KINGSTON, Jamaica – Head coach of Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Girlz Lorne Donaldson is pleased with the increased interest of overseas players in the local programme.

There were 11 overseas players from the United States and Canada participating in a three-day camp which concludes today.

“I think it is great; we took a trip down to Toronto and it was unbelievable… we had over 30 showed up in the cold and we expected about maybe 14 or 15,” Donaldson told OBSERVER ONLINE. “So there is interest all over the US and Canada, and

they want to get involved and I just think it is a win-win for everybody.”

He said the involvement of overseas players will challenge local players. “I think it will challenge the girls here in Jamaica, and they actually like it… I think it is making them better. This will help us a lot, obviously, because we are strapped for cash and we the coaching staff are just finding people all over and trying to get it done, so  it is good the word is out there,” he added.

The two-tier camp, which will continue in Tampa, Florida, next week, is a part of the team’s preparation for the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship to be held in Grenada from March 3-13.

Jamaica was drawn in a challenging Group B alongside Costa Rica, Mexico and the USA.

Group A comprises hosts Grenada, Guatemala, Canada, and Haiti.

The two finalists and the third-placed team will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan in September.

The camp is being conducted under the direction of technical director for the women’s programme, Hue Menzies, Donaldson, and Assistant Coach Xavier Gilbert.

Sherdon Cowan