TRUDI Carter, one of the most talented footballers in the region, says she is committed to showing the coaching staff and selectors that she is fit, healthy, and ready to compete for a spot on the national senior women’s squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In its ninth staging, the FIFA Women’s World Cup is the quadrennial international women’s association football championship contested by women’s national teams and organised by FIFA. The 2023 tournament will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and is scheduled to take place from 20 July to 20 August, 2023.

Carter, a Jamaican professional footballer and former forward for Spanish Liga F club FC Levante Las Planas, stated that not only does she want to represent Jamaica in back-to-back World Cups, but her selection would also assist in fostering togetherness in the Arnett Gardens neighbourhood.

“I am here trying to prove to the coaches that I am fit and that I am ready to perform at my best — and hopefully that my best is good enough for selection,” Carter told the Jamaica Observer during a training session at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday.

“That’s the goal, to get selected to represent Jamaica at back-to-back World Cup tournaments. I mean, it would be really great and I would have that on my resume that I have played in back-to-back World Cups.

“And you know, it’s not just for me — it is for my family back here, Arnett Gardens, and for the young girls who looked up to me and want to be like Trudi Carter and play in a World cup. I want to be a role model for the younger ones growing up playing football,” the 28-year-old said.

Carter, who attended and played football at the University of South Florida, believes that while the Reggae Girlz will be unable to play any practice games, the competitiveness during training sessions will more than compensate.

“The feeling has been good as it’s the first camp we had here in Jamaica since October of last year. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to play some games, but such is life. But training has been very competitive as the girls are very focused and so we are looking forward to a good camp.

“I have been… training here in Arnett Gardens from April and so I am thankful for the guys here and the coaching staff to welcome me. I have been training with them for a while and everything has been good,” Carter said.

Carter, who joined AS Roma’s women’s team in 2018, remarked that she would be devastated if she is not selected for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“Knowing that from a child growing up it was the dream to qualify for the World Cup and we had achieved that, the feeling is even greater to do it back-to-back for the first Caribbean country to do so. I know the first time wasn’t the way we expected — we went there and didn’t win any games — but this time around, hopefully, we can win some games and move on to the next round.

“If I don’t get selected that would be devastating. I would be very sad, knowing that I put all my work in and put my best foot forward and [had] done my best. If my best isn’t good enough I would be devastated and very sad,” Carter ended.