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Reggae Girlz, South Africa clash in MoBay
November 29, 2024
WHILE REGGAE GIRLZ coach Hubert Busby is expecting a tough test, he believes that the cohesiveness of the team will serve them well when they tackle South Africa in their first leg of two friendly football matches.
The highly anticipated match, with both nations ranked at 42nd (Jamaica) and 50th in the FIFA rankings, is set to kick off at Montego Bay Sports Complex tonight at 8 p.m.
"Overall, the preparations and time that the players have put in so far has been good," he told STAR Sports.
"Obviously, we have suffered some sickness; players flying from long distances and the flights, as well as a very intense fall season already. It kind of probably caught up to some players, but we are monitoring, seeing how we are doing," he added.
It will be the first meeting between the two countries since facing each other in Durban, South Africa in April 2019, when they played to a 1-1 draw.
"South Africa is a formidable opposition and they are going to present a really good test for us. We are really excited about our ability to come in front of our home fans and put on a really good performance for them tonight," Busby noted.
"They were at one time the leading African country in terms of women's football. It is great to see all the other countries made the investment and raised their level as well."
In an article published on www.safa.net, Banyana Banyana (South Africa)'s head coach Dr Desiree Ellis says she will be looking to try out new combinations while also seeking to maintain a solid defence.
Dr Ellis said that they were looking forward to a high-paced match against a side that has also held its own against very strong opponents in their region.
"The Jamaicans will give us a good run for our money. We will be looking to ensure that we build on keeping the ball, creating and converting chances, but also maintaining our defensive structure," said Dr Ellis.
"Now that the draw for the 2024 WAFCON is out, we are focusing on how we will play against the opponents we have in our group. However, as much as we are preparing for our opponents, we are also looking at players that may end up making our WAFCON squad," she explained, pointing to the Women's African Confederations (WAFCON) tournament.
"We have brought many young players to Jamaica who have raised their hands up in the league, and this is a great opportunity for them to fight for spots in the national team," the South Africa team's coach said.
LEADING GOALSCORER
The nation's all-time leading goalscorer, Khadija Shaw, who last played in Jamaica in September last year during the first leg of the Concacaf Olympic Play-In fixture against Canada at the National Stadium, said it feels good being back with the group.
"Training has been going well and we are raring to go," Shaw said. "It has been a while since we have played in Jamaica. We are back here now and excited to be here. We always had really good support, especially in Montego Bay, and we are definitely looking forward to that," Shaw said.
"We just want to thank everyone for the support they have given us throughout the entire journey so far, and we look forward to seeing each and everyone at the games on Friday and Monday," she added.
With the absence of another strong attacker in Trudi Carter and Shaw returning to the team, Busby is brimming with confidence.
"Our expectations are to win these two games. We want to put on and build on the performance from France and have a better performance than we had last time," Busby stated.
In their international friendly games this year, the Reggae Girlz suffered losses to both Brazil and France. In June, they lost 4-0 against Brazil at Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, Brazil, and, in October, they went down 3-0 to France at the Stade Auguste-Bonal.
South Africa's last outing saw them falling 4-3 to Zambia on penalties in the final of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Women's Championship earlier this month.
Busby pointed out that the game will dictate if the young players on the squad get game time.
"The idea that they are brought in is because we believe they can make a contribution, but also to give them the best opportunity for them to be successful. Having these players come to camp is a lot more than just getting minutes, it is about also being around professional players and understanding what professionalism looks like."
With the road to Brazil for the 2027 World Cup in mind, Busby said, "In 2025, it is about laying the foundation and building blocks for success both on and off the pitch. It is important that we make two good performances, and, obviously, the February window, and that should be a good foundation again for us to be ready for the World Cup qualifiers later on in the year."
