Level playing field a step closer
Jamaican performance vs. Canada sign of strides toward stronger game
Even in defeat, Jamaica’s opener at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship was cause for optimism — for the country and the region as a whole.
The Jamaicans, ranked 64th in the world, were always up against it in a 2-0 loss to fifthranked Canada on Friday night in Edinburg, Texas. But while the Canadians dominated time of possession, coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller’s squad faced an organized side that played solid defence throughout and showed enough skill up front to make opponents wary of counterattacks. The teams have met seven times over the years and Canada has won all seven — by a combined score of 46-1. Friday’s match marked the first time the Jamaican women had ever held Canada to fewer than four goals in 90 minutes.
Striker Nichelle Prince, who scored both of Canada’s goals, said post-game it was clear how much Jamaica had improved of late.
“The competition is great and we want to see the women’s game keep growing, and for other countries to be pushing us and making us better,” she said. “It was a really fun game to play against Jamaica. I’m proud of how they played and I hope they have a good tournament.”
Jamaica has always fielded an athletic team, says Karina LeBlanc, the retired goalkeeper who spent nearly two decades representing Canada and was named CONCACAF’s first head of women’s soccer in July.
One difference between today’s lineup and the one that crashed11-1against LeBlanc and the Canadians in 2007 — tied for Jamaica’s worst defeat — is the number of players in the professional ranks or well on their way. Defender Dominique Bond-Flasza plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, midfielder Chinyelu Asher for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League. Another handful are at U.S. schools.
“The more we can help facilitate to make that happen, the better our region’s going to be,” LeBlanc said. “I think in the past just a few of the countries had players that were playing year round and full time, but now one of the goals is to get more of our countries playing that way and get more leagues within countries, and then getting these women to be in situations where their full-time job is playing soccer.” The rise of women’s pro leagues in Mexico and Costa Rica has opened up even more opportunities for year-round play, developing high-end skills far more quickly than occasional training camps squeezed in while working a second job.
Fewer blowouts (the U.S. beat Mexico 6-0 on Thursday, before Costa Rica thumped Cuba 8-0) is one of the goals of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, but LeBlanc says the quality of play is just as important as the scoreline.
“I think obviously we’ve seen some wider results so far at the tournament, but I think as it goes on you’ll continue to see tighter matches,” LeBlanc said. “I’d love to see different teams be at the top. I’d love to see different teams get results. I think, for us, it’s a good thing when all of our 41 (associations) are doing better.”
LeBlanc spent the first couple of months in her new role get- ting to know all of CONCACAF’s members and understanding where the women’s game stands in each country. She says one of her main goals is to help tell the stories of women playing across the region.
“I think when you actually come into the environment of women’s football, almost every single player is so clear that their role is to play for their country — 100 per cent — but their role is also to be empowering to other young girls and other women … That’s such a strength of women’s football, is to show and share and tell our stories and help to empower each other and other people.”
Canada returns to action Monday against Cuba, which is making its debut at the event. They have only squared off once before in women’s soccer, in Olympic qualifying in 2012. Canada won 2-0.
Says Canadian defender Shelina Zadorsky: “We’re not taking any team for granted.”