Overseas-based Jamaica players welcomed – coaches
LORNE DONALDSON and Andrew Price, assistant coaches to the Reggae Girlz World Cup team, believe that the Jamaican public has welcomed overseas-based members of the squad. The coaches made their observation during the Kingston stop on the Girlz’s islandwide tour on Sunday. Donaldson noted that things have changed since the Reggae Boyz qualified for the 1998 World Cup.
In 1997, there was much ado about the inclusion of the England-based trio of Paul Hall, Fitzroy Simpson, and Deon Burton into the squad that claimed a World Cup berth. Speaking at a meet-the-Girlz press briefing at The Jamaica Pegasus on Sunday, Donaldson used the tour as an example.
“I think the Jamaican public is a lot more educated about players,” he said.
Asked to gauge the public response to the Girlz during the tour, Donaldson said: “I think all these girls have been accepted by the public. They have seen them ... and they have given back a lot to the country already ... ”
He added: “There are players outside of Jamaica, and we’re just trying to get the best players possible.”
BEST 23
Price concurred. “Once they can play and they can help the cause, then we are always willing to look at the individual, so we are open to looking and carrying the best 23 women to the World Cup to represent our country and represent us well.”
Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange, whose ministry organised the tour, also touched on the subject.
“No matter where you were born, if you’re first generation, second generation, you are Jamaican,” she commented.
Burton, named Sportsman of the Year in 1997 for his goalscoring feats, as well as Hall and Simpson joined the 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign during its latter stages.
The tour ended on Tuesday, with the Girlz receiving the keys to St Ann’s Bay and Spanish Town.