It's Official - Lorne Donaldson is new Reggae Girlz coach
Published:Wednesday | June 1, 2022 | 11:32 AM
The Executive of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has decided that Lorne Donaldson is the best person to lead the Senior Women’s National team into the Concacaf Women's Championship which starts in Mexico on July 4.
The post came up for grabs after interim head coach, Vin Blaine resigned from the post.
Blaine resigned, citing irreconcilable dressing room differences after the majority of the squad under his charge signed a letter to the JFF, asking that he be removed.
The JFF and its technical committee had made a decision to keep faith with Blaine's leadership but the long-time football administrator declined to remain.
“We looked at all the dynamics involved, including the short period to prepare, and agreed that Lorne brings specific advantages to the position, including familiarity with regional football culture and knowledge of the players and is well placed to navigate the team through what will be a difficult qualifying exercise,” said Michael Ricketts, President of the JFF.
“The JFF will give all the necessary support to him and the team, and we are confident that they will make Jamaica proud in Mexico.”
His backroom staff will be named soon.
The Concacaf Women's Championship will take place in Monterrey, Mexico, from July 4 to 18 and doubles as a qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Jamaica are drawn in a tough Group A with hosts Mexico, FIFA’s number one ranked the United States and neighbours, Haiti.
Jamaica will meet hosts Mexico on July 4, the USA on July 7 and Haiti on July 11 in the preliminary round.
The teams in Group B are Canada, Costa Rica, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.
The top two teams from the two groups will qualify directly to the World Cup, while the third-placed teams will qualify for the inter-continental playoffs.
In addition, the group winners will qualify for the 2024 Olympics and the 2024 Concacaf Women's Gold Cup while the second and third-placed teams will advance to the Concacaf Olympic playoff.
The United States are the two-time defending champions, having won the 2014 and 2018 tournaments.
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