Naquita Robinson On Women’s Qualifiers
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermuda women’s national team coach Naquita Robinson has backed her squad to open their Concacaf W Qualifiers campaign with a win when they face the Cayman Islands away on Thursday [November 27].
Bermuda must top group C – which also includes Guatemala, Costa Rica and Grenada – to reach the Concacaf W Championship. Robinson’s side play Guatemala away on Monday.
The team warmed up for the qualifiers with a 3-2 defeat to St Thomas University in Miami on Sunday, with goals from Evans Welch and Nia Christopher.
“I’m excited about the group – it’s a young group,” Robinson told Bernews. “We have some notable players unavailable for this trip – that comes with the territory.
“It can put a bit of a wrench in your plans, but I’m still happy with the team’s quality, which is very high.
“Cayman will be a good test for us, as will our match against Guatemala. We’re preparing for Cayman as we would any opponent. We don’t underestimate anyone, as anything can happen.”
Robinson, who guided Bermuda to a second straight gold medal at the International Island Games in Orkney, Scotland, last summer, expects a tough challenge from Guatemala.
“We’ve never played them before, and we’ve done our research,” she said. “We’re working on a game plan to nullify them as much as we can. We’re looking for the win and will set ourselves up to do that.”
Bermuda narrowly missed qualifying three years ago, losing 2-0 to the Dominican Republic in their final match when only a point was needed.
“Concacaf has changed the format from the previous campaign,” Robinson said.
“It’s almost like a different tournament. We need to win the group to advance.
“We know we’re up against it. We’re a part-time staff and team, but we will look to punch far above our weight.”
Bermuda have been boosted by the return of fit-again captain Eva Frazzoni and the availability of the likes of Kenni Thompson, Marley Christian and Nia Christopher.
Midfielder LeiLanni Nesbeth, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League, has made herself unavailable.
“Unfortunately, LeiLanni doesn’t make herself available for Bermuda for whatever reason,” Robinson said.
“It’s never been communicated to me. She gets the same invite as everyone else. I don’t know if it’s a career choice, but we have to respect that choice and move on.”
Squad
Goalkeepers
Taya Rodrigues [IMG Academy], Sharifa Crockwell [Western Stars Sports Club]
Defenders
Sierra Fisher [Somerset Cricket Club], Victoria Davis [Somerset Cricket Club], Zemira Webb [Jacksonville University], Danni Watson [Barton College], Saony Trott [Western Stars Sports Club], Marley Christian [Boston Sidekicks FC], Keunna Dill [FC United of Manchester], Koa Goodchild [Somerset Cricket Club]
Midfielders
Jya Ratteray-Smith [Chesham United], Khyla Brangman [Pembroke Hamilton Club], Evans Welch [Western Stars Sports Club], Marli Butterfield [Delaware State University], K’Shaela Burch-Waldron [Sutton United], Eva Frazzoni [AFC Sudbury]
Forwards
Jahni Simmons [Coventry Sphinx], Nia Christopher [Fort Lauderdale United], Kenni Thompson [AFC Bournemouth], Amiya James [Queen Ethelburga’s], Robin Valana Pearman [St Leo’s University], Jaden Masters [University of Louisiana Monroe]
