No way around new coach for Reggae Girlz – Edwards
Published:Thursday | May 5, 2022 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
HIGHLY RESPECTED local women’s football coach, Charles Edwards, does not believe there is a way forward for the senior national women’s football team under interim coach Vin Blaine.
Edwards’ comments come on the back of last week’s revelation of a letter, written by a senior Reggae Girl and signed by the majority of the players, asking for the removal of Blaine as head coach.
The letter is said to have cited weaknesses in coaching, communication and organisation.
With just two months to go before the Concacaf Women’s Championship, where the Reggae Girlz are drawn against Haiti, Mexico and the United States, Edwards says there is simply no time to fix the relationship between Blaine and the players. Although, Edwards says, getting a new coach to take over could be just as disruptive to the team’s chances.
“What has happened to the senior Reggae Girlz is very sad. The timing is very bad. But is there any way of controlling that damage which has been done, which is a very bad damage? I do not see that happening,” said Edwards.
“I would urge them [the JFF] to move quickly because we are at a very delicate stage and we do not have time.
“We need practice games, we need camps and programmes to get the team together because we are going to be in a very tough zone.
“We play Mexico in Mexico and the USA, which is not an easy task. So the best thing is for them to act immediately,” he said.
“Moving forward with a new coach can be a very delicate situation too. But the JFF needs to put on the big boy pants and resolve the issue very quickly. There is no time to sit down and wonder what they are going to do. They have to figure it out now, pronto, and keep the programme moving.”
HE HAS TO GO
Edwards has much respect for Blaine, but says the situation means he has to go.
“I don’t want to say Vin should step aside but I do not see how they are going to repair the damage. I do not see that happening right now because it is not one or two players who have signed this letter, it is pretty much ninety-five per cent of the squad.
“So if the JFF forces the issue and continues with Vin Blaine there may be a massive breakdown in the player-coach relationship.
“How do you get the girls to be motivated and to cooperate with the coach and his instructions? The damage has been done already and a lot of mental factors are at stake if they continue with Vin.
“So a coach change at this time might be the best thing to move the programme forward with the time frame that we have,” he said.
The JFF executive committee, led by president Michael Ricketts, was due to meet yesterday about the matter, with former assistant coach Lorne Donaldson being touted as a likely replacement for Blaine if that direction is taken.
Blaine has contended that outside forces are behind a campaign to get him removed.