The T&T Football Association is set to host another youth development competition, but for girls.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Girls Under 14 Challenge Series will take place October 25- 29 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva.
T&T will open its account against Grenada in the feature match of a double-header at 7 pm. In the opening game at 4 pm, Suriname and Cuba will square-off.
The home team, under coach Marlon Charles, will then face the Surinamese on Sunday before clashing with Cuba two days later at the Couva venue from 7 pm. A release from the T&T Football Association on Sunday states that the T&T team has been in training since April and is the second u-14 girls' team in motion under the T&TFA Elite Youth Development Programme.
Speaking about the coming tournament, Charles, who also oversaw the previous T&T Under 15 Girls team, said: “It is very important to these players, considering it’s a new football experience for them at this level and an opportunity to play three games to help in their development.”
Concerning his preparations to date, Charles noted “It was hard for them from the early part in the training because it was a new methodology for them to follow. In their first session, they were told not to kick away the balls because we wanted from day one, to develop a way to play, which is 'passing and possession, with the emphasis to score’. And so it was difficult at first for them to achieve the objective.“
The team has been in training four days per week after commencing sessions twice per week in April of this year.
Charles said there will be two objectives for him over the three-match period. “Technique and decision-making with opponents possession: pressure and close space and simple guidelines – in possession make the field big and long.”
Admission for matchdays is $25 each, and tickets can be purchased at the venue on matchdays.