Donaldson to adjust after Siobhan Wilson Injury
Published:Tuesday | April 18, 2023 | 1:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Despite an unfortunate injury, which will alter his plans for the Reggae Girlz, national senior women’s head coach Lorne Donaldson hopes that they will get their targeted two games in June to settle on the final roster for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Donaldson was speaking as the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy travelled through select parishes yesterday on the Jamaica leg of its 24-hour tour.
The team is coming off a 2-0 win over Sheffield United Women despite problems encountered during the week-long camp in England where visa issues prevented six players and some of the backroom staff from attending.
Donaldson’s squad preparations have taken an unfortunate turn, with defender Siobhan Wilson injuring her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), ruling her out of the tournament. He called the injury regrettable as she was expected to be a key player in his plans to strengthen the defence.
“Number one, she is a left-footed player. She is a double threat. She can play high and she can play in the back. With her going down, tactically, it will change us a bit because she was a part of our tactics, and we were going to do something a little bit different,” Donaldson said. “We will make the adjustment - that is what football is about - but it is a big injury, and I feel bad for her.”
While Donaldson knows the majority of the players who will make up his final roster, he said the June window, with plans for a two-game home series, will help to finalise the roster.
“I could name 18 or 19 players that we are almost sure that we are going to take. For the next four or five players, we still have to make sure to look and see. If someone emerges who is better, then we will also have a look. But we are not settled on a team yet,” Donaldson said. “We are still three months away. So hopefully, when we have the next window in June, we can get two games, and that will settle us.”
With assurances from general secretary Dennis Chung of smoother plans for their World Cup preparations, Donaldson has taken an optimistic view, with the tournament three months away.
“When things are not smooth we expect that some people are going to be disappointed. We are not going to go into that. I just want to make sure that we are going forward. I can see light at the end of the tunnel, and it should be better,” Donaldson said.