Donaldson: The impossible is possible
Reggae Girlz face Colombia at 3 a.m. tomorrow
Published:Monday | August 7, 2023 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
The Reggae Girlz go into the FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16 tie against Colombia tomorrow at 3 a.m. (Jamaica time) without conceding a goal in three group games, and head coach Lorne Donaldson is pleased with this record going into a crucial and historic encounter.
However, with just one goal from their three matches, Donaldson believes they have to be a little more adventurous going forward.
“We still have a clean sheet. Some people think it is good and some people might think it is ugly.
“But you just have to deal with what is in front of you. You just have to earn points,” he said.
“The name of the game is to pick up points and move yourself into the next round. That was our aim. But you get into a situation now where you have to score goals.
“So we are going to figure out a way now how we can transform our defending into scoring goals. That is the challenge we have. So it is good to have clean sheets but we have to take chances.”
Once again, the Reggae Girlz will be the underdogs but Donaldson noted that the country has a long list of legendary performers that they draw inspiration from, and, fuelled by that unbending belief in one’s self, he believes anything is possible.
“How are you going to phase a Jamaican when we have been through all kind of crap. Whether it is just life experience or the way some of these girls grew up. We have seen it all. So, when you throw something at us, it is like ‘okay, we have seen that one’.
“But, on a whole, whether it is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the Sunshine Girls, Usain Bolt, and I can go back to all kinds of true Jamaican performers. Whether it is Bob Marley, Jamaicans are a resilient type of people, so everybody say we likkle but we tallawah, meaning that we are a small nation but we fear nothing. Most Jamaicans really go by that (mantra),” he declared.
“So, whether you are a judge or a teacher, we think we can do it all. There is this belief and we want all the young persons in Jamaica to start believing that the impossible is possible. Whatever you want, go after it,” he continued.
A lot of pressure will come with playing the biggest football game in the nation’s history, but Donaldson wants his troops to enjoy the occasion as much as he wants them to take it seriously.
“The girls wanted this and they put their all into it, but I have only reminded them that we are not done as yet. I tell the girls ‘have some fun, come out and play hard’. We do not know when we will come back this way, so enjoy the moment and be serious about it,” he added.
Colombia are the favourites for tomorrow’s match after they impressed with wins against highly ranked Germany and South Korea. While Jamaica’s team has scored just once in three games. Colombia have scored four times and conceded two.
Jamaica will be hoping that star forward and captain Khadija Shaw will find her best form, while Colombia will look to the 18-year-old sensation Linda Caicedo to unlock the Jamaican defence.