U-17

After three years leading the Seneca Valley girls soccer team, junior midfielder Jasmine Sampson is no longer a secret. No matter how much she wants to be.

The Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 women's team continued their preparations for next year's FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup with a 2-0 victory over the national Under-20 women's team on Thursday at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

"Women playing football? What do they know about football?" A male colleague asked. His incredulous tone and facial grimace says it all. Women are still, in the minds of many men, incapable of dealing with the 'rough and tumble' aspects of one of their treasured sports. Looking at matches on TV or in a stadium is fine for a woman but if you express an interest in playing, get ready to meet the skeptics. Just ask Jinelle James. Her prowess on the field as one of the country's leading strikers has made her a familiar face on the women's football circuit. But she's battling it out again with the dubious as she leads the T&T Under-17 women's football team in her new role - this time as Manager.

An allocation of $140.9 million will be provided from the Sport Ministry’s budget of $388.8 million for the upgrade and construction of facilities to serve as training venues for the nation’s athletes and the hosting of regional and international competitions in support of T&T’s emergence as the sporting hub of the Caribbean. This was listed among the Public Sector Investment Programme 2010, which was laid in parliament during Monday’s budget presentation by Finance Minister Karen Tesheira. An area of high priority will be the preparation of the nation’s five stadia for hosting the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010. Tesheira said in support of this initiative, the sum of two million will be provided for the update of the lighting systems and replacement of scoreboards at the Dwight Yorke, Larry Gomes, Mannie Ramjohn and Ato Boldon Stadia.

EVEN PELLERUD, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 women’s football team, is encouraged by the performance of the squad during their tour of Panama and El Salvador last month.

The national Under-17 women’s footballers will clash with their U-20 counterparts this afternoon at Marvin Lee Stadium (MLS) in Macoya, from 5.20 pm.The match is a part of their (the U-17s) preparation for the 2010 Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup which will be held in T&T.

“We are ready.” This was the assurance from Fifa vice-president, Jack Warner, as he gave the feature address at the unveiling of the official emblem for the 2010 FIFA  Under-17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of Spain.

Brazil captain Aline, United States goalkeeper Hope Solo and Christine St Clair, Canada's all-time national team record goal-scorer of 84 goals in 103 internationals, will all be in Trinidad on September 12 when the emblem for the 2010 FIFA Under-17 Trinidad and Tobago Women's World Cup is revealed.