"Come and support us"

By now, most persons in Trinidad and Tobago would know that our women's senior football team is on the cusp of a quite remarkable achievement, that's right the "Women Soca Warriors" as they've dubbed themselves are just one win away from World Cup qualification. In fact, the team has been a win away from a historic qualification berth for a few games but this time is different. This time it is a do or die situation and it's the last chance that both Ecuador and host T&T would have to qualify for next year's Women's World Cup to be staged in Canada. A first for either team if it happens.

Ecuador played to a near capacity crowd when they hosted the "Women Soca Warriors" in a high altitude Estadio Olmpico Atahualpa stadium back on November 8th and the local football administration promised a packed Hasely Crawford Stadium thereafter. The Warriors fought the altitude and their South American opponents hard to come away unscathed in a 0-0 result. A result which means that the onus is really on the host to win the game since the Ecuadorians will qualify with a drawn result, providing there are goals of course. It's an opportune time for the likes of Kennya Cordner, Ahkeela Mollon or veteran Tasha St. Louis to win the hearts of a nation forever.

Even with the match being so delicately poised coach Randy Waldrum does not expect a cagey encounter between the two teams. In an interview with Andre Errol Baptiste on WI Sports the coach stated that he does not foresee either team sitting back or even play for a draw in the encounter. He thanked the the government, TTFA and the fans for their support thus far and urged the spectators to be that 12th Warrior tomorrow, "Come out and support us." he lamented.

The "Women Soca Warriors" greet the girls primary schools finalists ahead of their national final earlier today.
Phtoto by TT Wolf

There has been a lot of heightened optimism and expectation surrounding the game with the general public, officials and players alike all expecting a T&T victory. The interest has been so great that the TTFA today sent out a press release which stated that there will only be a limited number of tickets (Uncovered $100, Covered $200) left to be sold at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 10 a.m. tomorrow. The question is, do you have your ticket in hand? If the answer is no then have no fear because local radio stations I95.5, Mix 99.1, Power 102FM and 105 FM have all indicated that they will be airing the game which starts at 6 p.m. CNMG will also be bringing the game for those who can't stand to hear the announcer shouting when nothing significant is going on.


But if you do have your ticket in hand then by all means come and support the "Women Soca Warriors" in your red, black or white as they embark on creating history and taking this country to a Football World Cup once more. It should be epic!