Reggae Girl Khadija “Bunny” Shaw continues to set the platform for her peers to follow as she was yesterday named The Guardian Footballer of the Year by the respected British newspaper.

Shaw, who utilised personal tragedy as motivation throughout her budding football career, has been heaped with praise from all angles and deservedly so, as she has over the years been a staple of Jamaica’s women’s football.

The now 21-year-old has represented the country at every age-group – Under -15, Under-17 and Under-20, doing so simultaneously as a precocious 14-year-old. In addition to that, she recently played a critical role in the senior Reggae Girlz’ historic qualification to the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in France.

She netted 19 goals, the most by any player throughout the qualifiers for the World Cup.

Along with her recent Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in sport and nomination for Sportswoman of the Year, Shaw’s latest accolade has sent ripples through her family and the football fraternity.

However, the burly striker, whose size, physicality and quickness for reading the game have been credited for her success, remains modest as she welcomed the award as testament to her hard work.

“I feel good about it although I didn’t expect this award; but I have been working hard all year and they say once you put in the work good things will happen and so I am pleased about it.

“This is just like any other award for me though every award is very important, but I just want to continue looking at the positives and continue to work hard,” Shaw told the Jamaica Observer yesterday, as she continues to enjoy the festive break at home in Spanish Town.

The Guardian award for Footballer of the Year is given to a player who has done something truly remarkable, whether by overcoming adversity, helping others, or setting a sporting example by acting with exceptional honesty.

Shaw is only the third recipient of the award and joins the ranks of world superstars Italian Fabio Piscane in 2016 and Spain’s Juan Mata in 2017.

“When I hear the names of those who have won it before, I feel even more honoured as the first female to win, but at the end of the day I just want to remain humble and hopefully more will come,” Shaw noted.

She continued: “Everything happens because of my teammates so I just want to continue focusing on the team and once we continue working hard as a team, hopefully I won’t be the only one winning awards, my other teammates will as well or we get it as a group.

“Because at the end of the day I won the award, but if it wasn’t for my teammates then it wouldn’t be possible… my focus is not just individual awards, it is just the big picture to go to the World Cup, do our best, and just have fun,” Shaw said.

The outspoken player, who lost four of her brothers — three violently and one in an vehicular accident — said her motivation to excel above her circumstances was always to inspire others who, like her, may be facing adversities.

“Football to me is just more than the sport itself, it is to inspire others, so I am willing to do whatever I can do to inspire others — whether it be playing on the soccer field or giving motivational speeches.

“So just winning these awards can show others that if I can do it, they can do it also. So at the end of the day I feel better knowing that others are or can be inspired by my story rather than just winning awards,” The University of Tennessee striker ended.

Her mother Monica Shaw was taken aback when she got the news that her daughter has once again etched her name in global football history.

“I am overwhelmed and filled with joy and happiness right now. She has been through so much and she has managed to overcome them to get to where she is now, so I am very happy. I am also surprised by it so much so that I am filled with goosebumps right now,” the proud mother told the Observer.

She continued: “She was a bit young when her brothers passed away, but she always talks about them and she misses them very much. They are not my kids, but I wish they were here to see her and all that she has accomplished, and I am really sorry that they are gone so soon.

“She carries memories of them in her heart and I think that is the motivation that has brought her this far. But I think she is just blossoming and she still has a lot farther to go in her career… I remember when she was six years old and she was in England and when I went to the school the teacher said she is good at football, and when she got called to the national team I reflected on it,” Khadijah’s mom went on.

Reggae Girlz Head coach Hue Menzies also lauded the striker’s consistent progress up the ladder as an inspiration.

“It is very deserving for Bunny. After speaking with her she still shows humility and realises that she is now a role model to all young girls in Jamaica.

“Adversity can go in two different directions for one’s life, but in the case of Bunny it has made her a strong person to create a better life for her country, her community, her family and most of all herself. The world will get to know what a solid individual she is in life. Congratulations are in order,” Menzies told the Observer.

Meanwhile, president of Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Michael Ricketts expressed pride at the feat, which he believes is another major step in the growth of Jamaica’s football.

“We are very proud of her and I think it is just another step to showcasing Jamaica’s football talent. and the JFF is certainly intent to harness whatever talents there are and we are expanding our grassroots programme to encompass as many of these boys and girls as we can, to make sure that they are given an opportunity to showcase their talent at the highest level.

“So, we are very happy for Khadija.she has been such an inspiration to young girls and boys as she scored so many goals throughout the world cup qualifiers, and she is certainly an example for those younger kids faced with some struggle in a tough community that she has made us very proud,” Ricketts reasoned.