SPORTS coaches are predicting it will be a long road back for TT junior athletes to fulfil their potential again, and the public should curb expectations after two years of pandemic inactivity.
Sports in TT finally got the green light to resume at all levels in late January - national athletes, club level and those just eager for a 'sweat.'
From March 2020 to January 2022, only national teams and athletes training for international competition were granted public health exemptions
Young athletes in TT felt the brunt of the pandemic as no sports were played at school level.
Over the last two months, many national teams have represented TT at regional level with less-than-ideal preparation.
The Under-17 women's football team just competed at the Concacaf Women's Under-17 Championships in Dominican Republic.
Before their last match against Mexico on Wednesday, TT head coach Jason Spence spoke about the lack of programmes in place locally.
TT did not make it past the group stage losing to Panama 5-1, Nicaragua 4-0 and Mexico 10-0.
TT were on the back foot for the majority of those matches as the other teams dominated possession and were not shy to shoot from outside the 18-yard box.
Panama attempted 32 shots compared to TT's one effort on goal and in that match TT only had 26 per cent possession.
Against Nicaragua, TT were outshot 32-8 in a match where they had 38 per cent possession.
The Mexicans were also dominant getting 33 shots compared to one by TT. In terms of possession, TT had 21 per cent possession.
Prior to the Under-17 tournament, the TT Under-20 women had a tough outing at the Concacaf Under-20 Championships in the Dominican Republic, which took place from February 25-March 12.
Spence was also at the helm of the TT Under-20 squad. TT suffered defeats to El Salvador (3-0), St Kitts/Nevis (7-2) and Canada (5-0).
Ex-Strike Squad defender and former TT men's Under-20 coach Brian Williams said the public should not be too harsh on the performance of the teams.
'We need to understand what is taking place and don't make those kind of derogatory statements about the girls…but understanding the situation for the girls performance (is critical).'
Williams said no competitive environment is in place. 'They don't have a functioning women's league in TT for the girls to play and I understand when you have to take people who are not playing in a competitive league for the longest while and try to put them in a team, it is really difficult.
'We hardly have a real women's competition in TT, so the girls could really have true representation.'
The Fifa-appointed normalisation committee is now running local football and Williams said this is also preventing stakeholders from getting more involved in decision making.
'If the TTFA is made up of six or seven arms, then those six or seven arms should be functional and should have representation on the board of the TTFA so we can go forward.'
Long-standing youth cricket administrator Glen Dwarika also gave his thoughts on the topic.
