Reggae Girlz historic, Boyz on the improve
Published:Sunday | January 7, 2024 | 12:07 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
THE HIGHLIGHT for Jamaica on the international stage in 2023 was, without question, the Reggae Girlz historic journey to the round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last September.
Placed in an impossible group with France, Brazil and Panama, the Lorne Donaldson-coached Girlz first held France to a 0-0 draw, beat Panama 1-0 on an Allyson Swaby header, and then held the mighty Brazil to a 0-0 draw to secure the country’s first-ever qualification to the knockout stage of a world tournament.
They then went out to Colombia in the round of 16 after a 1-0 defeat.
Talismanic striker Khadija Shaw did not have the expected impact at the World Cup, failing to score for the second straight tournament.
However, with an almost impregnable defence that conceded once in four World Cup matches, goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer and defender Allyson Swaby were the Reggae Girlz top performers at the showpiece.
Still, the team ended the year on a disappointing note after they lost their two-way Olympic qualifier playoffs 4-1 on aggregate to Canada in September, and then failed to qualify directly for the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup.
The Girlz’s chances in the Gold Cup qualifiers were severely impacted by the first-team players pulling out of the squad, forcing interim coach Xavier Gilbert to select an inexperienced, second-string squad.
Gilbert’s appointment came after the coach who took the Reggae Girlz to a second World Cup, Lorne Donaldson, was told by the Jamaica Football Federation his contract would not be renewed. While the pulling of the squad’s services ahead of the Gold Cup qualifiers, en bloc, came on the back of a letter claiming the Girlz had to finally take a stand against poor treatment on the part of the federation.
For the Reggae Boyz, the year 2023 was arguably their most successful since qualification to the 1998 World Cup. It was highlighted by their dramatic and historic 3-2 win away to Canada in their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal in November.
As a result, the Boyz advanced to the 2024 Nations League semis, on the away-goal rule after a 4-4 aggregate draw, while booking their spots in the 2024 Copa America and Gold Cup tournaments.
The Heimir Hallgrimsson-coached team also had a fair showing at the Concacaf Gold Cup from June to July, where they went out in the semifinals on a 3-0 loss to Mexico.
Earlier, in March, the Boyz just missed out on qualifying for the 2023 Nations League semifinals after battling to a 2-2 draw with Mexico in a must-win game in the Azteca.
March also marked the debut of teenage sensation Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards in a 1-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex.
The 17-year-old went on to play 10 international matches for the year, scoring his only goal in the Gold Cup.
Demarai Gray was the Boyz standout player in 2023, scoring two and providing two assists in five Gold Cup matches while scoring three goals and providing one assist in the five Nations League matches.
Meanwhile, the under-17 Reggae Boyz made it to the round of 16 of the Concacaf Championship where they lost 2-1 to hosts Guatemala.
Placed in Group D, the young boyz beat Cuba 4-2, lost 2-1 to Guadeloupe and drew 2-2 with Costa Rica.
Jamaica’s under-20 Girlz also made it to the Concacaf Championship but failed to move beyond the group stage after 4-0 defeats to Canada and the United States. However, they defeated Panama 4-1 to end with a win.
With a little over a week’s preparation, poorly prepared under-17 Girlz unsurprisingly crashed out of the Concacaf U17 qualifiers in August after a 1-1 draw and 1-0 loss to Panama at Sabina Park.