Shaw proud of performance despite red card
Published:Wednesday | July 26, 2023 | 12:12 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
REGGAE GIRLZ captain Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who picked up her first red card as a player in their opening World Cup game against France on Sunday, said she felt proud that she gave everything to help her team get that historic first point at the tournament.
Shaw, whose red card appeal was dismissed by FIFA yesterday, said scoring goals is not her only objective on the team and that as captain, her intention is to always lead from the front.
“Every time I go out on the pitch I try to give my hundred per cent, try to help the team and be that focal point and the leader that I can be.
“At the end of the day, my ultimate goal is more than scoring goals, it’s to help the team with the scruffy plays, the second balls, set pieces, defensively as well. So I know my overall effort is something I can feel proud of when I walk off the pitch, not in the best way, but I walked off the pitch knowing that I did the best I could. So it is something I can look back and take the positives from,” she commented.
“For me personally it is difficult right now. It is my first red card but looking back at the game we will try to take the positives from it, which are our first point at the World Cup and my performance.”
Shaw was a thorn in the side of the French team for the entire game, and was brutally treated by the France defenders, and though she doesn’t shy away from a physical contest, the Manchester City star thought she could have been better protected by the match official.
“Physically, I am pretty banged up. It was a physical game. I am a very physical player and I strive off that. But the game could have been better protectionwise for me. But I can only focus on what I can control and that is helping the team, whether it is my hold-up play or driving forward, trying to get fouls or throw-ins or set pieces because defensively we know it was going to be a big effort. So whatever we could do at the top of the pitch to help our defence, that’s what we tried to do, “ she pointed out.
She said the Reggae Girlz always knew it was not going to be an easy game and that defensively they had to be solid, and make the right decisions in attack.
“Overall, our performance was good. We dug deep as a team. We had our difficult moments where they had multiple corners and transitional moments but we feed off each other in different actions of the game and I think ultimately the result speaks for itself,” she said.