Jamaica is eradicated from the Ladies’s World Cup: The Journey, The Controversy, And What Comes Subsequent

It took 221 minutes of soccer for Jamaica to concede their first aim on the FIFA Ladies’s World Cup. A uncommon defensive lapse simply after half-time of their knockout tie in opposition to Colombia, ruthlessly punished by Colombia’s all-time main goalscorer Catalina Usme, ended Jamaica’s fairytale run. Jamaica desperately prodded on the Colombian protection, with Drew Spence coming closest to discovering an equalizer with a header drifting narrowly large of the submit, nevertheless it was not meant to be.

Jamaican head coach Lorne Donaldson dutifully congratulated the Colombian crew and the women adopted his instance by way of tears of disappointment. Jerseys had been swapped and hugs had been shared earlier than the Jamaican followers clapped the crew members who made the journey and headed down the tunnel. Whereas it is perhaps the tip of their event run, it’s undoubtedly the start of a brand new chapter in Jamaican soccer. 

Making it by way of the Group Stage

When Jamaica was drawn into Group F, many consultants wrote them off from qualifying to the knockouts. But, the expertise was plain. Captain Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, completed 2nd within the golden boot race for high goalscorer within the English Ladies’s Tremendous League main Manchester Metropolis to an inconceivable title race. Rebecca Spencer, goalkeeper for Tottenham Sizzling Spurs, has over a decade of top-flight expertise and there was little doubt she might marshal a protection.

– Commercial –

However the actuality was stark — France and Brazil are storied footballing powerhouses. There’s a pedigree of excellence and enormous variations in obtainable sources. On the final World Cup, Jamaica completed backside of their group, solely scoring one aim and conceding twelve instances. 

With Shaw upfront, and in scintillating kind, together with darting runs from wingers Trudi Carter and Kalyssa Van Zanten, Jamaica was anticipated to be an attacking pressure that was leaky on the again. 

As an alternative the Reggae Girlz scored one aim your entire event, an Allyson Swaby header in opposition to Panama, however had been the most effective defensive crew on the competitors. Spencer was in imperious kind, blunting a France assault that put 4 previous Monaco, 6 previous Panama, and a couple of previous Brazil.

– Commercial –

Within the closing match of the group stage, Jamaica performed in opposition to Brazil, something apart from a loss would ship the Girlz house. They placed on a heroic rearguard efficiency, irritating the Brazilians for 90 minutes. On the closing whistle the crew collapsed in ecstasy. Shaw, normally stoic, fell to her knees and screamed. 

Marta, Brazilian veteran and one of many sport’s all time greats, embraced Shaw, and inspired her and the crew to maintain pushing not simply on this event, however as a footballing nation. 

Within the submit match convention, Shaw shared what the legend stated. “She simply stated that she’s watched our journey, ever since we certified, and he or she credit us as a result of each time we get knocked down, we nonetheless rise up and preserve pushing.”

Shaw continued, “I simply advised her that she’s not simply an inspiration for me, however for lots of younger women within the Caribbean and all over the world,” Shaw stated. It was a passing of the torch and an acknowledgement of a nation on the rise.

CNW Sports activities Highlight

Cedella Marley: The driving pressure behind Jamaica’s girls’s soccer crew

The Ladies’s Group vs The JFF

The Reggae Girlz are one of many really feel good tales of this event. A plucky crew from a small nation pushing in opposition to giants, and finally pushing previous them to succeed in depths of the World Cup the nation has by no means seen earlier than — this run is the furthest a Jamaican crew has made it in a World Cup.

That is despite a whole lack of assist from the Jamaica Soccer Federation (JFF) who has twice slashed this system after mediocre outcomes. Most not too long ago the Ladies’s crew was disbanded in 2010 by way of lack of funding and wouldn’t be resuscitated in 2014 if not for the intervention of Cedella and Rita Marley, the daughter and widow respectively of reggae legend Bob Marley.

Regardless of Khadija Shaw’s rising star and the prevalence of expertise competing in high leagues in England and the US, the ladies’s crew struggled to safe funding but once more to adequately put together for and attend the Ladies’s World Cup

Shaw talking with English putting legend of Caribbean heritage, Ian Wright.

“The camps are inconsistent and that comes all the way down to funds,” Marlo Sweatman, who missed the ultimate choice, advised The Athletic. “When we’ve got no massive tournaments developing, coaching classes and friendlies get canceled. Even within the lead-up to a World Cup or different massive tournaments, there are all the time a bunch of little issues which are available in. It simply appears typically it’s not run very easily.”

A month earlier than the event kicked off, the squad launched through social media the realities of representing the membership and the dearth of assist from the JFF. “On a number of events, we’ve got sat down with the federation to respectfully categorical issues ensuing from subpar planning, transportations, lodging, coaching situations, compensation, communication, vitamin, and accessibility to correct sources,” the assertion learn. It goes with out saying that each one of those are the naked minimal requirement for the operation of a soccer crew.

On the time of writing, Sandra Brower, mom to Jamaican Worldwide midfielder Solaun Brower, has raised over $76,000 USD on the crew’s GoFundMe web page. 

“The journey to Australia in July of 2023 is a expensive endeavor and it’s my intention to permit each employees and gamers to concentrate on the competitors by serving to increase funds to cowl a few of the bills incurred on this unbelievable journey Down Beneath,” she shared within the newest assertion on the web page. 

In April, Jamaica’s Minister of Sport Olivia Grange, introduced that the federal government would offer nearly $130,000 USD to cowl participant stipends, vitamin, and coaching associated bills. The Reggae Girlz Basis (RGF) has raised over $50,000 USD by way of a fundraising marketing campaign. Cedella Marley continued to assist the crew by way of non-public partnerships established through the Bob and Rita Marley Basis and Adidas, the package sponsor, facilitated a 10-day coaching camp at their services within the Netherlands.

Now the highlight is on the JFF to see what occurs subsequent. The Reggae Girlz have captured the hearts of the worldwide sport and the group is now beneath scrutiny from each FIFPRO (the participant’s union) and the Jamaican public themselves.

Extra In regards to the Reggae Girlz on CNW