The Jamaica women’s national senior squad will stage its opening training camp for 2015, from Friday through to Sunday. The camp marks the beginning of preparations for the Olympic qualifiers which will begin in July. The camp is being staged as part of the ongoing partnership between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Cedella Marley, global ambassador for Jamaica’s women’s football programme.

Marley, who was appointed ambassador for the women’s programme by the JFF in 2014, has worked closely with JFF as well as her own assembled team of marketing and technical staff to develop a long-term vision for the women’s programme that includes the continued engagement of overseas technical staff working with local coaches. More details will be released in the coming weeks.

The camp will be under the direction of Hue Menzies, who will be supported by experienced national coach Xavier Gilbert, coach Lorne Donaldson of Colorado, and conditioning expert William Hitzelberger, founder and president of Spectrum Sports Performance in Winter Park, Florida.

Menzies, the founder of Florida Kraze Krush, is technical director for the team of advisors assembled by ambassador Marley to support the programme. Gilbert will serve the team while the search continues for a new head coach of the senior team.

The technical staff has indicated that for this first camp, testing, speed and agility sessions, functional training and inter-squad scrimmages will constitute the sessions. The condition of players in specific areas will be logged over time to give a true picture of what should be the priority components to develop the women’s football programme in Jamaica. In addition to regular training sessions both locally and abroad, a series of international friendlies is being scheduled to help the players prepare for the qualifiers. Matches are expected to be held in Jamaica, as well as overseas.

The squad will train tomorrow 4:00-6:00 pm; Saturday 8:00-10:00 am and 4:00-6:00 pm, and on Sunday 8:00-10:00 am. All sessions will be at the JFF Football Centre, UWI.

The list of players called to camp comprises Shantel Bailey, Asheena Nelson, Latoya Duhaney, Tashana Vincent, Kenesha Reid, Olivia Reid, Amanda Maxwell, Monique Pryce, Khedine Salmon, Yolanda Robinson, Deneisha Blackwood, Shakira Duncan, Shanae Ricketts, Tiffany Robinson, Sashauna Campbell, Chantel Thompson, Venecia Reid, Konya Plummer,

Chrisan Chambers, Sherona Forrester, Jodian McGreggor, Imanie Richards, Omolyn Davis, and Christina Murray.