JAMAICA’S Under-20 Reggae Girlz depart the island this morning for the Dominican Republic where they will participate in the CFU World Cup-qualifying finals to be played at the Estadio Panamericano.

In Group E, Jamaica will first tackle Haiti on Friday, before doing battle with the Cayman Islands next Sunday before closing off with a match against the hosts on Tuesday.

The two top finishers across both zones of the Caribbean finals and the best runner-up will advance to the CONCACAF final play-offs.

Zone F is being contested by Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Guyana.

The three CFU qualifiers will join host Panama, USA, Mexico, Canada and Guatemala in the eight-team CONCACAF finals from March 1-11.

Head coach Vin Blaine — the man with the overarching responsibility for the women’s programme in Jamaica — is confident that the Girlz should top the zone and progress to the confederation play-offs.

“I’m confident that we can do it, but still we have to be careful that we’re not overconfident… my major concern is that we get the job done and qualify even if it means to play ugly football,” he told the Observer last week.

The veteran women’s coach conceded that, while he was not able to scout the opponent, history of playing these teams gives a pretty good idea of what to exprect.

“I don’t know much about them, but Haiti is always a tough opponent who is good on and off the ball; the Dominican Republic as host will believe that they can win, so we have to also look at that.

“I know that Cayman is bringing in players to strengthen the team, but that’s all I can say about that right,” he said.

Thirteen players will travel with six officials out of Kingston to the Dominican Republic via Miami this morning, while five of their colleagues will journey directly from their overseas stations to join the group at the team’s hotel.

The five are Toriana Patterson (USA), Kimberley Spence (USA), Marlo Sweatman (USA), Adriana Johnson (USA) and Shanyce Shaw (Canada).

Other members of 18-member squad are Trudy Carter, Shenika Williams, Khedine Salmon, Sharika Ingram, Nicole Broderick, Khadija Shaw, Kedisha Cordoza, Sasalee Cooper, Lotoya Duhaney, Mellissa Bryan, Renee Foreman, Taylor Grant (Canada) and Carla Daniels (USA).

The group will be led by head of delegation Elaine Walker-Brown, and will also include assistant coach Xavier Gilbert, team manager Jeam Nelson, equipment manager/assistant coach Merron Gordon and team doctor Ephraim Ingram.

The Jamaicans advanced to the CFU final round after topping a three-nation play-off in Cuba in October where they whipped St Lucia, 4-0, before blanking the hosts, 2-0.