Coaches call for schoolgirl football improvement
AS THE various highschool teams turned out for the opening games of the ISSA /TIP Friendly Society Schoolgirls’ football season on Friday, their coaches had much to say as they watched the action unfold at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Garfield Bailey, who sits at the helm at Immaculate Conception High, said the league serves as a development programme for local players.
Bailey acknowledged that players from the schoolgirls’ competition have gone on to represent the country at both the youth and senior levels, but believes more can be done to improve the league’s marketability.
“The schoolgirl football is a development league where talents are being scouted and enhanced for the programmes of Jamaica - the Under-13s, Under-15s and Under17s. It’s a development competition, so it is up to us to continue it,” said Bailey.
“I think more can be done, more interest can be put into the league. Women’s football is doing well in Jamaica, so every avenue that can be pushed towards that needs support, needs development, and needs people to come on board.”
St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) head coach, Conroy Omally, echoed those sentiments.
Omally said there is more work to be done to improve the league, and feels more sponsors coming on board would prove a decisive factor. He applauded the efforts being done so far and said he looks forward to seeing the competition grow in the near future.
“I would think there is some work needed to be done, but I’m comfortable to think that new schools are putting in the effort to get the girls out and playing. The sponsorships that we’re seeing coming forward, TIP Society is a big one that keeps encouraging us. I think the effort is to be commended and I would want to see more sponsors and more support coming in towards the girls and the school level,” said the STATHS coach.
On the other hand, Holmwood Technical’s head coach Maurice Duncan said there are hidden gems in the league that are still being overlooked.
Duncan explained that while there have been improvements in the competition, the lack of televised matches has allowed for talented players to go unnoticed by the national programme.
“To be honest, where the selection of the national team is concerned, I just think the persons who are selecting the players should come to more of the games, because not all of these games are televised.
“Not because a team might not make it to the final doesn’t mean that they don’t have talented players. For me, it would be good for the selectors to watch as many games as possible, so they have a better chance to choose the players that can represent Jamaica.”