Lorne Donaldson was given one surprise on Monday when he was named Youth Girls Coach of the Year in the United States.

But the week got even better for the head coach of Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Girlz when the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) announced two critical friendly clashes for the team against Costa Rica in January.

The games, to be hosted by the Central Americans, will be played on January 3 and 5 as key preparation for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championships in Trinidad and Tobago.

The group is expected to arrive in Costa Rica for the games on New Year’s Day.

Since becoming a part of the national female programme in 2015, Donaldson has always been advocating for the teams to not only get appropriate financial backing, but also a suitable preparation phase — to include practice games — ahead of a tournament.

Prior to advancing from the final phase of Caribbean Football Union qualifiers in St Kitts and Nevis late last month, the young Reggae Girlz had two valuable practice games against Trinidad and Tobago.

Donaldson is now lauding the federation for what he deemed a “step in the right direction”.

“The JFF has worked hard in securing these games against a good opponent, and I applaud them for the move. I think it’s a step in the right direction and the girls will benefit.

“We had played two games against Trinidad before the last qualifying round and that helped us to some extent, so again we welcome these two games against Costa Rica and I am sure they will go a far way in our preparations,” Donaldson told the Jamaica Observer from his base in Colorado.

JFF President Michael Ricketts, in a release announcing the games, pointed out that it was a promise kept.

“When the team did the country proud by winning at the Caribbean level and qualifying for the CONCACAF round, I committed that the Federation would give the necessary support for the team to do well.

“These games represent an important element of that commitment and we are working on other possibilities to maximise their preparation,” Ricketts noted.

Jamaica, in advancing to the CONCACAF championship, cemented its place in history as the only Caribbean country to qualify for the tournament on every attempt since its inception in 2002.

The hopes of the nation will now rest on the young Girlz to go one step further by realising their World Cup dream.

Donaldson and the Girlz will contest Group B of the January 18-28 tournament in the twin-island republic alongside defending champions United States, Mexico and Central American team in Nicaragua, as they chase one of three spots in the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

The Jamaicans are scheduled to open against the Mexicans on January 19, before squaring off against United States on January 21 and close against Nicaragua on January 23.

Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Haiti and Canada will contest the other group.

The World Cup will be staged in Paris, France, in August.

The local-based members of the team are already in preparation mode under the watchful eyes of Assistant Coach Xavier Gilbert.

Meanwhile, the Real Colorado Under-16 and Under-18 coach, who recently concluded his 30th year of coachin and won the ECNL championship last year, remains modest about his United Soccer Coaches accolade.

“I just coach and never pay attention to anything like this, so in all honesty yes, I was a bit surprised. I have numerous coaching awards in this country at the pro and youth levels, but it is always a team effort.

“The difference this time is that there are many current US national team players that I’m coaching, with the two most prominent players on their U20 women,” said Donaldson.

The former national player was joined at the pinnacle by Brandon Rodriguez, who was named Coach of the Year for the Youth Male team.