St Ann's Rangers will play its first ever women's professional fixture, when the team takes on Step By Step FC in the T&T Women's League Football (Wolf) 2012 First Division North Zone opener, at St Joseph Convent Ground, St Clair, from 4 pm, tomorrow.
It is the first time since the club's formation in 1970, that the team will field a women's outfit, and together with Defence Force, the two teams are the only clubs which are also represented in the T&T Pro League. Rangers boasts of players with an average age of only 18 years, and is coached by youth development trainer Jason Spence, who also leads Secondary School's Football League (SSFL) powerhouse St Francois Secondary, which had an outstanding campaign in 2011. Spence was actually responsible for the recruitment of of the team's full roster, which primarily consists of players of St Francois, St Joseph's Convent, Providence and El Dorado.
Some highly-rated young players have been drafrted into the team, including Maya Matouk, an attacker from St Joseph Convent, who was not shy of goals in the past SSFL. Matouk, in fact, scored the most goals for any one player in a match last season, slotting home eight against Maple Leaf International School in a 17-0 thrashing. She in among several other St Joseph Convent players, Thaiz Smith, Amanda Garcia, Kara De Souza Samara Lezama, along with Providence captain Tayna Harris, team-mate Akeisha De La Rosa, Mequilla Hoyte and Keidi Brathwaite; St Francois' top players Chelsea-Marie Spence, Astride Joseph, Asha Jones, Della Joseph, Gabriella Ryan, Tyricia McDonald, Dhaakira Solomon, Darya Rodriguez, N'neka Harewood, and Tysha-Lee Spicer. El Dorado's Leah Pope and former national defender Annalis Cummings, and midfielder Avanell Issaac, as well as formerly unattached player Avion Gay have also been drafted. Ami-Joy Daniel, an under-14 Bishops player and Crown Trace FC recruit Tenesha Palmer, are the other players included. Jenelle Nedd is the team's Assistant Coach and Sherwin Jones is the team's Equipment Manager.
Spence's major concern this season may be to keep all players active and motivated, with the contingent of upcoming stars at his disposal. "I have two players for each position, so I'm already having a little issue in the team selection, but the team is playing well together. I think we'll have a good season," said Spence. Rangers, Step By Step FC, Queen's Park FC and Tobago All Stars are the teams which make up the North Zone. The East Zone comprises of Malabar Superstars, Tunapuna Titans, Arima Giants FC, Sweaters Touring Team and St Augustine SC. South/ Central is made up of Debe High, Point Fortin Pioneers, Ministry of Sport School and St Mary's Central United. The Premier Division which kicks off three weeks later, on May 11, will feature reigning champions Real Dimension, UWI FC, Defence Force FC, Malick City FC and Trincity Nationals.