High marks for Gilbert

XAVIER GILBERT, interim head coach of Jamaica’s senior women’s football team, has received high marks for his and the team’s performance over the two Concacaf Gold Cup qualification games he was in charge of.

The Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) announced on Tuesday that Gilbert’s tenure has been extended for the Reggae Girlz’s final two Group B games – return-leg contests with Panama at the National Stadium and away to Guatemala.

The JFF is the governing body for the sport in Jamaica.

The second-string team was assembled days after the entire Jamaican team that made history by reaching the second round of the Women’s World Cup in August declined their invitations for the Gold Cup qualification games over differences with the JFF.

Gilbert was first appointed interim coach in October almost one month after the JFF did not renew his predecessor Lorne Donaldson’s contract.

Jamaica sit at the foot of the three-team group on one point following a tough 2-1 loss to Panama on an 84th-minute goal from Lineth Cedeno and a 2-2 draw with Guatemala. Group leaders Panama have six points and Guatemala, four.

“Coach Gilbert stepped in admirably in a very delicate situation and did an admirable job of getting a group of players together within a very short period of time and getting them organised to go out there and show very well,” said Hubert Busby, a former coach of the Reggae Girlz.

“So credit for him and the staff for doing what they can in a very short period of time,” he added during an interview with The Gleaner yesterday.

Vin Blaine, another former Reggae Girlz head coach, said Gilbert’s performance “has to be rated as creditable”, especially with the limited time to organise a proper training session.

Blaine believes that without a “few mistakes” by the players, Jamaica could have come out winners against Panama and Guatemala.

“It’s a credible performance and his management of the team, you have to give him credit for that too. And I say this on the background that nobody thought that they would do this well,” he told The Gleaner yesterday.

“People will always find things that they think he did wrong, but they could have won both games and it’s not his fault because the girls made mistakes.”

Reggae Girlz midfielder Marlo Sweatman was more emphatic about her assessment of Gilbert’s performance.

“I would say 10 out of 10,” Sweatman told journalists during a post-match press conference after the Guatemala game.

“I’ve obviously known coach for a very long time, for most of my career and every time I come into camp, it’s been great. The girls respect him and he respects us, so it’s a good vibe in the camp.”

Gilbert declined to rate his performance, saying he did his best. He said maybe it’s up to the media and the public to rate his performance over the two games.

“Even to assemble the unit was challenging, but I did my best. One thing with me, I always give my best when I’m doing a job,” he said during the same press conference.

Minutes after it was confirmed that his tenure had been extended, Gilbert told The Gleaner that the objective is for the Reggae Girlz to qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup.

He also expressed hope that there will be a wider pool of players to choose from for the return-leg games with Panama and Guatemala, a view shared by Busby.

“I hope that all matters can be resolved so that we enter those two games with a stronger unit,” Gilbert said while thanking the JFF for entrusting him with the programme.

The JFF announced last Friday that “as committed, we have now paid in full, balances due to the Women’s World Cup team”. There have been no complaints publicly about the payments to date.

JFF general secretary, Dennis Chung, indicated last week that once the payments were made, the governing body “would have satisfied” the three issues raised by members of the World Cup team, suggesting that the ball would then be in the players’ court to have those issues resolved.

Blaine and Busby agreed with the JFF’s decision to stick with Gilbert for the next two games, saying it brings continuity to the preparations.

“For them to break up that to bring in another coach for the next two games would be absolutely ridiculous. Some of these girls are coming in for the first time. They already know him and they know his style, so why would you change the coach?” Blaine argued.

“I could see their rationale in making that decision just simply because it allows for some continuity. But like I said all along, the most important thing is for the programme to have stability and that is ultimately what is needed,” said Busby.