Girlz delayed - Time against U-17s after flight hiccup

BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

AT press time, the Under-17 Reggae Girlz were still languishing at the Norman Manley International Airport as their flight out of Kingston was delayed.

American Airlines flight AA 628 to Miami was first indefinitely delayed until airline officials gave a new take-off time of 10:00 pm yesterday, as the Boeing 737 developed mechanical problems while passengers waited at Gate Nine to board.

Flight 628 was originally scheduled to take off at 3:55 pm and was due to arrive in Miami at 5:55 pm, and then for a 8:00 pm connection to San Jose, Costa Rica, where the Young Girlz are due to participate in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying from March 10-20.

Coach Vin Blaine said the delay could seriously impact preparation going into the team's first game tomorrow.

"Definitely, it would be a big disruption. Entering a new environment and a new playing surface you're afforded the luxury of playing on the match field... this will definitely negate that...," said Blaine on the assumption the team will not have a training session ahead of their kick-off against Canada.

But Blane said the team has a job ahead to do and must remain focused as this is part and parcel of international and professional football.

"We still have to remain focused and remember what we'll be going there for. Yes, we would love a training session to go over some of the things that we were planning for the Canada game.

"I was really counting on this training session to get the girls' minds ready for the game, so this... is a setback...," said Blaine, who coaches all the country's female teams.

But there might still be hope for a training session if the group can get an early flight from Miami this morning, where they are expected to overnight.

"If we get in early despite the fact that they might be tired, we could have a couple of hours' rest and maybe have a light workout... because any training... is just tactical work, so hopefully, that will be able to happen," said Blaine.

"But we need to remember that Thursday's (tomorrow's) game starts and we don't know what kind of schedule the officials have for us... hopefully, they would understand our position and accommodate us as much as possible," he added.

Blaine believes the players are so anxious to get onto the field of play he does not believe the delay and its attendant factors will greatly affect them.

Jamaica are due to compete in Group A against Canada, Mexico and Panama, while Group B will be contested by the USA, Costa Rica, Haiti and the Cayman Islands.

Apart from 16 members of the 18-member squad, head of delegation Lorraine Scringer, head coach Blaine, assistant Xavier Gilbert, team manager Jean Nelson, doctor Derrick McDowell and two journalists were also affected.

The players include Shauntae Brown, Teola Caine, Chris-Ann Chambers, Remona Hyde, Sh'nell Briscoe, Lotoya Duhaney, Davia Morrison, Shenika Williams, Shanese Bowen, Trudi Carter, Shantel Graham, Natani Tomlinson-Trail, Renee Freeman, Shantel Bailey, Shanise Foster and Tisha Campbell-Henry.

Florida-based Akila Keene and Adrianna Johnson were originally scheduled to travel to San Jose today.

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