SO PROUD OF THE REGGAE GIRLZ.
‘This is the most talented group of females we have ever put together.’
VERY FEW of us saw this coming. Not many of us would have envisaged that the Reggae Girlz would be a mere one good game away from qualifying for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Indeed, in some media circles, there were people calling for the programme to be abandoned due to a shortage of funds. It is a good thing the Jamaica Football Federation did not listen!
The journey to France is not yet complete. Of course, there are still some hurdles to cross. The girls are drawn against the mighty USA in their semi-final action tomorrow. This is the sporting equivalent of David versus Goliath. The USA happens to be the number-one ranked team in the world in women’s football. A win for Jamaica against them would rank right up there with the greatest sports upset of this century. Still, the game has to be played first, and who is to say that our girls are not able to pull off the seeming impossible?
Thankfully we have another bite at the cherry. Indeed, two more bites. We could still lose to the USA and still be in a position to finish third, which would mean we would qualify automatically. I expect Canada and the USA to qualify from the semi-final line-up, which should leave us in a dog-fight with Panama for the final automatic spot. I like our chances there.
Even If we finish fourth, we still have a chance to make it to the promised land. We would then be involved in a home-and-away playoff with Argentina.
Don’t let the name Argentina scare you. The South Americans are not the same force in women’s football as they are on the men’s side. At last check, Argentina are ranked 37th in the world. For context, we just best Costa Rica en route to the semis. Costa Rica is ranked 34th in the world at present. Beating Argentina over two legs, therefore, is not beyond us.
Whatever happens, though, we should be proud of this team. Six of the starters in that emphatic 9-0 win over Cuba were born right here in Jamaica. Stars such as Kadijah Shaw, captain Konya Plummer, Denisha Blackwood, Jadyn Matthews, and Trudi Carter are all products of “yard”. Sure, they all now ply their trade at colleges overseas, but they got their start right here. Our female programme needs to be injected with some capital to take it to another level, but here is evidence that it may not be as bad as some may think.
No praise can be too high for Cedella Marley and the role she has played. She has been a quiet colossus behind the scenes. She was largely instrumental in recommending coaches Hue Menzies and Lorne Donaldson to the JFF. She has worked tirelessly in the background to use her influence in getting financial support for the team. If Jamaica does qualify, then Cedella deserves nothing less than national honours.
I have a gut feeling that we will get there. This is the most talented group of females we have ever put together. Donaldson and Menzies must be given commendations for assembling this bunch. Most of them play in the college system in the USA, and to get them to come together and gel the way they has is testimony to the hard work put in by the coaches. The JFF, with its limited resources, have also supported all the way and president Michael Ricketts should also be lauded for the role he has played.
So yes, history beckons. Let’s send up our prayers to the sports Gods in that semi-final against USA tomorrow. Then again, we may not need prayers. We qualified for the male World Cup in 1998. Maybe it’s just destiny that we will qualify for the women’s tournament now that France is again the hosts.