Trinidad and Tobago’s experienced defender Victoria Swift has described the build-up to Friday’s Concacaf Road to W Gold Cup qualifier against Puerto Rico as intense and purposeful.
This country’s Senior Women’s Team will play on home soil for the first time since April, 2022, aiming to put points on the board following their opening 6-0 loss to Mexico last month.
Head Coach Richard Hood has been overseeing preparations during a residential training camp and will announce his final squad on Wednesday for Friday’s encounter which kicks off at 7:00pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Swift, one of the veterans in the current set-up, believes that T&T can pick up points on Friday.
“Preparations have been very intense since we got back from playing Mexico. Thus far I’m extremely proud of the players for all their efforts in each and every session,” Swift told TTFA Media.
“Words can’t explain how excited I am to be playing in Port of Spain before the home fans. This is going to give us the opportunity to bring back joy and passion of women’s football to Trinidad and Tobago. I know there are a lot of players hungry to get opportunities and do well in women’s football here and a positive showing by us can only boost the local women’s game,” she added.
Swift knows the importance of seeing T&T advance to the next Women’s Gold Cup, especially with sights set on the next World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
“Getting a positive result on Friday is of utmost importance. This would keep our dream alive of qualifying for the first ever Women’s Gold Cup. It’s an opportunity to create history.
“A lot of the focus has been on how we want to play as a unit. We plan to go out there as a team and play with heart and soul… laying it all on the line,” she added.
Tickets for Friday’s match cost $50 (Covered Section) only and will be on sale at the venue on gameday. Kids 12 and Under are free.
Following Friday’s match T&T will travel to play Puerto Rico there on October 31st. Puerto Rico are currently second in the three-team group, with a -1 goal difference as opposed to T&T’s -6.
The Road To W Gold Cup involves 34 participating teams split into the three leagues: League A, League B and League C.
T&T are in League A which has the nine top-ranked teams divided into three groups of three. League B will consist of 12 teams split into three groups of four teams, while League C will have 13 teams in total. In League C, Group A will have three teams, while Group B, Group C and Group D will have three teams each.
In all three leagues, the teams will play each other home and away.
The three group winners from League A will qualify for the 2024 W Gold Cup while The three second-place teams from League A will advance to the Playoffs which will include the three group winners from League B. The League A second-place teams will play a single leg Playoff match against the League B group winners to determine the final three places in the 2024 W Gold Cup.
SOURCE: TTFA Media