Busby’s two mandates – win, improve
Published:Sunday | February 23, 2025 | 12:16 AM
BEFORE HIS team takes to the field to take on Peru in their first of two international friendlies, Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby Jr said he is expecting to see an improved performance from his players from their last time out.
“Every time we get together, yes, winning is important, that is always a prerequisite, but it [is] also that we keep improving on our performances,” Busby said in an interview ahead of the game.
Busby said his priority will be to ensure the players are able to continue their development as a part of the national set-up.
This includes how they operate on the field while wearing the national colours, as well as their approach off the field as a team.
He stated, for the programme to improve, the players should be able to meet the increasingly raised standards set.
“The focus is keep building on and improving how we play in terms of all the things we do both on and off the field. It’s important that we try to reach the heights and the standards that are necessary for this programme.”
Experienced Reggae Girl defender Deneisha Blackwood echoed her coach’s sentiments, explaining the programme has continued to grow year after year.
Having made her senior debut for Jamaica in 2018, Blackwood has been a mainstay in the programme throughout their two World Cup campaigns.
With this experience under her belt, she best understands the demands of being a Reggae Girl.
“I think, as a senior player and just being here over the years, each year we continue to have more talent and more experienced players a part of the group,” she said.
“We have been to two World Cups now, so majority of those players have that experience and are playing at clubs and gaining experience.”
Blackwood said, if the team is to continue their upward trend, it is important for them to consistently play games against competitive teams.
“I think, just going forward, once we continue to have consistent games, then we’re going to see the growth of each and every one of us.”
With several of his key players absent, chief among them being Manchester City’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Busby is looking forward to seeing the younger players step to the fore.
He believes these two games will be the right platform for them to enter the senior programme.
“We are excited to welcome some new players into the pool, and some players we didn’t got a chance to see last year,” he stated.
“We’re excited that they were able to join the core group of players. Obviously, we’re very grateful that we’ve had this opportunity to come to Peru to continue to build on our playing principles.”
The match is set to kick off at Alberto Gallardo Stadium in Lima Peru at 4 p.m. Jamaica time.