Ja U-20 girls to play T&T ahead of Caribbean qualifiers

Head coach of Jamaica's Under-20 women's team, Lorne Donaldson, has described the playing of two warm-up matches this week, ahead of the CONCACAF Caribbean qualifiers, as a "less than ideal" situation.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has secured two practice matches for the National Under 20 squad against Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 Women's team tomorrow and Saturday. The respective games will be played at the Ato Boldon Stadium and Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica's team is set to depart today at 1 p.m.

"The most important thing is to get the players together. It is not an ideal situation to play two practice games just days before a tournament. We would have loved to play these games weeks before the tournament, and that would have been ideal," Donaldson told The Gleaner yesterday morning.

"We have to be careful how we use the players for the games. We will have to use all the players in the squad," he added.

"This is a group that have not done anything together for a long time. We have to rely on the experience of the players coming from the Under-17 stage. I trust the players to go there and get the job done."

Following the matches, the Jamaican delegation will then depart Trinidad for St Kitts on November 20 to participate in the Caribbean qualifiers.

FINAL ROUND

Jamaica will be seeking to be one of two nations from the Caribbean to qualify for the CONCACAF Final Round. This final round will take place in Trinidad and Tobago beginning January 16, 2018. The four countries vying for the two places are Jamaica, Haiti, Dominica Republic and hosts St Kitts and Nevis.

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago have already qualified as the third Caribbean country for the CONCACAF Round.

Jamaica delegation: Patrick Malcolm (head of delegation), Lorne Donaldson (head coach), Xavier Gilbert (assistant coach), Janine Mundell (team manager), Dr. Gillian Lawrence (team doctor), Ashauna Davis (physiotherapist), Omar Folkes (equipment manager) and Hubert Busby (goalkeeper coach).

Players: Olufosade Adamolekun, Jaydn Matthews, Gabrielle Gayle, Jody Brown, Peterkaye Green, Tarania Clarke, Tateyana Pitter, Sashine Smith, Sherice Clarke, Alyssa Julien, Ebony Clarke, Emily Caza, Erin Mikalsen, Giselle Washington, Marlee Fray, Kevena Reid, Shayla Smart, Sydney Schnider, Maya Swaby-Wallerson and Yazmeen Jamieson.