Chung promises better prep for World Cup-bound Girlz
Published:Thursday | April 13, 2023 | 1:24 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
To access this article in full please login or register today
JAMAICA FOOTBALL Federation (JFF) general secretary Dennis Chung said the Reggae Girlz have been assured that everything will be done to ensure smoother preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup than they have, so far, enjoyed. The Girlz have...
JAMAICA FOOTBALL Federation (JFF) general secretary Dennis Chung said the Reggae Girlz have been assured that everything will be done to ensure smoother preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup than they have, so far, enjoyed.
The Girlz have encountered a number of administrative and travel issues that have threatened to distract from preparations for the July 20- August 20 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, since qualifying for their second successive tournament, last July.
However, in a meeting among the coaching staff, players, the JFF president Michael Ricketts, and Chung in England following the Girlz 2-0 win over Sheffield United in a club versus country friendly, on Monday, the two high-ranking officials guaranteed the ladies they would take better care of them leading into the World Cup.
“We had a very frank discussion with the staff and the Girlz. They told us of the issues they have and we were very clear about how we can or can’t respond. The Girlz had some very legitimate concerns. There were some things we agreed with and we will address them,” Chung told The Gleaner.
Some concerns the players had included timely communication, proper organisation, support for camps, friendly games leading into the World Cup, plus more efficiency when it comes to travel arrangements.
PROPER COMMUNICATION
“The Girlz spoke about communication and I definitely understand that because some of the issues the players and staff had could be resolved with proper communication. So we have committed that we are going to communicate. I have an open line to all the girls to call me because we are going to have issues, but we must do our best to communicate with and address the concerns they have,” he said.
Hiccups with travel and provision of adequate training resources were also matters of concern and those issues, Chung insists, would be resolved.
“We will make sure they have the proper resources in place to ensure they are comfortable around matches. We have started the planning from now. We have already engaged the persons who are supposed to be doing the planning. So that process has started locally with our staff and agent. And Elaine Walker-Brown [women’s football chairperson] will be spearheading all of that,” he revealed.
“We have already started looking about the visas for Australia. So we are not anticipating that type of trouble again and I am pretty confident we will be able to adjust to most issues.”
The team will hold a final training camp in preparation for the World Cup. But after missing two important warm-up games in England last week, which upset coach Lorne Donaldson’s tactic plans for the tour, Chung noted that the process to secure a couple matches to complement the camp in June is already under way.
“We want to do an international match at home and another one shortly after. We will definitely be tying down a team and we are going to be doing everything to ensure there is nothing more like that to disrupt preparations.”