It should be a much better showing from the Barbados senior national women’s team in their second qualifying match of the 2022 Concacaf W Championships scheduled for tomorrow at the San Cristobal, Estadio Panamericano, Santo Domingo.
Based on what is already known on paper, the Lady Tridents coached by Mario Harte and Emmerson Boyce, have a much better ranking (144) on the FIFA’s list and therefore should pose some challenge to Aruba at 172 in the standings.
It was not the best opening start of the qualifiers for the Lady Tridents last Thursday, as they lost heavily 5-0 to Panama and would be hoping to turn their fortunes around this toss.
Led by captain and goalkeeper Kamillah Burke, the ladies would need to ensure that they occupy as much possession as they possibly can. This is Something they failed to do against Panama, ranked 58 and a more solid unit technically and tactically. Captain Burke will need more support in the defensive third given the number of saves she had to make against Panama.
Former national captain Renaldo ‘PeeWee’ Gilkes shared that he expected the Lady Tridents to do well against Aruba.
Renaldo ‘PeeWee’ Gilkes
“We came up against the potential group winners in the first game after being in the football wilderness for more than three years. So, coming up against a quality opponent like Panama has always been tough, then having the expulsion of our best defender in Alyssa Yard would have made things a little more difficult for us.
“I don’t know much about the Aruban team. It is difficult to gauge too female football where there is not a lot of activity. But some of the things we can improve on would be the technical department, our passing and receiving. To connect a couple more passes that would bring the girls comfort and would hopefully create an opening for our attackers,” Gilkes said.
He also praised experienced striker Toppin- Herbert and spoke highly of attacker
Cheyanna Burnett-Griffith. “I think Soraya Toppin- Herbert was outstanding and if we can get her on the ball a bit more frequently, we could be a force to reckon with within the attacking third. I am excited to see Cheyanna Burnett-Griffith who would have been playing in the United States. She has an eye for goal and she likes to shoot as well and I think one of the things that stands out for me if they are to be competitive is denying goal-scoring opportunities.”
Gilkes added: “I think that the entire squad has the potential and this is the closest to the best team for us with the exception of Shanice Stephenson who is missing. But I think coach Harte has done a fantastic job with these girls because we would have observed them in the initial stages and from where they are now, I think he has done a fantastic job thus far.”
So far both Barbados and Aruba have failed to register a win in their opening matches. Aruba lost 7-1 to El Salvador who currently leads the point standings on goal difference despite being tied on three points with Panama.
In a recent interview with Barbados TODAY coach Harte said that management had done their best to prepare the team and therefore could only expect the ladies to perform as best as they possibly could.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
