Donaldson looks to solve defensive, midfield puzzles
Published:Sunday | January 22, 2023 | 1:48 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
JUST AS national senior women’s head coach Lorne Donaldson intended, the 24-player squad for next month’s Cup of Nations Tournament in Australia will feature a number of young players, with the opportunity to assess key positions that he hopes to strengthen by the time the team takes the field at this summer’s Women’s World Cup.
Donaldson named his squad for the tournament yesterday, their first assignment for 2023 as the preparations continue with some notable absences.
National midfielders Tiffany Cameron, Chinleyu Asher and Kayla McKenna were left out of the squad after playing against Paraguay in November. However, there is a return for Notre Dame’s Kalyssa Van Zanten after she missed out last November. There is also a first-time inclusion for England-born defender, Victoria Williams, of Brighton and Hove Albion.
Some of the young players that participated in Florida two weeks ago are included in the squad, in keeping with Donaldson’s promise of giving them the chance to earn roster spots.
“We are looking at this group to get some more players from this to add to the group of players that are not here to go to Australia. Because the squad we take to Australia is not the squad we will take to the World Cup, but it gives you a better chance of getting into that squad,” Donaldson said in an interview with The Gleaner on January 17.
Improving the backline as well as in the centre of midfield are the priorities for Donaldson on this trip.
DEFENSIVE AREA
“We want to have some kind of idea, especially the defensive area, specifically centreback and in central midfield. We are looking at those spots because it looks like, on the other side of the ball, more with the forward spot with a lot of the young players, I think we are pretty healthy. So [we] have to look more in the defensive role and in the midfield,” Donaldson said.
National defender Konya Plummer, who has returned after having a child, has been called into the squad for the tour. While Donaldson believes that she will have time to fight for a place on the roster, she is not yet back to her best.
“She is a little bit away and, again, because she didn’t have the resources where she lived to train and get herself back, it’s not her fault. She just didn’t have the resources. She gave it everything and she knows where she needs to give. We can push her but we can’t rush her. She hasn’t played a game in a long time. We think she is going to be back but it’s going to take a little bit longer,” said Donaldson.
Jamaica begins their campaign against Spain on February 16 before facing the Czech Republic on February 19 and concluding against hosts Australia on February 22.
Chantelle Swaby (FC Fleury), Victoria Williams (Brighton and Hove Albion), Vyan Sampson (Hearts), Havana Solaun (Houston Dash), Liya Brooks (Hawaii Surf), Rachel Jones (University of North Carolina), Atlanta Primus (London City Lionesses), Khadija Shaw (Manchester City), Chenya Matthews (Louisville FC), Rebecca Spencer (Tottenham Hotspur), Deneisha Blackwood (GPSO 92 ISSY), Peyton McNamarra (Ohio State University), Allyson Swaby (Angel City FC), Tierney Wiltshire (Unattached), Drew Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), Satara Murray (Louisville FC), Siobhan Wilson (Birmingham City), Trudi Carter (Levante Las Planas), Solai Washington (Concorde Fire SC), Kalyssa Van Zanten (Notre Dame University), Jody Brown (Florida State University), Kameron Simmonds (University of Tennessee), Paige Bailey Gayle (Crystal Palace), Sydney Schneider (Sparta Prague)