Sweatman hails Club Haladas for getting her back to full fitness

For national senior women’s midfielder Marlo Sweatman, her long journey back to the Reggae Girlz fold has been made possible by the support of her Hungarian Club Haladas after an injury-plagued period.

Sweatman played the final two games of the Reggae Girlz’s first-round World Cup qualifying matches which included their 5-1 win over the Dominican Republic on Tuesday at Sabina Park, which booked their place in to the final round which will take place in July in Mexico.

Sweatman’s return to international play has been delayed because of injury concerns. She was expected to be called up for Jamaica’s final friendly against Costa Rica last October but pulled out at the last minute because of an injury suffered at her club. She was also unable to be a part of Jamaica’s opening two first-round games against Bermuda and Grenada.

Sweatman said that her return has surpassed her personal goals and is grateful to her club for getting her back where she needs to be health and fitness-wise to contribute to the national team.

“It is everything and more than I expected. The girls welcomed me back. The coaching staff welcomed me back and the fans welcomed me back,” Sweatman told The Gleaner. “My club has been amazing. They have supported me through the injuries, they have pushed me to my limit and I really give them credit for me being the player that I am now.

In Sweatman’s absence, players deputised in the holding midfield role, chiefly Kayla McCoy in the first two qualifying games. Back in her natural position, Sweatman says that she can be able to provide the calmness in the role in their quest for back to back World Cup qualifications

“Whoever has stepped up in that role has done a great job and I do believe that I bring experience, I bring a voice and stability in that number six role,” Sweatman said.

National senior interim head coach Vin Blaine praised her performance against the Cayman Islands not only in her protection of the backline but her being able to support the attacking play.

“I hear some people say that she is not mobile but sometimes in the position that she plays, she doesn’t have to be mobile if she has somebody helping her. She was complemented by Chinleyu Asher who did a good job also. All I wanted from her is exactly what she did, stay in the middle,” Blaine said.

“My approach to any game is that we must always have someone in the centre of the pitch whether we are attacking or defending. So my number six must stay in the middle to protect my two central defenders and she did an excellent job not just by protecting but by the passing that she made.”

With the goal of another World Cup finals appearance in sight, Sweatman says the next couple of months have to be spent wisely in their preparation to put the team in the best position possible to make it to Australia and New Zealand.

“We have to step it up, we all know that. So it’s going to be about what we do now until July that will determine if we make it and each of us has it in us, so we just have to bring it out,” Sweatman said.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com