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Wint: JFF closing in on Reggae Girlz friendly
August 17, 2021
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) general secretary Dalton Wint says they are closing in on securing an international friendly for the senior women's squad in September as they continue their preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The Reggae Girlz last played in June against Nigeria and World champions the United States as part of their return to international play after a year-long hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the games, head coach Hubert Busby Jr stressed the importance of not losing the momentum gained from the two matches and taking advantage of the upcoming international windows to give themselves adequate preparation for the qualifiers which start in November.
Wint says that the discussions with potential opponents have been fruitful with plans for a minimum of one game in each window with a mini-camp for the team, similar to their recent summer series in the United States.
"We are further along with the one for the September window. September is about 75 per cent (completed). Conversations have been started for (games) in October," Wint told STAR Sports.
Wint says that while opponents within the region as well as outside are being considered, they are looking towards securing a location in Concacaf to play as it would be the best suitable situation given the potential challenges COVID-19 could bring when playing outside the region.
"It is easier for you to sort out games in North America or in Concacaf so that is where we are looking at for the September window. We are also looking at that for the October window too," Wint said.
Highly ranked opponent
Jamaica can book a maximum of two international games between September 13 and 21 and between October 18 to 26.
Securing a highly ranked opponent is on the wish-list for JFF Women's Committee chairperson Elaine Walker-Brown, who says that they intend to ensure that the quality of opposition does not drop from Nigeria (38th in the world) and the United States (first in the world), their last two opponents.
"We want to stay in that league, that high-quality field that will give them what they had in June," Walker-Brown said."
With a win and a loss from their last two games, Jamaica is currently ranked 51st in the world, according to the world rankings, and fifth in Concacaf.
Also on her list is the finalising of the contracts for the team ahead of the qualifying campaign. Walker Brown says they are committed to ensuring a much smoother process than what took place with the senior men's team.
"I think we are ahead of it compared to the last time. We don't want a repeat of the past," she said.
While Walker Brown says that she is optimistic of the matter being settled before November, Wint gave a tentative time frame for the end of the month for all negotiations to be concluded with talks with the players, according to him, being "far advanced".
