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High praises for Reggae Girlz
October 27, 2023
The leadership of the Reggae Girlz in the 2-1 loss to hosts Panama in their Concacaf Gold Cup first-leg qualifier on Wednesday is heaping praises on their gallant effort after they returned to the island at the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday.
Interim coach Xavier Gilbert, stand-in captain Chinyelu Asher and goalscorer Ricshaya Walker believe the second-string Reggae Girlz performed creditably, faced with the difficulties that affected their preparation before the contest.
The squad was hastily arranged after captain Kadija 'Bunny' Shaw and other team members who created history by qualifying for the round of 16 of the Women's World Cup earlier this year withdrew themselves from Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) consideration.
The second-string Reggae Girlz, however, surprised their hosts with Walker's 22nd-minute goal but were denied a point through an own goal by Alika Keene and a late strike by Lineth Cedeno.
"Bitter-sweet with the result. I'm so proud that these young girls showed up, and for some of them, it was their debut on a huge stage," Asher said.
"We didn't come away with the win, but I think we won a lot of hearts and inspired a lot of confidence in this young squad."
Walker was elated to score her first international goal on debut.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't pull it out, but it still felt good," she said.
Gilbert acknowledged the challenges of putting the team together but said he saw more positives than negatives with his inexperienced squad.
"The ladies acquitted themselves in the short time we had to put the team together. We had to be creative to get them how organised we wanted them to be on the set pieces, and so on," said Gilbert.
He said not many tactical changes will be required for them to perform better against Guatemala in their next game on Sunday at the National Stadium.
"A lot of it is going to be mental," he said.
Asher and the other members of the Jamaican contingent declined to comment on the impasse between the JFF and the other players.
Meanwhile, JFF's general secretary, Dennis Chung, says the JFF would settle all outstanding payments owed to the disgruntled members of the Reggae Girlz by Friday. Chung made the disclosure before the players returned from Panama.
Among the issues, the upset Reggae Girlz members said, was non-payment for their performances at the World Cup and "the numerous outstanding bonuses for qualifying in the summer of 22", they said in a social media statement.
The stand-off has gained international attention amid perceived inequalities between women and men athletes.
"We are trying to pay off everything that we owe them by tomorrow [Friday]," Chung said during an interview with STAR Sports.
"We trying to get the portion that due to them advanced to us (by the world football governing body FIFA)," he explained.
The JFF general secretary refused to divulge the total pay-out that will be made to the Reggae Girlz but said they should also get financial statements detailing all payments made.
