SURE-FOOTED APPROACH
Reggae Girlz prospect Solai Washington credits sister Giselle for charting course
REMEMBER the name Solai Washington. At 17 years old, the Chamblee High school junior is on the cusp of making her senior Reggae Girlz debut, not merely for the sake of a trial, but because she possesses great ability and gives high-quality effort — both on and off the ball — that belie her age and inexperience.
Simply put, Washington, the sister of Jamaica’s accomplished midfielder Giselle, demonstrated to Head Coach Lorne Donaldson and his assistants Xavier Gilbert and Ak Lakhani, during a recent camp in Florida, that she was ready for a step up from youth football.
And the technical staff duly obliged as the young striker was listed in the 24-player squad to face Spain, Czech Republic and hosts Australia at the Cup of Nations tournament Down Under next month, part of their preparations for the Fifa Women’s World Cup this summer.
“This selection is huge for me, words can’t explain how elated I am. I am so blessed to even be considered at this time in my career and most importantly, I am thankful to God for giving me the ability to perform at a high level and that He has given me this opportunity,” Washington told the Jamaica Observer from her base in the United States.
The 44th-ranked Reggae Girlz are set to open the Cup of Nations against number seven-ranked Spain on February 16 before facing 28th-ranked Czech Republic on February 19. They are to close off against 12th-ranked Australia on February 22.
“I am beyond grateful and this opportunity just inspires me to work even harder to become the best footballer I can be. This is what you dream of when you get involved in the game, playing in the biggest games and against top teams like these, so I’m really happy,” she noted.
Though young, Washington knows that there will be setbacks on the road to a successful career. But with continued guidance and encouragement from her sister, she is determined to battle adversities and is prepared to get past mental blocks that may deter her from playing the game she fell in love with at the tender age of three.
“I started playing soccer [football] mainly because I was inspired from watching and playing soccer with my sister Giselle,” Washington declared.
“I cannot say enough about how awesome it has been to follow the example that she has provided, not just in soccer but also life. She is such an amazing player and person, the perfect role model.
“I’ve learnt so many lessons from her that they are too many lessons to list, but from a young age she helped me improve technically on the ball and to understand the strategic concepts of the game. But I would have to say the biggest lesson she taught me is to work hard and never quit. Soccer is a life-changing game, love every second,” the cheerful player added.
And indeed the tall but nippy Washington is loving every second. She guided her Concorde Fire team to the ECNL Under-19 National Championship last year and has committed to continuing her career at Duke University.
Now, the highly motivated Washington, who like her sister earns her Jamaican stripes through her mother, is determined to become a potent performer in the Reggae Girlz setup, as her appetite for success is clear for all to see.
“I know all three teams are very tough and each game will present its own challenge, but I’m working on my readiness both mentally and physically for those challenges to come,” Washington said.
“Mentally, I am preparing by studying game film with my coaches and looking for areas to improve strategically so I can adjust to playing at an international level. Physically, I am continuing to strengthen my body through weightlifting, cardio training and improving my technical abilities with my trainer/ Coach Garvin Quamina,” she shared.
While she admitted to nerves ahead of her debut, Washington is hoping to excite Jamaican fans and, by extension, once again impress Donaldson and his team for a possible spot on the final squad to the global showpiece in Australia and New Zealand.
“I am a bit nervous but, to be honest, I am mostly excited. I’m taking it in strides, opportunities like this are something that you’re not quite expecting at this point in time but it’s happened all so quickly that I think I’ve just got to take it one game at a time. I am a forward, so I am hoping to bring more attacking opportunities to the team and most importantly, score goals,” she said.
And as to her chances of making the final cut for the July 20 to August 20 showpiece?
“I leave that up to the coaches to determine my chances, all I can do is give my best effort. So moving forward I am looking to continue growing as a player,” she ended.
WASHINGTON... I am beyond grateful and this opportunity just inspires me to work even harder to become the best footballer I can be