Interim head coach Richard Forde maintains strong confidence in the Barbados Senior National Women’s Football Team’s capacity to recover from a series of decisive losses and establish a competitive presence on the international stage. The team, known as the Lady Tridents, recently endured a challenging 13-0 defeat against El Salvador on March 1st, compounding a previous 5-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago last December at Kensington Oval.
In an exclusive discussion with Barbados TODAY, Forde highlighted a significant constraint: an extremely abbreviated preparation period. He revealed his interim appointment occurred merely two weeks prior to the team’s departure, following an urgent request from the Barbados Football Association after the primary coach became unavailable. Despite the adverse results, Forde regards the experience as an invaluable learning opportunity for a squad comprising many young athletes promoted from Under-17 and Under-20 levels, supplemented by a few seasoned players.
Forde emphasized the stark disparity in experience between the teams, noting that El Salvador’s roster included 21 seasoned professionals. This contrast underscored a fundamental challenge for Barbados, where limited match play and rigorous preparation put them at a distinct disadvantage against top-tier competition.
Looking forward, the coach advocates for essential structural improvements. He stressed the necessity of implementing a more graduated progression for players moving from youth teams to the senior national squad, rather than accelerated promotions that bypass critical developmental stages like the Under-20 level. Furthermore, Forde identified the recruitment of foreign-based players as a crucial strategy to enhance squad depth and physical readiness, providing the team with the fitness and continuous training exposure required to compete internationally.
Amid the setbacks, Forde reports unwavering team morale. Instead of defeatism, players demonstrated a resilient attitude and a renewed commitment to intensive improvement. Acknowledging the emotional weight of representing their nation, the squad is channeling their disappointment into motivation, determined to elevate their performance and make their country proud in future competitions.