Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 17 women’s football team will touch down in Seoul, South Korea on Friday to commence their three-match training camp at the Korean Republic Football Association’s National Football Centre in Paju.
The venue which accommodates training camps for all of Korea Republic’s National Teams, was also the same venue used by T&T’s Men’s National Under 20 team for its training camp in May, 2009 ahead of the FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup.
Even Pellerud, head coach of T&T Women’s U-17 team went ahead to the venue before the team to ensure all arrangements were in place for the team’s arrival.
Pellerud who has been to the Paju Centre before with Canada, is excited over the chance being afforded to the T&T team through the efforts of TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner.
The Centre was completed in November 2001 and is Korea's first ever football training facility.
It is located Kyounggi Province and various national football tournaments, referee education, and football seminars are also held at this site.
The Paju Centre is a single 3-floor structure able to accommodate a maximum of 100 people with team quarters, cafeteria, conference room, restaurant, fitness room, spa, physical therapy and weight training room. The NFC also features 6 natural grass fields and 1 artificial grass field.
“I think it an exceptional opportunity for our team to be able to experience the training facilities here. I’ve been to it with Canada before and it’s perfect for training and playing games,” Pellerud told TTFF Media.
“This week will be a different experience for them but all in relation to our preparations and getting ready to take on the world in the tournament in September. They are all eager to take on the challenges and this is why we will be in Korea because a lot of things like the climate and the time difference will be new to them,” he added.
T&T are scheduled to play three matches against the Korean National U-17 Women’s Team on April 5, 7 and 10. The Korean Republic team under coach Duk Joo Choi has been in training at the Paju Centre this week.
Korea Republic last November won their maiden Asian women’s U-16 title following a spirited 4-0 win over defending continental and world champions Korea DPR in the final of the 2009 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship at Bangkok’s Supachalasai Stadium.
The tournament’s MVP and top scorer Yeo Min-Ji and strike partner Kim Da-Hye each completed a brace as they pulled off a memorable victory which dethroned their northern peninsular neighbours.
Korea Republic, having long been in the shadow of their northern neighbours in the women’s game, took the qualifying tournament by storm inflicting two identical 8-0 wins upon Thailand and Myanmar before drawing with Korea DPR 2-2 to win their group.
The 23-player team arriving in Korea -
1. Keri Myers
2. Linfah Jones
3. Camille Borneo (C)
4. Rehana Omardeen
5. Khadisha Debesette
6. Tineisha Cobham
7. Patrice Vincent
8. Camille Charles
9. Victoria Swift
10. Kayla Taylor
11. Jasmine Sampson
12. Nia Walcott
13. Khadidra Debesette
14. Amira Walcott
15. Patrice Campbell
16. Nykosi Simmons
17. Diarra Simmons
18.Jo Marie Lewis
19. Anique Walker
20. Kedisha Castillo
21. Brianna Ryce
22. Shalette Alexander
23. Courtney Bahadursingh