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Give them a show! - Menzies expects Reggae Girlz to go off in style at home against Panama

Published:Tuesday | May 14, 2019 | 12:00 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
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Reggae Girlz head coach Hue Menzies (back to camera) interacts with the team during a training session held at the National Stadium yesterday ahead of an international friendly against Panama scheduled for May 19 at the same venue.
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Khadija Shaw (left) and Toriana Patterson in a tussle for the ball during a training session held at the National Stadium yesterday.
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Head coach Hue Menzies is hoping the Reggae Girlz will create a big impression when they face Panama in their farewell friendly international at the National Stadium on Sunday, their last game at home before departing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Menzies, who was speaking to the press at the National Stadium yesterday, after the team’s first training session ahead of Sunday’s matchup, also believes the Panamanians will provide a good test.

“Panama is a good team, (they are) very organised and they don’t give up. They are very patient, so it’s a good test, a farewell game and we want to leave an impression,” Menzies said.

Attacking football

“We will play attacking style football and see how fit they (Panama) are. Our transition is important for us and we have some special players we want to showcase, so hopefully they can turn up and put on a show.”

The coach also believes that it is important to continue preparing a large group of players for any possibility.

“We have some good news on a couple of the player seeking clearance from FIFA, but we are still waiting on paperwork. Once that is completed and we can solidify in the next 48 (hours), we can name the 23 (players who will make the World Cup squad) and start preparing for the World Cup. We have created a pool, because a lot of these things can happen, but we feel we have a good group we can choose from,” Menzies added.

“Obviously we don’t have everybody because of the FIFA window, so they (other players) will join us in Miami, but we feel we have a good pool of players and that’s what we want to create, because after the World Cup we are going to have many things going on so we have to create a pool of players.

“But we want to solidify the (final squad of) 23 (players) then start working on some functional training and obviously fitness is important. We want everybody because it’s a journey and every game we feel we have to change things up and we want to make sure we maintain the same pace every game, so we have to change personnel,” said Menzies.