Girlz coach reveals positive meeting with Ricketts, Chung

A problematic training camp in England ended with a 2-0 win yesterday for the Reggae Girlz over Sheffield United at the King Power Stadium and, following a meeting with the two top Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) executives, coach Lorne Donaldson believes there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Donaldson revealed the team had a very good meeting with JFF president Michael Ricketts and general secretary Dennis Chung on the team’s preparations for the World Cup in July-August in Australia and New Zealand. Both Ricketts and Chung had travelled to the United Kingdom to deliver equipment and other necessities after some backroom staff and three players failed to make the camp having encountered visa issues prior to the tour.

Donaldson said they were given certain assurances by the two executives, and the players were pleased with their commitment to meet their needs.

“We had a meeting with the president and the general secretary and it was a very positive. We have a clear understanding and expectation going forward,” Donaldson said.

“So, although there were some things that were bad, the players pushed through. So we are looking forward to the next time we get together,” he said.

The Reggae Girlz encountered numerous issues on their week-long camp. They first had their match against Cameroon cancelled, as well as another fixture against a local team after visa troubles and injuries left the team six players short. With the backroom staff absent, the JFF had to seek assistance from the Leicester City club to help fill the void.

Nevertheless, Donaldson believes they will be better off going forward.

“We were missing some key players and others had to step in. So, when we start training (for World Cup) our camp it should be a bit longer. We have time to prepare, so I am not too worried about it. We are hoping to get two games in June. Maybe one in Florida and a send-off game in Jamaica and we are working on those,” he said.

The Reggae Girlz got goals from Chantelle Swaby (54th) and Cheyna Matthews (83rd) to claim a deserved victory against the Women’s Championship club.

From the first whistle, the Girlz looked the sharper and more dangerous of the two teams and came close to getting their opener in the fourth minute when captain Khadija Shaw came one-on-one with Sheffield United’s goalkeeper Fran Stenson but sent her effort wide.

Shaw came close again in the 41st minute but her powerful right-footed effort went straight to goalkeeper Stenson.

The Reggae Girlz eventually broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half when Chantelle Swaby headed past goalkeeper Stenson.

The goal lifted the confidence of the Reggae Girlz, who went in hunt of their second, but they had to wait until seven minutes from time when Shaw’s brilliant solo run ended with an easy assist for Matthews.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.comlivingston.scott@gleanerjm.com