Lessons learnt in failed CONCACAF U-20 bid, say Reggae Girlz
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Two of the Reggae Girlz who took part in the recent CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship in Honduras believe plenty was learnt during the failed campaign.
Jamaica failed to make it out of the group stage after disappointing performances against Honduras and Canada.
Jamaica stumbled to a 2-2 result against Honduras before being trounced 0-7 at the hands of the rampant North Americans.
Not even a 6-1 hammering of Trinidad & Tobago in the last group game could help the Jamaicans. Honduras advanced to the semi-finals thanks to superior goal difference to Jamaica after both teams ended on four points.
Canada, who eventually lost 0-1 to United States in the final, were group winners with a perfect nine points.
“I’m proud of the last game we played against Trinidad because we really wanted to score a lot of goals and we ended up doing that. There is disappointment in how we played against Canada and let in seven goals,” said Jamaica right-back Dominique Bond-Flasza.
The 19-year-old, who made her debut for Jamaica in Honduras, said there is scope for improvement.
“There’s a lot we learnt from the tournament. It’s a young team so there’s a lot of growth to take place,” said the player who is based at University of Washington in Seattle, United States.
Bond-Flasza , who said she was interested in lawn tennis and track and field when she was younger, has a Polish father. However, her mother has roots in Portland, Jamaica.
Jamaica goalkeeper Shanay Ricketts, 17, also feels Jamaica’s young female footballers can only grow from their experience at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s tournament.
“I feel bad knowing we didn’t make it through, but I guess better luck next time. We have to work harder and come back as a team and show some improvement,” said the player who hails from Middle Quarters in St Elizabeth, but went on to represent Lennon High in Clarendon.
Ricketts, a college student in the US state of New Jersey, has played for Jamaica at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels.
She also represented the Under-20 Girlz during the early stages of Caribbean Football Union qualifying in St Lucia earlier in the year.
Sanjay Myers
