WHILE Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, in all her modesty, dedicated her recent The Guardian Footballer of the Year accolade to her Reggae Girlz teammates, members of the team continue to heap praises on the talismanic striker for her accomplishments over the year.

Shaw, who played a critical role in the senior Reggae Girlz’ historic qualification to the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in France, has been hailed by her peers as a role model for others and a true beacon for females in sports, particularly football.

The British newspaper’s 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.

The honour comes on the heels of Shaw’s recent Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence in Sport and nomination for Sportswoman of the Year for her 19 goals — the most by any player throughout the qualifiers for the World Cup.

A few of her teammates and Assistant Coach Andrew Price, in welcoming the news, believe it is a well-deserved recognition for the 21-year-old, who rose above difficult circumstances to become one of the global faces of women’s football.

“It is a significant achievement for Bunny to be chosen as player of the year but [but even more so] a prestigious tabloid such as The Guardian, and what is even more significant is the fact that she was selected as a female player.

“She has overcome a lot of adversity in her life at a young age and has accomplished a lot, especially in 2018, having assisted the Reggae Girlz to qualify for the 2019 Fifa women’s World Cup and assisted her college team (University of Tennessee) to the quarter-final round of the NCAA female championships. So I think it is a deserved award,” Price told the Jamaica Observer.

Price who, along with Lorne Donaldson, is an assistant to Head Coach Hue Menzies, pointed out that Shaw’s recent accomplishments are just the first of many to come in her budding career.

“She has shown that she has the fortitude and she has the fixity of purpose that, despite all odds, she can achieve and excel in the manner which she did. I believe that this is one of many awards that she is going to acquire in her football career, and this is just the starting point,” Price noted.

He continued: “I believe the sky is the limit for her and as she continues to grow and excel I expect nothing but the best.”

Shaw’s strike partner Deneisha Blackwood expressed delight at the achievement.

“Well from ever since I became friends with Bunny I realised that she was always passionate about soccer and how far she wanted to go in the sport, so it is a joy for me to witness her living her dream and enjoying these big accomplishments.

“I’m extremely proud of her and what she has done over the years, and how hard she has worked is clearly paying off. What a lot of people don’t know about Bunny is that she’s so humble in the midst of all this accomplishment, and that is something I really admire about her,” Blackwood shared.

Sashana Campbell, who was assisted by Shaw in scoring two of her goals during the qualifiers, also shared in the occasion.

“I am really happy for Bunny, especially with all the things we have going on for us as a team, and the fact that she dedicated this to all of us means we are doing something good.

“But that’s just Bunny — always humble and smiling but very lethal with the ball at her feet. And she has truly made her mark on the big stage so it’s a well-deserved award, and I am really happy for her and expecting more great things going forward,” Campbell told the Observer from her base in Israel.

Meanwhile, winger Ashleigh Shim concurred.

“Bunny is one of, if not, the best forward in the world. She is truly a delight to watch and I am pleased to have had the opportunity to play alongside her. I’m really happy for Bunny and her accomplishments and I want to congratulate her and wish her all the best going forward,” said the US-based Shim.