Having spent 14 years in the national team, striker Tashana Vincent believes Jamaica is now best equipped to qualify for a major tournament and she is ready to fire them into the Olympic Games next year.

Vincent, 28, who started representing Jamaica’s senior team as a talented 14-year-old, said the level of professionalism, complemented by the support of Cedella Marley, is getting Jamaica closer to realising its dreams. No women’s team has ever qualified for a FIFA World Cup or the Olympics.

“Realistically, I think we have a very good chance of qualifying,” she said as she sat back and rested her head on the top of the chair looking to the roof.

“Previously we were just working off talent, but now we have the supporting cast. It’s going to be hard, let’s be real and not give people false hope of qualifying,” she pointed out.

“But I think we have the talent. Cedella (Marley), Coach Hue (Menzies) and all the other coaching staff and management have been putting in a really good job to get us prepared. Also, the players have been going really hard day in, day out, to ensure that our dreams become a reality,” she noted.

“This team, I think, we are more together and the level of professionalism compared to other years is really something to speak of,” she said.

Vincent who, if selected, will be firing on all cylinders, has banged in 10 goals in the Sherwin Williams Women’s Premier League for champions Barbican FC. The potent striker has also scored an impressive 27 goals for Jamaica from 31 games, and she is raring to go.

“I am a striker, so I try to score as many goals as possible. I never come into a tournament saying I am going to score X or Y. My mentality is that I am going to try and score as many goals as possible to try and help the team,” she added.

“I am in pretty good shape but there is always room for improvement. But I am confident in my ability, so if given an opportunity I will make the best use of it,” said Vincent.

She might not start today against Jamaica’s biggest Caribbean rival Trinidad and Tobago, but the prolific striker says Jamaica is ready for another epic battle.

“From years gone by they are our biggest Caribbean rivals and I expect the same when we face them. But we are Jamaicans and we are never scared. So I am going to tell them to bring it because we will be bringing it,” said a confident Vincent.

— Howard Walker