Frasziers Whip Coach Gilbert vexed despite KO title win
amidst celebrations of Frasziers Whip’s triumph in the Jamaica Women’s Premier league knockout competition, Xavier Gilbert couldn’t contain his disappointment over the the disregard shown throughout the season by the powers that be.
Gilbert, who heads the coaching staff of the St Catherine-based team, took issue with the fact that none of the country’s top female FIFA referees were appointed to any of the games, particularly for Saturday’s final which they won 2-1 over Cavalier at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
A ninth-minute own goal by Cavalier’s Ashanti Lewis and Nevillegail Able’s (116th) strike deep into extra time handed Frazsiers Whip their first title in many moons.
Danielle Adlam got Cavalier’s goal in the 21st ninute.
With this 2023 season marking the return of local women’s football from a three-year hiatus, Gilbert believes the quality of play has improved over time but couldn’t ignore the absence of experienced officials such as Stephaniedale Yee Sing, Odette Hamilton, Jassett Kerr-wilson and Princess Brown.
“I think the football has improved in some areas but I’m extremely disappointed, though, that we have quality female officials who come through the league — who sometimes it pains us while they were developing and a lot them are at FIFA level now — and we have a final and we haven’t seen them,” Gilbert said.
“I haven’t seen one female FIFA referee in the women’s league this year and I am extremely disappointed...we ought to have our top female officials in the women’s game, and I think that is lacking and it needs to be addressed and hopefully we can get it fixed,” he added.
Both teams gave as good as they got throughout the contest, and after Lewis’s own goal and Adlam’s equaliser it was anybody’s guess which way the title would go as both teams squandered opportunities from the 12-yard spot.
Cavalier’s Keresha Thomas first had her spot kick kept out by Italya Robinson in goal for Frazsiers Whip in time added of regulation time, while Able misfired hers in the final minute of first-half extra time.
But just when it seem headed for penalty Danielle Flake, in goal for Cavalier, spilled a tame free kick from Davia Richards, allowing Able to redeem herself with a comfortable finish from close range.
Gilbert, who is assistant to senior Reggae Girlz Head Coach Lorne Donaldson, lauded both teams for their efforts on the day, however he is anticipating continued improvements to the quality of play as the season progresses — especially with his team boasting a number of former national senior players and current Under-20 representatives.
“I think both teams came out and did well, put on a good showing, but we were a little bit too impatient and I think we allowed them in the game quite a number of times. They got the opportunity to go ahead and we had ours as well so it was a good game. Tactically we did well but again, we didn’t exploit some of the areas we should have, due to impatience,” he assessed.