‘NIGHT AND DAY’ - Reggae Girlz boss impressed with programme’s evolution

Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby believes the growing number of Jamaican players competing in professional environments has strengthened the national team as they continue preparations for next month’s decisive Concacaf W Championship.

Jamaica showcased their attacking quality on Friday, battling to a 4-3 victory over Mexico in the first of two international friendlies.

The result was Jamaica’s second-ever win over Mexico, following their 1-0 triumph at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship.

For Busby, the friendlies against Mexico provide a final opportunity to assess the team’s progress against strong opposition ahead of next month’s assignment.

Jamaica will face Costa Rica in the quarter-finals of the W Championship, where victory would secure a third consecutive Women’s World Cup appearance.

Busby believes the squad’s increased competitiveness is partly due to the growing number of players featuring in professional football on a weekly basis.

“It’s night and day,” he said, reflecting on the evolution of the programme since Jamaica’s first Women’s World Cup appearance.

“When you think about when we went to the first World Cup, we had predominantly college kids and players going into their first contracts. Now we have players who have left college early, who are in professional environments and are playing and thriving.”

All four of Jamaica’s goals were scored by players operating in professional environments, with Jody Brown and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw playing in Europe, Deneisha Blackwood competing in Mexico, and Solai Washington playing in the United States.

In fact, only two players in Busby’s squad are not attached to professional clubs, with goalkeeper Liya Brooks and Aliyah Morgan both involved in collegiate programmes.

Despite not playing professional football, Busby said, Brooks and Morgan have shown they are ready for senior minutes.

“If you’ve seen the likes of Liya Brooks then you know she’s played well in the last two years. She’s played against the USA and England and she made her debut against South Africa,” Busby said.

“So she’s had that sort of experience now to be able to come into these games as well, even though she still is in college.”

He continued: “And Aliyah is someone who’s actually played one or two games as well at the senior level and has come through our U20 programme. So they have that experience in their own right.”

Despite the growing experience within the group, Busby stressed that selection for the decisive qualifier remains open, with approximately 40 players involved in the wider national programme and several others being considered for inclusion.

He said the coaching staff continues to engage the wider group through regular online meetings to ensure players understand their potential roles and remain prepared to contribute when called upon.

“Nothing’s finalised until that two weeks before,” Busby said.

With Jamaica seeking to extend its run of consecutive World Cup appearances, the coach believes the squad’s depth and competitiveness will be crucial as the team enters the final stage of preparations.

The Reggae Girlz will face Mexico again on October 13 before turning their attention to the decisive clash with Costa Rica.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com