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Robinson has no fear of Trinidad and Jamaica

Nesbeth scored nine goals in the last round of qualifiers (Photograph by Manny Faria)

Three of the highest-scoring teams in last week’s Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifiers will face off in the final qualifying round in Haiti in October. However, Naquita Robinson, the Bermuda coach, is not concerned about taking on Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.

Bermuda are in group F, with Haiti, Puerto Rico and Cuba making up group G for the matches that start on October 16. Bermuda play Trinidad that day before facing Jamaica on October 18.

Trinidad and Jamaica meet on October 20. At stake are three Caribbean spots in an eight-team finals in Nicaragua next April.

Trinidad were the highest scorers in group A with 22 goals in their two wins and a draw, which enabled them to take the group on goal difference over Grenada.

The teams drew 2-2 in the final match after Trinidad had beaten US Virgin Islands 13-0 and Curaçao 7-0.

Jamaica topped group E with six points from their two matches, scoring 17 goals in wins over St Kitts & Nevis and St Vincent. However, Bermuda were not outdone in the goalscoring department, with 21 goals in three group C matches.

LeiLanni Nesbeth finished as the top scorer with nine goals, including six in the 13-1 thrashing of Aruba.

“Yes, we kept tabs on their games as well,” Robinson said of Trinidad and Jamaica.

“Their opposition were considerably weaker than our first two opponents and we squandered quite a few opportunities in our first two matches.

“Their numbers don’t concern me and we are not going to prepare to park the bus,” said Robinson, who praised Bermuda’s defensive effort.

“The team conceded just one goal in the final match against Aruba.

“We will definitely be looking to strengthen our defence, as in this round we were without Delia Ebbin and Zekiah Lewis due to school commitments. We have just as much attacking potency as they do.

“In order for us to compete, we will have to have our strongest squad and the BFA is working on contacting the powers that be now.

“All our school players will be in season, so they will be training; same goes for Jaden Masters and Nia Christopher. Zakhari Turner will also be in season at Mountverde [Academy].”

Puerto Rico led group B with three wins, while Cuba won both their matches in group D, where they edged Barbados on goal difference.