Busby opening doors for young Reggae Girlz

OF HIS 23 players selected for the Reggae Girlz upcoming friendlies against South Africa, head coach Hubert Busby has opened the door for five players aged 20 or under to join the senior team in his efforts to secure the programme’s continued success.

Liya Brooks (19), Naya Cardoza (20), Destiny Powell (17), Davia Richards (20), and Shaneil Buckley (19) mark the youngest players Busby has selected.

Busby said their inclusion is to encourage young players to push for places in the senior set-up and set the groundwork for the future of the Reggae Girlz programme.

“It’s about integrating young talented players into the group to see where they are, keep the group fresh, challenge the group and to keep it competitive,” Busby explained.

“It’s really important. The one thing that I’m tasked with is to get this team to the 2027 World Cup but with that said, we want to ensure that we’re going to every single World Cup afterwards. So it’s about having an eye on 2031 as well.

“We always have to make sure that there is room for young, talented players to make their way through,” he added.

The five youngsters are no strangers to the national programme, however, having already taken their first steps in the senior team.

Brooks won her first call-up in 2022 off the back of her performance in the Concacaf Women’s U20 Championships and was also a member of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad.

Powell, Richards, and Buckley earned their first senior call-ups last year after impressing throughout the various junior Reggae Girlz age-group squads as well as for Excelsior High in schoolgirl football competitions.

Cardoza got her first call-up earlier this year with her debut coming against Chile in an international friendly in February.

Busby said it is important for young players to be included in the senior programme as it allows them to make a smoother transition to life as a professional athlete.

He explained by being around senior players, they can learn what it means to play at the pinnacle of the sport.

“It is also for them to integrate and be around the likes of a Bunny Shaw or Drew Spence, or a Konya Plummer, or Jody Brown, Deneisha Blackwood. It’s so valuable because those are their role models,” he said.

“We’ve seen how important it is on both genders and it’s really important for us moving forward, so these players are given a chance, especially the young ones, not just about being a national team player, but understanding what it means to be a pro.”

The Reggae Girlz are set to tackle South Africa in two international friendlies at the Catherine Hall Sport Complex set for November 29 and December 2.

Reggae Girlz Squad

Goalkeepers: Rebecca Spencer, Liya Brooks

Defenders: Allyson Swaby, Konya Plummer, Naya Cardoza, Vyan Sampson, Chantelle Swaby, Deneisha Blackwood, Siobhan Wilson

Midfielders: Atlanta Primus, Destiny Powell, Peyton McNamara, Jade Bailey, Drew Spence, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Olufolasade Adamolekun

Forwards: Khadija Shaw, Kayla McKenna, Davia Richards, Jody Brown, Shania Hayles, Shaniel Buckley, Tiffany Cameron