DRUM AND BASS

Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby says Jamaica must continue to refine its playing identity and address areas for improvement when it faces Mexico in its second international friendly today.

The Reggae Girlz face Mexico in the second match of the two-game series at Estadio La Corregidora in Querétaro, with kick-off set for 8 p.m. Jamaica time.

The Jamaicans head into the encounter in high spirits after securing an impressive victory over the Mexicans in their first meeting.

Jamaica defeated Mexico 4-3 in a thrilling contest on Friday, but Busby insists the team must quickly shift its focus to the next challenge as preparations continue for next month’s decisive Concacaf W Championship.

Busby said the experience was a positive one for his players, who thrived in a hostile environment while securing an important result against one of the region’s leading teams.

“Anytime you can come into Mexico, it is a hostile environment. They have some of the most fanatic incredible supporters and fans in the world, never mind in Concacaf,” Busby said.

“To see 25,000 people out at our match was a fantastic atmosphere. I think the girls really enjoyed it and thrived on it.”

He also highlighted the progress Mexico has made in developing its women’s football programme, pointing to the strength of its domestic league and the competitiveness of its national teams across different age groups.

According to Busby, Mexico’s investment and preparation have established the country as one of the benchmarks for women’s football in the Concacaf region.

He said Mexico’s continued investment made Jamaica’s victory even more significant, as it demonstrated the national programme’s ability to punch above its weight.

“Anytime that you can come down and beat a Mexican team, considering all the resources they have and all the preparation, they’ve done really well in growing their women’s league domestically here,” he said.

“And it shows not just with their senior team, but their youth teams and U23 teams. They are obviously one of the benchmarks of Concacaf.”

‘WE CAN IMPROVE’

Busby stressed that Jamaica’s focus has already shifted to the second encounter, with the coaching staff targeting improvements in specific areas of the team’s performance.

The Reggae Girlz arrived in Querétaro on Saturday afternoon and completed two days of training ahead of today’s match.

Busby reported no major injury concerns and said morale within the camp remained high.

“We have to get through and make sure that we continue to work on our identity, our playing principles, work on some aspects of our game, which I thought we can improve on from last match,” he said.

The two friendlies form part of Jamaica’s preparations for the Concacaf W Championship, where the team will be seeking qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Reggae Girlz will face Costa Rica in November, knowing victory would secure their place at the 2027 World Cup.

Busby said the coaching staff would conduct a detailed review of the Mexico series once it concludes, including an assessment of the players as they return to their respective clubs.

He expects the next two to three weeks to provide a clearer picture of the personnel available for the upcoming assignment.

However, the coach remains confident in the depth of the player pool, which he estimates at between 30 and 40 players.

“The core group, which I’ve maintained for a while now of 30 to 40-plus players, if called upon, will be ready to compete on the 27th against Costa Rica,” he said.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com