After months of inactivity, Trinidad and Tobago senior women's football team will get the opportunity to shake the proverbial rust, as they are set to participate in the three-team Caribbean Queen's tournament in Curacao from May 28 to June 3.
An invitation from Curacao Football Federation was welcomed by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), as participation in the tournament will not only assist in player development, but more importantly, will keep players engaged ahead of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The week-long tournament, which will also involve Aruba, will see each team will play each other twice, in what will be Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team’s first competitive outing since their Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifying campaign, last year.
"The respective member associations have been working together to facilitate the tournament to provide competitive matches for our respective women's teams as there are no Concacaf or Fifa women's competitions this year," TTFA said.
The team will once again be led by former Police FC coach Richard Hood, who will be assisted by Rajesh Latchoo, the TTFA Director of Youth Football and Under-17 women's coach.
Hood's squad is expected to be a development team, featuring senior players, members of TTFA's ongoing High Performance programme, and standout performers from the 2024 Republic Bank National Youth Football League campaign.
"This tournament is viewed as an ideal opportunity to continue to expose our younger players to a competitive environment," TTFA stated.
The women Soca Warriors will kick off the tournament against Aruba on May 29, before crossing swords with host Curacao, a day later. After a two-day break, Hood's team will wrap up the friendly competition with matches on June 2 and 3 respectively.
Last year, the women Soca Warriors finished bottom of their three-team Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifying group with Mexico and Puerto Rico. They ended with a solitary point from four matches.
Trinidad and Tobago women are ranked 75th, while Curacao and Aruba are ranked 179th and 185th respectively.
Barcelona dealt injury blow with Olmo out for five weeks
Barcelona confirmed that Dani Olmo has been sidelined for up to five weeks with a hamstring injury.
The 26-year-old appeared to suffer muscle discomfort after scoring in Sunday's 4-1 league win at Girona and was substituted in the 61st minute.
Olmo, who signed from RB Leipzig for €55million, missed the first two games of their season due to registration issues but has played in all three since.
He has netted three goals in those appearances, with only Robert Lewandowski netting more so far (four).
Olmo's injury is a blow to Hansi Flick's side as they begin their Champions League campaign against Monaco on Thursday, having already made a perfect start to LaLiga, with five wins from five.
The Spaniard is set to miss at least six games up to the October international break.
Frazsier's Whip to seek first points when they face Tigres Femenil at the National Stadium on Wednesday
Jamaica’s female club champion for football, Frazsiers Whip will host Mexican Football giants Tigres Femenil in a home match fixture of the CONCACAF Women's Champions Cup on Wednesday, September 18 at the National Stadium in Kingston. The competition features the 11 top women’s club teams in the CONCACAF region.
The 7pm encounter will see the home team attempt to win their first points in their Group A match up having lost their first two matches which sees them sitting at the foot of the table.
Team Manager, Marcia Pinnock is anticipating a better showing from the Jamaican champions. “The girls were competitive in the previous games, and we are expecting a much better showing on home soil. We want to encourage fans to come out and support the team and by extension, women’s football,” she said.
Cost to enter the game is J$500 for the Grandstand only.
Club Director Lenworth Kelly is targeting Corporate Companies to purchase batches of tickets for a wide cross-section of fans in high schools and communities to be able to see women’s club football.
Simeone: Atletico energised by Gallagher and Alvarez
The arrivals of Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez have energised Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone said on Sunday.
Gallagher, who joined this summer from Premier League side Chelsea, scored his first LaLiga goal in Sunday's 3-0 home win over Valencia, opening the scoring in the first half.
He is now just the third youngest English goalscorer in the Spanish top-flight (24 years and 222 days), after Jude Bellingham and Mason Greenwood.
"He came with a lot of enthusiasm, and we needed that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better," Simeone told a news conference.
"He does not stop giving his best in every game situation in which he participates."
Another new signing, Alvarez, scored in the 93rd minute, also his first goal in the Spanish top flight since joining from Manchester City.
He became the 14th Argentina player to score for Atletico in LaLiga this century.
"We all needed him to score a goal, for him to be more relaxed, to be connected to what he likes... hopefully the goal will be the first of many," the manager added.
"I imagine that he lives for the goal and the enthusiasm to generate this type of situation. Today he appeared as he always does at the least expected moment at the end of the game when hope seems to be fading and, luckily, he scored."
The Atletico boss added that the strengthened squad, which includes new signings such as Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth, is gelling very well and that allows them to compete at the level they want to.
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