on the job at hand.”