In 2026, the Dominica Senior Women’s National Team is putting the finishing touches on their preparations for their second CONCACAF qualifier, where they will face Guyana in an important match.
Head Coach Ronnie Gustave shared his confidence in the team’s readiness, highlighting the importance of maintaining tactical discipline and mental alertness, said a Dominica Football Association release.
“The focus right now is keeping our shape of our game because as we could remember in the last game we played that way, we were just chasing the ball and not being compact in defense, that they were breaking our lines too easily. So all the things we’re working on at this point in time is keeping our shape, keeping compact, especially in the center of the pitch as we can get them to go on the outskirts and get inside…. The mental state of the players is that the
players are together and when you have a team that is a strength for you. But it’s a work in progress; there’s a lot more we have to do to get the girls to understand their role in supporting each other, covering one another,” he explained.
Gustave also emphasized how the inclusion of overseas-based players has significantly bolstered the team’s overall strength and balance.
“Well, I have to say the integration of the players coming is like as if they were they were there for years because they gelling very easily with the local girls and at the end of it, all of us are Dominicans, we are a loving nation, so it’s easy for us to just get in and to just fit in with the other players,” he added.
“But there are some players who have injuries that were not able to travel with the team. But we really need a bigger pool of players to be seen. You know, we need a bigger pool of players because sometimes we go into the tournaments, players get injured and take a while for them to recover,” he added.
The squad’s depth and experience are enhanced by six overseas-based players, including striker and winger Ronia Pierre Louis. She described wearing the national colors as both an honor and a duty.
“Oh man, it feels so good. Like, I’m so proud of how far the program has come. I’m so proud of how far I’ve came. You know, it’s been like about, I think, two, three years since I’ve been back. I think I was 22 for my first cap with Dominica, and just to see the growth as a program, just to see the growth in me, and just the support of the team; it’s just so great to just represent the island in this way.”
She also commended the team’s chemistry.
“I think I’ve integrated well, you know, I recognize a couple faces from the last couple times I’ve came to play for Dominica, and so itwas, they welcomed me with open arms, it was really, really nice to see them. And then also just making relationships with the new girls, you know, a lot of them are younger, like I’m 26 now, as I said, I think I started when I was 22, so my age is showing, but you know what, the younger girls, I feel like they’re, we’re all resonating well
together and we’re meshing well, and I think the leadership qualities are translating as well in our day-to-day communication as well as at practice, so it’s going really well,” she said.
Pierre Louis added that her teammates look to her for leadership, experience, and motivation.
“I think they [the other players] just expect just leadership, you know, experience, skill, as much small talk, and just, I don’t even know, like just the information and stuff that I’ve developed over the years, I think they’re just looking for me to just motivate them as well, aside from the technical stuff, just be there as a motivational figure to support them.”
With the team’s fitness levels at peak and morale high, Coach Gustave called on supporters back home to rally behind the squad.
“Well, to those back home, we just want you to support the girls. Don’t get discouraged. You know, as we have said, it’s a team that is building and we have to have patience. We have to have patience with the girls…. All the big teams we are seeing there, they were once like us. So all we have to do now is to keep focus, continue working hard, do what we are trying to achieve. And we all, the coaching staff and the team know the vision that we are trying to achieve and to just continue working as one team, Team Dominica. And in the end, we will see the results.”
The upcoming match against Guyana will kick off this Friday at 8 p.m. and promises to be a fiercely competitive game, as Dominica strives to advance further in the CONCACAF qualifiers.
GOOD LUCK.