US-born coach Randy Waldrum has selected a strong 20-member Women Soca Warriors squad for their two upcoming friendly international matches away to the current Olympic and Women's World Cup champions, USA.
T&T is set to face the Americans on December 6 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and December 10 in San Antonio, Texas.
The 59-year-old Waldrum missed the just concluded Caribbean Football Union Women's Olympic qualifiers where the under strength Women Soca Warriors, led by defender Arin King, edged Puerto Rico 1�0 in the final at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on November 20 due to a breakdown in communications with the T&T Football Association.
However, last week, Waldrum agreed to return as coach and in his first team selection has recalled striker Kennya "Yaya" Cordner to the team after she missed last month's second round Olympic qualifiers due to injury.
In addition to Cordner, Waldrum has included Mariah Shade, Liana Hinds (Canada), Patrice Superville, Sandra Baron (goalkeeper), Brianna Ryce, Nia Walcott, her sister Amira Walcott and newcomer Janice Johnson, all of whom were not involved in the first two rounds of Olympic qualification, in the team.
They will join regulars Kamika Forbes (goalkeeper), her sister Karyn Forbes, Janine Francois, Lauryn Hutchinson, Arin King (captain), Ahkeela Mollon, Tasha St Louis, Khadidra Debesette, Danielle Blair, Annalis Cummings and Victoria Swift.
In Waldrum's absence, assistant coach Anthony Creece led the team during the Olympic qualifiers where the locals defeated St Lucia 6�0 and 8�1 in their CFU First Round series, before edging rivals Jamaica 2�1 in extra-time in their semifinal before slipping past Puerto Rico in the decider.
Daldrum, who coaches the Houston Dash in the US Women's Professional League, was last in charge of the Women Soca Warriors team which came within a win of appearing at a first ever FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada last year, but fell at the last hurdle, 1�0 on aggregate to Ecuador in a continental playoff.
During his absence, the Women Soca Warriors also competed at the Pan American Games under coach Ross Russell who has since been appointed coach of Pro League champions Central FC, which paved the way for Creece to take up the position as assistant.
Creece will continue in his role as an assistant coach to Waldrum, who will also have his son, Ben Waldrum as part of the technical coaching staff.
The matches against the USA will be used by the T&T women as part of their preparations for the CONCACAF Final Round of Olympic qualifiers in the USA, where they will face Guatemala, Canada and fellow CFU team, Guyana.
T&T will open its campaign against Guatemala at the BBVA Compass Ground in Houston on February 11, 2016 from 5 pm followed by a clash with Canada on February 14 at 3 pm, and two days later versus Guyana from 7.30 pm all at the same Houston venue.
USA will compete in Group A along with Puerto Rico, Mexico and Costa Rica and will play their matches at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
At the end of the round-robin phase, the top two teams from each group will advance to the cross-over semifinals from which the two winners will qualify directly to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Squad
Saundra Baron (goalkeeper), Kamika Forbes (goalkeeper), Kennya Cordner, Karyn Forbes, Janine Francois, Lauryn Hutchinson, Arin King (captain), Ahkeela Mollon, Tasha St Louis, Khadidra Debesette, Danielle Blair, Annalis Cummings, Victoria Swift, Mariah Shade, Patrice Superville, Janice Johnson, Liana Hinds, Brianna Ryce, Nia Walcott, Amira Walcott.
Technical staff: Randy Waldrum (coach), Ben Waldrum (assistant coach), Anthony Creece (assistant coach), Claire George (equipment manager), Sharon O'Brien (manager), Michael Taylor (physiotherapist), Clayton Ince (goalkeeper coach).