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Fri, Mar

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logo for the relaunch of the Women’s League Football is displayed at Crowne Plaza, Wrighston Road, yesterday .. Photo: Dilip Singh.The T&T Under-17 women’s football team for next year’s Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup in T&T will participate in this year’s $150,000 Women’s League Football hosted by the Women’s Football Association.
This was announced by WFA president Sharon O’Brien at the launch of the league’s 24th season and its new logo (WoLF) at Crowne Plaza on Wrightson Road yesterday.

In outlining the details of the league, WFA’s vice-president Jinelle James said the official opening will take place with a parade of teams at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya from 2pm on Saturday. This will be followed by an exhibition match between the national Under-17’s coached by Norwegian Even Pellerud, also the director of local women’s football, and an All-Star team.

James noted that this will be the first time the league will be kicking off so early in the year as to avoid any conflicts with players who have to represent their schools when the Secondary Schools Football League get goings in September. This year’s league will comprise of two divisions (Premier and First) and will consist of 15 clubs in total; six in the Premier and nine in the First Division. The first round of matches in the Premier Division are set for May 2, with defending champions Real Dimemsion meeting the T&T Under-17’s at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium from 6pm.

Joe Public tackles Tobago FC and last year’s First Division champions, San Juan Jabloteh meets Central United in the other matches. Deputy director of women’s football and former national women’s football coach Jamaal Shabazz expressed his joy for the new era in the league. “Having followed the game from since the days of when Robbie Greenidge carried it by himself on his back to where we are now is an achievement in itself.” he said. “It’s a dynamic league which I know will compete will all the leagues in the country.”

Shabazz also pointed out that in addition to the returning overseas-based T&T players from their schools, most of the USA and Canadian players who have represented T&T and some of the top players from around the Caribbean will be on show. In congratulating the association’s officials on the re-launch of its league and logo, T&T Football Federation president, Oliver Camps also challenged them to introduce a comprehensive women’s national development programme, which will start at the primary school level and work its way up to the secondary schools and beyond.