Newly appointed head coach for the Women’s National Senior Team Richard Hood says he’s ready to take on the challenge of leading this country in the upcoming CONCACAF Final Round of Olympic qualification in the United States next month.
Hood, a former assistant T&T Under 17 Women’s Coach at the 2010 FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup, was named on Wednesday as the new head coach to replace American Randy Waldrum.
Hood also led the T&T Women’s team in a previous Olympic qualifying bid and had previously led the Police Men’s Team to the top position in the ongoing T&T Pro League .
His first international assignment in the new position will be two away warm-up matches against Costa Rica’s Senior Women’s Team on January 25th and 27th before the team heads to the United States to begin the tournament. Hood will announce a provisional squad list in due course.
“My immediate reaction is one of excitement but one of apprehension as well,” Hood told TTFA Media
“We are facing a very difficult task trying to qualify for the Olympics in a very short time. It’s going to be difficult but it is not beyond us and one that I am looking forward to. The time frame is not ideal but it’s workable.”
Hood added that he is familiar with the majority of the players in the current national pool including Arin King who led the team in the recent International friendly with the United States, and most of her other teammates.
“There are one or two players that came in recently that I am not too familiar with but I am familiar with most of them. I saw recently players like Liana Hinds and Briana Ryce who were with the 2010 Under 17 team, come into the squad and I was pleased about that. One of the important things for us in the would be getting the chemistry going and ensuring we are ready for the tournament,” Hood said.
And as to the way in which he would like to see the team approach the games, he added: “I would like to see us play aggressively and to use our best assets, one of which would be speed, and to be more measured and control in our approach, being more organized and maintaining a high level of concentration throughout.”
Hood said he would be giving up his duty as Police FC Head Coach but will continue overseeing their football program in his capacity as Technical Director for the club.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Women will open their CONCACAF Final round Olympic qualifying account against Guatemala in February 11th. They will face Canada on February 14th and Guyana on February 16th. The top two teams from the two groups will advance to the semi final round with the two finalists advancing to the Rio.