Former national senior women’s head coach Charles Edwards says that the importance of national defender Allyson Swaby’s landmark move to giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG) cannot be downplayed, with benefits to her own technical development as well as for the Reggae Girlz long term.
Swaby, 26, was unveiled by the many-time French champions yesterday, completing a six-month loan move from National Women’s Soccer League outfit Angel City FC which is set to run until June.
Edwards believes Swaby’s move will be key to her improvement as a player.
“It is a significant move. It should only serve as a confidence booster for her because we saw where Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw left Bordeaux and went to Manchester City and you can see where her game has now stepped up and she is now the leading goalscorer for her team,” Edwards told The Gleaner. “So I am hoping that Swaby’s move will be something along the same lines and it will help her development.”
With only a limited time to hit the ground running, Swaby said the expectations are higher for her joining a team with championship expectations domestically and in Europe
“Obviously, PSG are a very well-known club. I am really very happy to join such a great club and such a great brand. Coming here on a short-term contract clearly means that I am here to perform, obviously on a personal level but also and above all to help the team win all possible competitions,” Swaby told the club website. Swaby was targeted as a replacement for Estelle Cascarino who left the club on loan to Manchester United on January 21, paving the way for the deal to be completed before today’s transfer deadline.
Edwards expects her game to improve with a potential bonus of adapting to the league and facing many of the French players the Reggae Girlz will see at the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer with them facing each other in the same group.
“Yes, it will help her somewhat but you also must realise that it can also work against you as well. What we are happy for, however, is the fact that she is getting to play for a quality team and it should help her game in a big way,” Edwards said. “So I think her game will significantly improve which in turn will serve Jamaica even better.”
She will have familiar company in France as she joins her younger sister Chantelle (FC Fleurry 91), Deneisha Blackwood and Yazmeen Jamieson (GPSO 92 ISSY) as national players who currently ply their trade in France. Swaby could make her club debut as early as next Sunday when second-place PSG host eighth-place Le Havre.