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Sports Ministry to provide $10m for Reggae Girlz charter flight

Published:Friday | February 11, 2022 | 8:58 PMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter -
File
Minister of Sports Olivia Grange
File Minister of Sports Olivia Grange

The national senior women's 2023 World Cup qualifying campaign received a financial boost as Sports Minister Olivia Grange has announced a contribution of $10 million to help cover the cost of their charter flight for their World Cup qualifier in Grenada on February 20.

Jamaica are set to open the first round with a home game against Bermuda next Thursday.

According to Grange, Jamaica Football Federation president Michael Ricketts informed her that they were facing difficulties in securing a charter flight in time for the February 20 game. She said that the assistance was provided "without hesitation".

“The $10,000,000 has been provided through the Sports Development Foundation as the Reggae Girlz embark on another World Cup journey. We assisted their 2019 World Cup campaign to the tune of $20.1 million and will continue to play our part in whatever way we can to ensure that they are back at the Finals in 2023," Grange said in a release today.

“We will always be proud of the Reggae Girlz for that historic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019."

The Reggae Girlz 23-player squad was announced yesterday by head coach Vin Blaine and members of the squad are expected to arrive on Monday to prepare for Thursday's Group C opener. Only the group winners in the six first round groups will qualify for the eight-team final round which takes place in July.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com