Trinidad and Tobago’s senior women footballers will face Argentina today in their opening match at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. Despite almost missing the competition, the team will have high hopes considering their preparation for the tournament.
The players have been active in the past month preparing for Toronto, while participating in the inaugural Women's Premier League at home. Apart from league action with their franchise teams, the "Women Warriors" have also warmed up against South American opposition with the Pan Am Games in mind.
They won 2-0 against a South American select team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 30 in a match arranged by The Brazil Link (TBL) Sport Management Company in order to prepare them for the opposition in the group stages of the Games.
Both goals came either side of the half from Kennya "Yaya" Cordner and goal-poacher Mariah Shade. The South Americans were made up of players from Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela and coached by Dede, the Brazilian assistant coach of WPL team CNGC Rush.
Sheldon Phillips and Ross Russell saw it as the ideal opportunity to prepare the local women especially considering the limited resources of the Federation. TBL were also able to transport the players and supporters and organise the match officials’ fees.
Coach Dede has wished his players Janine Francois, Ahkeela Mollon and Mariah Shade all the best and success at the tournament. T&T open their account against Argentina today at the Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium in Toronto from 2.05 p.m.