Reggae Girlz draw Canada in Group B of Qualifiers
Jamaica senior women’s team, the Reggae Girlz, will play Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba in the group stage of the
Despite the departure of coach Donovan Duckie, prolific striker Kemar ‘Bushy’ Beckford, and creative midfielder Cardel Benbow, Waterhouse Football Club are confident they can return to Red Stripe Premeir League final and go one better this time. Newly appointed head coach, Marcel ‘Fuzzy’ Gayle, says the plan is to win the title this season. Gayle took over the position after Duckie exited the Drewsland-based club for newcomers Mount Pleasant Academy of St Ann. Duckie had guided Waterhouse CONCACAF Women’s Championship, the final stage of World Cup qualifiers in the United States next month.
The Reggae Girls breezed through the Caribbean round last week with victories of 9-0 (against Antigua and Barbuda), 4-0 (against Bermuda), 4-1 (against Trinidad and Tobago), and 6-1(against Cuba).
The girls are scheduled to play their games in Edinburg, Texas, between October 4 and 10.
Number one ranked team in the region, USA, will play in Group A with Mexico, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago in Cary, North Carolina.
The semi-finals are scheduled for October 14 in Frisco, Texas, where the third-place game and championship will take place three days later.
The semi-final winners and third-place winner qualify for the 24-nation field at the World Cup, to be played from June 7 to July 7 2019. The third-place loser advances to a home-and-away play-off against Argentina for another berth. from relegation zone last November to the RSPL final, where they lost to Portmore United on penalties.
National senior team representatives Benbow and Beckford followed Duckie to Mount Pleasant.
Now Gayle, who returned to ‘Firehouse’ after spending the last 10 years at the University of the West Indies, is fully aware that he is expected to do better by taking the nation’s topleague title to his home community.
TAKING IT IN STRIDES
“I put pressure on myself. Most definitely we want to win but will be taking it in strides. We are not looking at the end right now because it will be nine months of football, “Gayle told STAR Sports recently.
“Last season is behind us now. I am here and preparing the team as best as possible. Right now, we want to take it step by step. The first game is against Dunbeholden when the season start on Sunday, September 16. We will be working on some things to be up and ready for that challenge,” Gayle pointed out.
Gayle said he brought in Kenroy Howell who was away in the United States Soccer League, veteran striker Rafiek Thomas, former national player Keammar Daley, attacking midfielder Stephen ‘One Left’ Williams as well as defender Damion Binns, during the first transfer window that closed last Friday.
“With the exception of ‘Dada’ Daley, who is still in the USA, the other players that I have brought in are all in training and going through intense preparation to get them ready for the start of the season. Last season, the team did not score many goals so we have bolstered the attack,” Gayle also said.
The Drewsland-based side won their last of three titles in 2014.