Girlz target active 2021
Published:Sunday | December 6, 2020 | 12:17 AMRobert Bailey - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Head coach of Jamaica’s senior women football team, Hubert Busby Jr, is hoping to lead the Reggae Girlz back into competitive action in the next FIFA international window in February 2021.
That would mark one year since the Girlz last played a match – a 7-0 win over St Kitts and Nevis in an Olympic qualifier – and Busby Jr told The Sunday Gleaner that his coaching staff is desperate to get the team back together and in a competitive setting.
“We are looking at games and we are looking to see who is available again, depending on COVID-19 restrictions coming in and out of countries and what that means for our players, and so that is a bit complicated,” said Busby Jr.
“The next FIFA window for women is due to take place in February, and that is what we are working on right now, to try to get something done ... it is long overdue,” he added. “However, we understand that we are going through a global pandemic and I am sure that we would have done something if it wasn’t for some of those issues that we are all dealing with.”
Busby Jr further shared that the Reggae Girlz are tentatively set to bow into action in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in early 2022, adding that the intention is to ensure that the team remains active over the next few months to ensure effective preparation, despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
MONITORING PLAYERS
“No one really knows what is going to happen, with everything that is going on with COVID-19 now and the football calendar with FIFA,” Busby Jr said. “There are a couple of tournaments that will be taking place next year that we would love to be a part of in Europe, and so we are just working on trying to do the best that we can.”
He further stated that he has been in regular contact with the players across the globe and has been monitoring their progress and performances along with the coaching staff.
“Week in, week out we have been monitoring the players and trying to help players to get contracts overseas and speak on their behalf with certain agents,” said Busby Jr.
“Our staff is trying to get films together to send to agents based on their performances for the national team. We have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to try to get some of these players up and running,” he said.