The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has announced that this country will host two international friendlies on October 21st and 25th featuring T&T's Senior Women’s National team against Panama’s Senior Women at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva. Both matches will kick off at 4:00 pm.
The announcement coincides with the United Nations General Assembly, declaration of International Day of the Girl Child. Back in 2011, October 11th was recognized as girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. In this light, the TTFA remains committed to providing a platform for our women and girls footballers to continuously develop their skills and have opportunities to showcase their talent on the international stage.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association received approval from the Ministry of Health for the staging of the matches which will see international football return to these shores for the first time since November 2019 and the duration of the Pandemic thus far.
Both nations will be using the exercise as preparations for the start of the CONCACAF W Qualifiers which have been shifted from November to the FIFA Women’s Window of February 2022.
No spectators will be allowed at the upcoming matches which will take place in a bio-secure bubble with both teams being housed at the Home of Football hotel, using the Stadium and Training pitch for all activities.
In the build-up to the encounters, the T&T Women’s Team will enter a residential camp on October 15th.
Panama defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in Group stage action at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying championship.
The Central Americans subsequently advanced to the inter-continental playoff against South America’s Argentina but lost 5-1 on aggregate in November 2018.
Last week Welshman James Thomas, who was hired in April as the team's headcoach resigned to pick up the position as Bristol City as their Women and Girls Youth Development Manager. He had previously spent four years within the academy set-up.
The T&T team technical staff comprises Thomas' assistant Charlie Mitchell (Assistant Coach & Performance Analyst), James Baird (Goalkeeper Coach), Joanne Daniel (Team Manager), Terry Johnson-Jeremiah (Equipment Manager), Atiba Downes (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Aqilya Gomez (Rehab Specialist).
For the upcoming CONCACAF W Qualifiers, T&T are in Group F along with Guyana, Nicaragua, Dominica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Further details on the two-match series and the appointment of a Senior Women’s Team head coach will be forthcoming.