PYEONGCHANG, Republic of Korea — Head coach of Jamaica’s floor hockey team Yolanda Reid is upbeat ahead of today’s start of preliminary matches here at the Special Olympic Winter Games.

Up to press time the management team was unsure of which opponents the Jamaicans would be drawn against during the preliminary phase to be held at the Gangneung Indoor Sports Centre, but Reid was positive that a repeat of the 2009 gold medal-winning feat is on the cards.

“We can win the gold (medal) again… The players are ready and close to their peak and I know we can (do it),” Reid said shortly after the delegation’s three-hour trip from the Seoul Women’s University (SWU) to the Kwandong University yesterday (Tuesday morning Jamaica time).

The athletic Jamaican players enjoyed a spirited training session at the SWU on Monday, as they shook off any possible illeffects from jetlag or from the frigid winter temperatures in Korea.

Reid said the Sydney Manyan-captained outfit had already factored in the weather and were focused on executing their attacking and defensive team plan come match time.

“The preparation has been pretty good and it’s the same plan like when we were in Jamaica. Nothing has changed and the weather certainly hasn’t changed the plan.

“We have every area well covered, so we don’t have many concerns either with our defending or our attacking. I think we are strong enough and we are up to the task and want to do well,” she said, while adding that Manyan, Craig Nelson, Omar Brown, Shawn Myers and Lucan Jones are some of the players she expects to bring the fight for Jamaica.

Jamaica are also set to start their historic campaign in ice figure skating at the Gangneung Ice Rink today. Nigel Davis and Tamra Mitchell will be the two skaters.