Dominica Senior Women Ready for Second CONCACAF Qualifier against Guyana

Dominica’s Senior Women’s National Football Team is set to face Guyana on Friday, February 27 in their second CONCACAF qualifying match.

Following their first qualifier against Jamaica, when the team fell 18-0, the

technical team has intensified preparations, placing emphasis on tactical discipline,

sharper execution, and improved game management.

Assistant Coach Sheldon Casimir, speaking ahead of the team’s departure, noted

that while the result of the first match did not go in Dominica’s favour, the

experience provided valuable insights and training sessions have been more

targeted and analytical in the lead-up to the Guyana fixture.

“The first match against Jamaica was definitely a devastating defeat. I mean,

by no means I want to make excuses, but we were facing a very formidable

opponent in Jamaica, which was put in place for the past few years now to

bring them to that elite status. We’re still in a nuclear state of women's

football development.

And although we conceded many goals, I feel the area that we need to work on

is the area that we were strongest in that game, is our defense. So we need to

step up on the defense a bit more. We also need to step up in terms of mental

awareness and also to ensure that we can develop our fitness levels. I feel this

is the only area against these formidable teams that we can try and get as close

to the level that they are as possible in terms of fitness. So this has been one of

the main areas that we've been working on, trying to build up the physical

fitness and endurance, speed and agility of the girls, and also to ensure that in

terms of defense, keeping our defensive shape.”

Other key areas of focus have been improving transitions, both offensively and

defensively, and communication.

“The team needs to communicate a bit more. We do have a situation where we

have about six or seven players coming in from overseas to join the team. And

the time that we have to prepare with those other players is very limited. So

this is something that we're trying to work on. At least on this trip, we're

going to have a few more days to see how the girls can gel, and also how we

can fit in the players that are coming in to complement those that we have

already in terms of positioning on the field, to have the best possible team feel

on the day of the match.”

According to Coach Casimir, reviewing match footage should play an important

role in the team’s preparation, however, that has been a challenge.

“Yeah, I think one of the areas where we are definitely lacking is the

possibility of doing proper match analysis and reviews for a number of

reasons. The team does not get to play that much together. So to review

matches, recent matches, we only have the recent WIFA tournament and also

the game against Jamaica, which has provided some insight in terms of where

we need to work on. I would love for the opportunity for us to have played

more practice matches where we could actually sit down, record and review

those practice matches. But the situation at hand does not allow for this right

now...I think that's the way forward. The more games that the girls play

together as a unit, the better that we can review and analyze those matches.”

Coach Casimir stressed the importance of keeping the team motivated and boosting

morale.

“At the end of the day, defeat against Jamaica, it was demoralizing. Nobody

can say that that was not a demoralizing defeat. Nobody can leave that game

feeling like they're in good spirits at the end of it. So we basically had to try

and raise the psyche of the girls, let them know that this is just one step in the

journey towards trying to develop what Dominican football can and should be

for the women. And at the end of the day, I feel this is one of the areas maybe

we have to look into bringing in professionals to work on the psychology of players. And it's not only for women's football. I think it's for football in

general.”

“We expect our players to perform as top athletes, but we are not training

their minds and the mindset to be top athletes. It's like trying always to give

them a boost of morale, always try and let them tap into the positive energies

that their mind can create. Because at the end of the day, once the negativity

starts to creep in, it chips away slowly but surely. So keeping them positive

mindset to just get better one day at a time. Once you're better today than you

were yesterday and you plan on being better tomorrow than you are today, I

think you're moving in the right direction,” he continued.

The team will leave Dominica on Monday, February 23.

The Dominica Football Association encourages supporters at home and in the

diaspora to rally behind the Senior Women as they continue their qualifying

campaign.