Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 women’s football team will be leaving today for Panama, en route to Costa Rica, for a warm-up tour of the Central American nation.
Following the tour, the squad will head to Guatemala for the CONCACAF Final Round Qualifiers, which will take place from January 20-30.
The squad was originally due to leave on Sunday afternoon, but flight problems meant that the team spends an additional 48 hours at home. But their time did not go to waste as they engaged in a lengthy training session at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus yesterday morning.
In related news, coach Jamal Shabazz noted that midfielder/striker Shanelle Warrick will be unable to join the squad for the CONCACAF Final Round Qualifiers due to flight problems while defender Rhea Belgrave has opted out due to personal reasons.
As a result, defender Sharice Arthur and midfielder Jenelle Kisson will complete the squad of 20 for the trips to Central America. The top three teams in the CONCACAF Final Round Qualifiers will advance to the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which will run from July 13 to August 1.
Team - Kimika Forbes, Linfah Jones (goalkeepers); Tiana Bateau, Felina Jack, Camille Borneo, Taylor Mims, Arin King, Sharice Arthur (defenders); Victoria Swift, Afiyah Matthias, Renel Dennis, Karyn Forbes, Cassie McKenzie, Natasha Prentice, Kayla Taylor, Jenelle Kissoon (midfielders); Candace Seaton, Natasha St Louis, Mariah Shade, Jo Marie Lewis (strikers).
Technical Staff - Jamaal Shabazz (coach), Marlon Charles (assistant coach), Stefon De Four (goalkeeper coach), Brent Elder (trainer), Dave Isaac (physiotherapist), Maylee Attin-Johnson (manager), Steve Frederick (equipment manager), Kurlyn Smith (tutor).
Flight problems ground U-20 Soca Princesses.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The U-20 Soca Princesses were forced to postpone their trip to Costa Rica yesterday, after their connecting flight between Panama and Costa Rica was cancelled due to ground problems.
The team was scheduled to leave for Guatemala via Panama yesterday, to compete in the Concacaf Final Round Tournament from January 19-30, but will now leave tomorrow at 5.22 pm.
The change in flight arrangements also means that the practice match which was scheduled against the Costa Rican U-20 women, in Costa Rica tomorrow, will also be postponed to a date to be announced.
T&T, which will be led by Mariah Shade, will open its campaign against Mexico on January 21, before meeting favourites United States two days later, and will round off the first round against Jamaica on January 25.
Squad
Mariah Shade (capt), Kimika Forbes, Linfah Jones, Felina Jack, Tiana Bateau, Rhea Belgrave, Arin King, Taylor Mims, Renel Dennis, Kayla Taylor, Natasha Prentice, Karyn Forbes, Afiya Matthias, Cassie Mckensie, Kareena Seaton, Natasha St. Louis, Candace Seaton, Jo Marie Lewis, Victoria Swift, Camille Borneo.
Staff: Jamaal Shabazz (coach), Marlon Charles (assistant coach), Stephan De Four (goalkeeping coach).
Stand Bys, Jenelle Kisson, Shanelle Warrick.