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Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby Jr said there are ‘one or two’ more players who are in the process of joining the national programme as he looks to add to the team’s strength for the future.
Busby was speaking earlier this week ahead of Jamaica’s opening game in the Concacaf W Qualifiers against Dominica.
The W Qualifiers will serve as the first step towards Jamaica’s ambition of making a third consecutive appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Busby has not ruled out further additions for the squad throughout their qualifying campaign and said there are players he is actively recruiting.
He declined to name the players but confirmed they are in the process of joining the the Girlz’s ranks.
“Coaches always like to keep their cards close to their chest but at the end of the day, all I can say is we’re constantly evaluating the group and trying to add, not just bodies, but qualities in particular areas that we can,” he explained.
“Yes, there are one or two that we’re looking at that are in the process but at this particular point in time, we won’t be naming names.”
Busby said in order for Jamaica to maintain their place as the top team in the Caribbean, and one of the top teams in Concacaf, they must continue to improve.
He said they can do so in a two-fold process, by first ensuring there is a pathway for young players to break into the senior squad, while also recruiting quality players to join the programme.
“There are always players that we’re looking at but I think a lot of the players we’re looking at now are younger names that are within our current system,” he said.
“Especially with 2031 on the horizon, we really want to see how some of these players can do in some camps,” he continued.
“They’ll be some new faces and some new names brought in but that’s just to make sure that we continue to push this programme forward so that we can be formidable in this region for years to come.”
TAYLOR HINDS DILEMMA
Busby also fielded questions surrounding Arsenal defender Taylor Hinds.
Hinds was one of Jamaica’s biggest acquisitions as the English-born defender made her international debut for Jamaica last year.
However, Hinds made a U-turn in her international career when she accepted an England call-up last month, and has since been named in England’s squad again this week.
Busby had said the door remains open for Hinds as she is still eligible to play for Jamaica, but said he is now focused only on the players who have made themselves available to represent the island.
“Obviously nothing has changed since the last time we spoke but my focus and my staff’s focus is on those who are playing and those who are available,” he explained.
“Like everything else, we will revisit it over time but right now, out focus is on the 40 players within our pool and the other 20 odd players coming through that we can choose from.”
Jamaica are drawn in Group B for the W Qualifiers, alongside Dominica, Guyana, Nicaragua and Antigua and Barbuda. The winners of the group will advance to the Concacaf W Championships.
The W Championships will serve as the region’s qualification tournament for the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The top four teams from the W Championships will advance to the World Cup, while the top three teams will advance to the LA Olympic Games.
The next best two teams will advance to the intercontinental playoffs for a second chance of World Cup qualification.
English (US) ·