T&T's Soca Princesses will go into their Group A opener of the Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup 2010 against Chile today, confident of putting on good show before what is expected to be a large turn out of supporters at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. This was stated by national coach, Norwegian-born Even Pellerud while addressing the media at a pre-match press conference held in the media room of the Stadium, yesterday. The Soca Princesses', who will be competing in their first ever Fifa finals and qualified as the host country face the South American qualifying runners-up, who are also making their tournament from 6pm. Three hours earlier, defending champions, Korea DPR and Nigeria, the first African team to qualify kick off Group A action at the same venue. Prior to the T&T and Chile match, an eight minute opening ceremony will take place at 5.48pm.
However, all eyes will on the local Under-17 women's team led by American-born Lauren Schmidt. The squad which also includes eight other overseas-born players will be seeking to heat up Chile.
Having qualified as host, T&T with an experienced coach in Pellerud, formerly in charge of Norway and Canada senior teams, played no fewer than 11 international warm-up matches and had a number of tours, and today will hope it will be enough to prompt a good performance. Pellerud, in the job for the past 18 months of a four-year contract said he has prepared his team well but there are some things which are beyond his control. "In terms of our physical fitness and tactical awareness we feel very good as a team. We are excited and eager to show the world we as a small country are capable of competing against the big countries and put on a good show and try and win. These are the things we can control," stated Pellerud."
"But how the players and team react to a World Cup Finals competition setting and the added pressure of playing in front of their home crowd are things that are out of my control." With regards to today's opponents Pellerud, also the Director of Women's Football in T&T said he think he has enough information on them." "I have done my own with my staff and I don't think Chile will surprise us at all. We know what they are coming with and what to expect from their players. But I'm not sure they know as much about us', added Pellerud who has led his team to five wins and one drawn result in 12 international matches since his appointment. "Tactically, technically and mentally we have worked very diligently with the team and we hope this will be sufficient. The local squad held a final training session at the match venue from 6pm yesterday and goes into the clash full of confidence after a 3-0 win over fellow tournament participants, Republic of Ireland in their final warm-up match on Saturday in Florida.
The Las Rojitas as the Ronnie Radonich-coached Chileans are called won a first round South American group qualifying series involving Venezuela, Argentina, reigning continental champs Colombia, and Uruguay without tasting defeat. This was followed by an emphatic 4-1 semifinal victory over Paraguay before hosts Brazil inflicted a 7-0 reverse in the final. However, faced with a tricky opener against Pellerud's T&T squad and in front of an expected lively home crowd, Radonich said he expects both teams to be under some pressure. "I'm expecting the pressure of playing in front of their home crowd to affect T&T negatively which will help our team. For our players it will also be kind of an emotional pressure and I expect it to be tough for them as well.
"But for T&T I think they will be feeling a lot more pressure as they will be the host nation playing before a big crowd and expected to put in a good performance. This will surely be good for our team, ended Radonich, who has prepared his team for the past 22 months. In the day's opener, reigning champions Korea DPR's will fancy its chances of coming out on top against Nigeria. Korea DPR were the runners-up in the Asian qualifying to South Korea after a 4-0 whipping in the Asian final and coach Sin Ui-Gun said determination will be key for his team if they are to emulate their feat of two years ago. The Nigerians, as the pre-eminent force in African women's football are also seeking to make a better impact than it did two years ago in New Zealand.
T&T squad:Keri Myers, Rose Bahadursingh, Diarra Simmons, Patrice Vincent, Lauren Schmidt (captain), Khadisha Debisette, Brianna Ryce, Victoria Swift, Liana Hinds, Jo-Marie Lewis, Khadidra Debisette, Kayla Taylor, Nykosi Simmons, Emma Abdul, Camille Charles, Rehana Omardeen, Jonelle Warrick, Jasmine Sampson, Anique Walker, Shalette Alexander, Linfah Jones. Coach: Even Pellerud