Opportunities abound

ALTHOUGH MISSING some key players, Reggae Girlz assistant coach Deon Burton is describing today’s game against Trinidad and Tobago as an important rehearsal as Jamaica steps up preparation ahead of November’s start of the preliminary round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers.

The Jamaicans, ranked 40th in the latest FIFA rankings, will face the Trinbagonians, ranked 79th, at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva in a friendly international.

Initially, Captain Kadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw was made unavailable by her Manchester City bosses, while Trudy Carter of Liga MX Femenil Club, Leon and Tottenham Hotspurs’ Drew Spence were out through injuries.

Since then, Rebecca Spencer, Atlanta Primus, Vyan Sampson, and Shania Hayles have also been ruled out with injury.

Mia Mitchell, Lola Nesbeth, Serena Mensa, and Ricshya Walker have been named as their replacements.

The missing players have World Cup experience, but Burton believes today’s friendly is crucial for the players available.

“The friendly is so important, especially with World Cup Qualifiers starting next month, this will be a last opportunity to get some clear extra points in regarding what we are expecting from the team and what Busby (head coach Hubert Busby) wants to implement in November, so everybody is clear and ready.

“Obviously, we have a few missing, but we still have a strong squad, and we have some new players that are coming in to show what they are capable of and hopefully, they can add to the squad and add to what a strong squad we have.”

Trinidad and Tobago have gone through some coaching turmoil recently and are working their way back from a period of inactivity, but Burton is well aware of the historic rivalry between the two nations.

However, the former Jamaica international insists his charges are fully focused on the job at hand.

“So we are hoping for a good, good turnout and a good game on Tuesday. But like I said regarding the Boyz, nothing is different with the ladies. It’s gonna be tough coming to the Trinidad patch, and we have to make sure we take full advantage. The only focus at the moment is, first things first, get this window out of the way with this friendly, then let’s look forward to November with the start of the qualifying. This is what I’ve been waiting for, the competitive side of the games, the must-win situations, and going out and pitting our wits against other nations and hopefully, what we set out to [achieve], qualify for 2027.”

The Reggae Girlz have had their own fair share of controversy as it relates to their backroom staff, but Burton, who has been in the job for a year, told The Gleaner the current setup remains in one accord.

“I can only go [with] what I’ve seen here, it’s been nearly a year to the day that Busby brought me in and I’ve just seen hard-working staff and players when we come to join up. You got to remember, people might think we join up for one camp and we only speak a month or two, [but] every week we are having meetings, evening meetings, Zoom calls, talking and prepping for the upcoming games. And we keep our eyes on all the players between the game times and we know exactly who is on form, who is playing, who is scoring, who is injured, and everything in-between. So all I can say, it’s been a joy and a pleasure to be part of this group of coaches and players and hopefully, long may it continue.”

Jamaica are drawn in Group B of the preliminary stage in the upcoming Cocacaf World Cup Qualifiers and will have away games to Dominica (November 29) and Nicaragua on (March 2, 2026) before hosting Antigua and Barbuda (April 10) and Guyana (April 18).

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago are in Group F alongside Barbados, El Salvador and Honduras and will start their campaign with a clash away to the Bajans on November 30.

Only the group winners will advance to the Concacaf’s Women’s Championship in November 2026, from where the top four teams will automatically advance to the World Cup, while two teams will contest a play-off for non-automatic qualification.

Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to advance to the World Cup, making their debut in France in 2019, and created more history when they qualified for the 2023 tournament, advancing to the round of 16.

The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25.