Busby believes Jamaica has the best striker in the world

On Friday, Reggae Girlz and Manchester City ace striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw nailed a hat trick as the Girlz dispatched Antigua and Barbuda 4-0 in their Concacaf Women World Cup qualifiers at the National Stadium.

Shaw scored a penalty in first half added time, 56th and 61st, while Deneisha Blackwood scored the other, from the spot, in stoppage time.

Shaw, took her international tally to 65 goals in 47 international appearances, and coach Hubert Busby Jr is pleased with the big striker, calling her the best striker in the world.

On Friday, he was pleased with the quality service Shaw got, and said getting the supporting cast to provide her with consistent quality service against better quality opponents is the ultimate goal.

“That’s the goal (to provide Shaw with consistent quality service). At the end of the day, what we want to focus on is, if we have a player with these abilities, and not just her, we want to create opportunities.

“We would be a little bit more concerned if we are not creating the opportunities but we are, and that is key and we are trying to get her into the best positions to score but also allow us to be versatile for different options in attack,” he said.

“As you can see we were more dynamic in those areas (Friday) and the goal is to be able to do that against quality oppositions, so may it continue.”

The Manchester City striker, who got two assists from Kiki Van Zanten, was also pleased with the improvement in the supply lines to her up front, but insists this understanding has come over time.

“It’s about building relationships with my teammates. We have some new faces in the group and we know it will take a while.

“I know their tendencies and they know mine but the more we train and the more we come together as a group, it will come. So I am looking forward towards that, but every game we are building and getting stronger,” she pointed out.

Busby added that the leadership within the team was exemplary on the night. He also had special praise for Shaw, calling her the best in the world.

“Really pleased with the leadership group and how they pulled the team through. The best striker in the world (Shaw), she plays for us, essentially able to take us over the line and not just that, how she led from the front.

“Atlanta Primus, the work she did in the middle of the field was unbelievable. So just really proud of the players and how they performed and how we got there in the end.”

The Reggae Girlz lead Group B with maximum nine points, three clear of Nicaragua and Guyana, and only need a draw against Guyana on Saturday to seal their berth in the Concacaf Women Championship in November.

“We wanted to put in a professional performance and focus on ourselves. Correct some of the mistakes we had in the past games.

“The position I play, the team looks to me to score goals and I try my best to do that at the top of the pitch, of course. It doesn’t always go to plan but more times than not, I always try my best to help the team in whatever way possible.

“We appreciate everyone who came out and supported the team. We hope the performance was pleasing, but (if not) I guarantee the next game will be.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com