Menzies hails Shaw’s selection in the Guardian’s top 100

Hue Menzies, the man who guided Jamaica to their first FIFA Women's World Cup, said that he is proud of top striker Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw after she was named among the 100 best women's footballers in the world for 2019. The 22-year-old Jamaican international was ranked number 80 in the list released by British newspaper 'The Guardian' yesterday.

Menzies, who has watched her progression through the ranks, said that the accolade is fitting, given her accomplishments this year, including her historic appearance at the FIFA Women's World Cup and her performances in the Women's French League with club Girondins de Bordeaux.

"[It's] very deserving, She broke all barriers in football, the leading scorer in the [country] male or female. She is the second leading goalscorer in the French League. And on top of that she got her degree, plus the World Cup," he told STAR Sports.

"It's very gratifying to see that she's been honoured as part of the top 100 female players in the world."

He said that he was not shocked at how Shaw has quickly adjusted to the Division 1 Feminine, noting that the improvement she has made in her game, as well as being in a high-class environment, has boded well for her.

"We knew her development was progressing and we are not really surprised of her strong start. I guess she just needed the opportunity, to be put in that type of environment, and she's showing that she belongs," he said.

"Her hard work, her commitment to the game, is playing off and Bunny understands the platform that she's on and she knows she has to perform."

The Guardian, in their assessment, said that "Shaw's talent was evident", despite Jamaica struggling in World Cup group play, and heralded her as a player on the cusp of greatness.

"This may be the first time 22-year-old Shaw has appeared in this list, but it certainly won't be the last," they said.

"She scored four goals in two games during Jamaica's warm-up friendlies and since going professional in Division 1 Feminine with Bordeaux, Shaw has rarely looked back. Nine goals already this season leave her trailing only Ada Hegerberg in the scoring charts, and it does appear the world is really at her feet at 22."

Shaw became the country's all-time leading goalscorer during the Caribbean Olympic qualifying round in October with 40 goals, passing her male counterpart, Luton Shelton.