Top stars still missing from Reggae Girlz squad
INTERIM HEAD coach of the senior Reggae Girlz, Xavier Gilbert, has expressed his disappointment that the top players are are still not available to represent the country in two friendly internationals against Chile later this month.
“I felt disappointed when I got the news that they weren’t available as it’s something that needs fixing as soon as possible. This is what I’ve to work with so I’ll just have to get it my all come this window,” Gilbert told Radio Jamaica Sports.
The Reggae Girlz will enter the two-match assignment ranked at 51st in the world while their opponents are listed at 37th in the latest FIFA rankings. According to Gilbert, the upcoming two-match assignment will be very important and he’s pleased with the inclusion of Excelsior High School’s duo of Shaneil Buckley and Destiny Powell. However, he would have been happier to have them for a longer period so they can jell with the other members of the squad.
“It’s very important to have two local players, who played at the youth level, and also were part of the last couple of games that we played. It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to do what we have to do, we’re only going to have them for a session before the first game, but this is how these windows go,” Gilbert added.
The Excelsior pair is among 15 players who featured for the national team in the Concacaf Gold Cup Qualifiers back in November.
Dennis Chung, general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation, also commented on the matter and shared that the federation had reached out to some senior members of the previous squads, but they were unavailable for the fixtures.
“With the Chile games coming up we did reach out to the eight college players that went to the World Cup and they stated that they were unavailable along with the other players that played at the World Cup. We are using these games to prepare and develop our team for the 2026 Gold Cup and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. These girls did put on a good showing at the Gold Cup qualifiers and we expect them to do very well again. We can only select from whose available,”Chung explained.
Reggae Girlz squad to face Chile: Theanna Burnett, Serena Mensa, Malikae Dayes, Zoe Vidaurre, Nevillegail Able, Chinyelu Asher, Alika Keene, Ricshya Walker, Marlo Sweatman, Christina Salmon, Davia Richards, Mikayla Dayes, Shaneil Buckley, Melissa Johnson, Aliyah Johnson, Aliyah Morgan, Jade Bailey, Destiny Powell, Lachante Paul, Isreala Groves, Naya Cardoza, Nyeri Butts, Sydnie Street.