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U-20 Girlz leave for qualifiers in Mexico
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter
walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A favourable draw and a wealth of experience and talent have left Jamaica's Under-20 female football team confident of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup as they leave for Puebla, Mexico, today.
The Reggae Girlz are drawn in Group B alongside Canada, Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship set for June 17-28 at the Estadio Cuathtemoc.
Jamaica's Under-20 female footballers do stretching exercises at a training session in Kingston last week. (Photo: Karl McLarty) Defending champion United States host Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) and Cuba in Group A. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
The semi-final winners and the third-placed team will advance to the FIFA World Cup set for Chile between November 19 and December 7, 2008.
Jamaica will open their account against Costa Rica on Tuesday, June 17, before playing group favourites Canada on Thursday, June 19, and Nicaragua on Saturday, June 21.
The delegation will be headed by Brazilian Walter Gama, with local coach Xavier Gilbert as his assistant.
Gilbert is confident the young Reggae Girlz can create history and become the first Jamaican female team to qualify for a World Cup.
Said Gilbert: " With the experience that these girls have gained and the talent that we have I'm very confident that we'll make it to the World Cup this time around.
"The draw suits us; it's just for us to go to Mexico and do well in the first round and make it through to the second round and take it from there," he said.
"We're very optimistic. Our first objective is to reach the final and of course looking at the draw, it seems very realistic. We have a very good chance of making it to the World Cup, especially with a lot of these girls participating in the last tournament," he added.
Last July, Jamaica brushed aside Caribbean opponents Haiti, 3-1, and hosts Bahamas, 2-0, to advance to the final round, along with T&T and Cuba.
At least eight members of the team have played Senior team football and Gilbert thinks that that is a definite plus.
"Once these players lead from the front I'm sure the younger ones will follow. This is where we have faltered on previous occasions. At least seven of them were in Mexico the last time (2006) and at least four... travelled with the Senior team to Mexico recently, so they're used to the environment," he explained.
The Under-20 Girlz turned in an impressive performance last Friday, whipping their Senior counterparts 5-0 at Waterhouse Mini-Stadium in their final practice game.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Nicola Linton, Nicole McClure; Defenders: Marcilee McBean, Shanise Steel, Natasha Douglas, Abegail Walker, Jovella Hyre, Monique Pryce, J'Vonelle Simpson; Midfielders: Christina Murray, Kimmia Parker, Peta Gay Soman, Jody Bethune, Cathryn Rogers, Tashieka Gordon; Forwards: Kenesha Reid, Shakira Duncan, Teashian Thomas, Kemesha Woodfind and Simone Honeygan.
U-20 Girlz leave for qualifiers in Mexico
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter
walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A favourable draw and a wealth of experience and talent have left Jamaica's Under-20 female football team confident of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup as they leave for Puebla, Mexico, today.
The Reggae Girlz are drawn in Group B alongside Canada, Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship set for June 17-28 at the Estadio Cuathtemoc.
Jamaica's Under-20 female footballers do stretching exercises at a training session in Kingston last week. (Photo: Karl McLarty) Defending champion United States host Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) and Cuba in Group A. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
The semi-final winners and the third-placed team will advance to the FIFA World Cup set for Chile between November 19 and December 7, 2008.
Jamaica will open their account against Costa Rica on Tuesday, June 17, before playing group favourites Canada on Thursday, June 19, and Nicaragua on Saturday, June 21.
The delegation will be headed by Brazilian Walter Gama, with local coach Xavier Gilbert as his assistant.
Gilbert is confident the young Reggae Girlz can create history and become the first Jamaican female team to qualify for a World Cup.
Said Gilbert: " With the experience that these girls have gained and the talent that we have I'm very confident that we'll make it to the World Cup this time around.
"The draw suits us; it's just for us to go to Mexico and do well in the first round and make it through to the second round and take it from there," he said.
"We're very optimistic. Our first objective is to reach the final and of course looking at the draw, it seems very realistic. We have a very good chance of making it to the World Cup, especially with a lot of these girls participating in the last tournament," he added.
Last July, Jamaica brushed aside Caribbean opponents Haiti, 3-1, and hosts Bahamas, 2-0, to advance to the final round, along with T&T and Cuba.
At least eight members of the team have played Senior team football and Gilbert thinks that that is a definite plus.
"Once these players lead from the front I'm sure the younger ones will follow. This is where we have faltered on previous occasions. At least seven of them were in Mexico the last time (2006) and at least four... travelled with the Senior team to Mexico recently, so they're used to the environment," he explained.
The Under-20 Girlz turned in an impressive performance last Friday, whipping their Senior counterparts 5-0 at Waterhouse Mini-Stadium in their final practice game.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Nicola Linton, Nicole McClure; Defenders: Marcilee McBean, Shanise Steel, Natasha Douglas, Abegail Walker, Jovella Hyre, Monique Pryce, J'Vonelle Simpson; Midfielders: Christina Murray, Kimmia Parker, Peta Gay Soman, Jody Bethune, Cathryn Rogers, Tashieka Gordon; Forwards: Kenesha Reid, Shakira Duncan, Teashian Thomas, Kemesha Woodfind and Simone Honeygan.
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