Assistant Coach of Jamaica’s National Under-17 Reggae Girlz, Hue Menzies, is optimistic that the team can get the job done at the first phase of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) World Cup Qualifiers.

The 28-member delegation will depart the island later today en route to Suriname. They will be joined at a later date by Head Coach Lorne Donaldson.

The Jamaicans will compete in Group Four alongside Barbados, St Lucia and the host. They will bow into action against Barbados on Wednesday, before opposing St Lucia on Friday, then closing out against the host on Sunday.

The team looks to secure one of two spots from the group to advance to the second phase of the CFU round of the qualifiers.

“I don’t know much about our opponents, but we feel confident that we have put a group together that we can hopefully get through to the next round. We feel confident about that. The players are really responding, but some are responding faster than the others.

“The speed of play has to get better and we are getting there; the players are trying but we have to keep improving in that regard. We are moving along and hopefully after this round of games we get to camp more so we can get things better,” Menzies told the Jamaica Observer at the team’s final training session at St George’s College yesterday.

The 20-member team, which is dominated by local-based players, had earlier used a one-week practice session to gel. They secured victories against GC Foster College and UWI FC, but lost their final practice encounter 0-4 against the Under-20 outfit.

Having gained experience from those outings, Menzies is positive that once the Girlz continue to play as a unit they will be formidable opponents.

“They are coming together as a unit; we are doing a lot of possession game to teach them how to connect with each other a little bit more, so they are coming on. We were focusing on physicality and speed of play and the last half of the game against the Under-20s was the best we have seen, so it just takes time,” he declared.

“The more training camps we get, the more things become better for them. I thought our progression from the fitness to playing the game has been great and we feel confident that we should have a good performance,” he added.

At the completion of the CFU round, the top two teams from the Caribbean will qualify for the CONCACAF round slated for November.

The top two teams from the CONCACAF stage, plus another team from the play-offs will then represent the federation at the 2016 World Cup in Jordan.

Team: Oneilia Yearde (UWI FC); Sherice Clarke (Unattached); Rachel Walters (Waterhouse FC); Shanhaine Nelson (Waterhouse FC); Chavelle Henry (Waterhouse FC); Jody Brown (Unattached); Gabrielle Gayle (Unattached); Peta-Gay Dixon (Trelawny Women’s FC); Tateyana Pitter (Waterhouse FC); Sydoney Clarke (Unattached); Nerisa Distant (Harbour View FC); Monique Perrier (Harbour View FC); Tiana Schroeter (Unattached); Tarania Clarke (Waterhouse FC); Lacey-Ann Murray (Unattached); Emily Caza (GS United Canada); Lyana Steele (Western Soccer USA); Rena Gordon (Los Perfectos); Kendaya Jackson (Lauderhill Lions USA); Jamila Ashley (UWI FC).

Officials: Elaine Walker-Brown — Head of Delegation; Lorne Donaldson — Head Coach; Hue Menzies — Assistant Coach; Xavier Gilbert — Assistant Coach; Alejandro Parra — Goalkeeper Coach; William Hitzelberger — Physical Trainer; Dr Martin Garwood — Team Doctor; Jean Nelson — Team Manager; Omar Folkes — Equipment Manager.

Members of Jamaica’s Under-17 team

Players of the Jamaica Under-17 team look on as Assistant Coach Hue Menzies (standing second right) gives instructions, next to Assistant Coach Xavier Gilbert (right) and Under-20 coach Christopher Bender during their practice game against the Under-20s on Friday.

(PHOTOS: COLLIN REID)