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People forgetting out the these young ladies.
Taken from www.jamaicaobserver.com
U-20 Girlz step up preparation for U-20 Qualifiers
Livingston Scott, Observer staff reporter
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A squad of 24 Under-20 players resumed training at UWI Bowl yesterday as the national team intensifies preparations ahead of their final qualifying round for this summer's Women's Under-20 World Cup to be held in Mexico June 17-28.
According to coach Xavier Gilbert, preparations have been going well and he is overwhelmed by the pool of talent he has at his disposal for the upcoming trip, although he laments the loss of goalkeeper Paula Jackson and midfielder Shereen Clarke.
However, he feels the teams has enough fire-power in the yet to be finalised squad to carry Jamaica to an historic World Cup Finals.
"So far our preparation has been going well; right now we are a little short on fitness, but the girls are making tremendous progress over the last weeks," Gilbert told the Observer.
"... We're anticipating that we will get everything right by the start of the tournament, but the young ladies have made some progress over the last few months," he emphasised.
According to the head coach, a number of overseas-based players are in the provisional squad, while a number of them who were not well known were tested at trials and impressed the coaching staff.
He said he is looking to include some of these players when the final squad is selected and he believes they should boost a strong squad, along with a number of players from the previous Under-20 qualifiers.
"We have not finalised the list as yet but there are persons who came down on trial and we have them in mind... at the time of selection the best will be chosen.
"But we have been pleased with what we have seen from the overseas players. Kemesha Woodfine and Alexia Jones came down last week while three Canadians - Zovell Hyre, Jamelle Campbell Henney and Cathlene Rogers - came down the week before and they have all looked good so far," Gilbert added.
And with experience players like Shanique Mitchell, Kimmia Parker and Shakira Duncan returning to the fold, the Excelsior High School coach is confident this team can accomplish the historic feat.
While conceding that the team is not 100 per cent fit, the focus this week will be on building tactical awareness, he said. He said the coaching staff has been working closely to ensure the players get the right preparation going into the tournament.
"When we start camp this week we will be going into some tactical movements... but we're anticipating that the team will be completely ready by the time they are ready to leave for Mexico in three weeks time," he said.
In a practise game on Sunday, the young Reggae Girlz went down 0-2 to St George's Under-17 team, but coach Gilbert said the exercise proved beneficial to the girls.
"We thought they did extremely well because the guys were bigger, stronger, faster... But some of the things that we were working on and the coaching staff was looking for, we saw, and that was the most important thing for us," he added.
Jamaica finished fourth at the corresponding tournament two years ago - just missing out on one of the three available World Cup spots.
But with the growth of women's football in Jamaica and the experience the players have gained over the last two years, Gilbert is confident his girls are on the verge of making history.
Taken from www.jamaicaobserver.com
U-20 Girlz step up preparation for U-20 Qualifiers
Livingston Scott, Observer staff reporter
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A squad of 24 Under-20 players resumed training at UWI Bowl yesterday as the national team intensifies preparations ahead of their final qualifying round for this summer's Women's Under-20 World Cup to be held in Mexico June 17-28.
According to coach Xavier Gilbert, preparations have been going well and he is overwhelmed by the pool of talent he has at his disposal for the upcoming trip, although he laments the loss of goalkeeper Paula Jackson and midfielder Shereen Clarke.
However, he feels the teams has enough fire-power in the yet to be finalised squad to carry Jamaica to an historic World Cup Finals.
"So far our preparation has been going well; right now we are a little short on fitness, but the girls are making tremendous progress over the last weeks," Gilbert told the Observer.
"... We're anticipating that we will get everything right by the start of the tournament, but the young ladies have made some progress over the last few months," he emphasised.
According to the head coach, a number of overseas-based players are in the provisional squad, while a number of them who were not well known were tested at trials and impressed the coaching staff.
He said he is looking to include some of these players when the final squad is selected and he believes they should boost a strong squad, along with a number of players from the previous Under-20 qualifiers.
"We have not finalised the list as yet but there are persons who came down on trial and we have them in mind... at the time of selection the best will be chosen.
"But we have been pleased with what we have seen from the overseas players. Kemesha Woodfine and Alexia Jones came down last week while three Canadians - Zovell Hyre, Jamelle Campbell Henney and Cathlene Rogers - came down the week before and they have all looked good so far," Gilbert added.
And with experience players like Shanique Mitchell, Kimmia Parker and Shakira Duncan returning to the fold, the Excelsior High School coach is confident this team can accomplish the historic feat.
While conceding that the team is not 100 per cent fit, the focus this week will be on building tactical awareness, he said. He said the coaching staff has been working closely to ensure the players get the right preparation going into the tournament.
"When we start camp this week we will be going into some tactical movements... but we're anticipating that the team will be completely ready by the time they are ready to leave for Mexico in three weeks time," he said.
In a practise game on Sunday, the young Reggae Girlz went down 0-2 to St George's Under-17 team, but coach Gilbert said the exercise proved beneficial to the girls.
"We thought they did extremely well because the guys were bigger, stronger, faster... But some of the things that we were working on and the coaching staff was looking for, we saw, and that was the most important thing for us," he added.
Jamaica finished fourth at the corresponding tournament two years ago - just missing out on one of the three available World Cup spots.
But with the growth of women's football in Jamaica and the experience the players have gained over the last two years, Gilbert is confident his girls are on the verge of making history.
, have been disappointing! 
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