CFU Women's Challenge series kicks off

Barbados and Cuba will kick off the inaugural Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Challenge Series Group B action today at the UWI/JFF/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence, starting at 3:30 p.m.

The visitors will play alongside hosts Jamaica in a series geared towards giving the teams practice ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.

Michael Foster, Barbados assistant technical director, says that it is an excellent move to give the team much-needed game practice.

"It is very important as we can prepare well by playing live games. Training is good, but live games tell you where you are at and what you need to work on as a team," Foster told The Gleaner yesterday during his team's practice session at the game's venue.

"We are looking forward to the game against Cuba as they are a very good side, and so, I expect a competitive game," he shared.

Result matters

"The result will matter as confidence is good and winning becomes a habit. It is not the do all or the end; what we want to do is to see how the teams play and how we are going to move forward," Foster added.

"This group has more or less been together for about two years. The core of the team is from Barbados' but wehave Shakira Waithe, who is a member of the Tottenham Hotspur (Ladies) first team in England and she will be playing her first game for Barbados," he pointed out.

Cuba's physical trainer, Edelso Griego Cairo, also praised the CFU for introducing the Challenge Series.

"We really welcome the tournament as it will be used to determine where our team stands. We have a young unit, and they are ready to showcase their talent. It is a development process for the girls," Cairo said.

"They are anxious to start the tournament, and we are aware that it will be tough competition against teams like Barbados and Jamaica," he added.

Jamaica will bow into action on Friday against Barbados at the same venue.