MONTERREY, Mexico — While a lot of people might have been surprised by Jamaica’s victory over regional giants Mexico at the Concacaf Women’s Championship, Reggae Girlz midfielder Chinyelu Asher was not.

“Not to sound arrogant, but that seemed like it was a little bit in the bag for us,” Asher told the Jamaica Observer.

“I felt like we really deserved that. We have grown so much in our quality and performances and I have known since when I started with the U-20s, that this programme has so much potential to be a top international programme,” she noted.

“We are not a dark horse, we are here and we are good and we are going to go to the World Cup again to show more people that,” said Asher.

The talented player, who started representing Jamaica at the Under-20 level in 2012, sat patiently in the hotel lobby awaiting the arrival of her mother Laura Tanyi.

The glee on her face indicated that her beloved mom was approaching and it was evident from the warm embrace between the two.

The doting Tanyi told the Observer she is proud of her daughter and that the entire match venue will hear her voice from the first whistle.

“I really am [proud]. I truly admire and I’m inspired by her degree of commitment and passion, not only for her, for her country, the team and how devoted she has been to this process and how hard she worked every step along the way from the last world Cup to today. She is devoted to this moment and beyond,” said Tanyi, which drew an ‘awwh’ from her daughter.

“I can’t say enough of that degree of passion that is so rare. That degree of commitment, that degree of determination. So, all I can say is I am blessed to be her mother,” said Tanyi.

She continued: “I think I am the loudest fan out there that’s number one. But to see our strong women on that field, for me it’s not just about my daughter and what she is a part of, but to see them play and see them come so far and be performing on this world stage, for us it just generates more hope for all of us. So, they inspire us, it is so inspiring on many levels”.

Asher, who was born in America to a Jamaican father Kevin, has not looked back since joining the programme a decade ago.

Asher has 29 caps and has scored six goals for the Senior Reggae Girlz while netting five times at the Under-20 level.

“As much as I have been with this programme for a while, it’s an honour that never reduces regardless of how many times you step in the camp and into these tournaments,” said Asher.

“The vibes are very high. There is a lot of trust. A lot of family. A lot of sisterhood in this tournament especially and we feel really good about ourselves,” she pointed out.

Asher, who was a part of the history-making team to the 2019 World Cup, believes Jamaica has the talent and potential to really make a mark on the international scene.

“Not just in the Caribbean, not just in Concacaf, but being one of the top teams if we evolved and develop and had the resources necessary,” she noted.

“So, beating Mexico is like finally. I mean it’s a competitive sport so results speak the most and I think like that’s the final piece for us to start winning more games,” she added.

This year Asher made the move to playing in Sweden for AIK Fotboll.

“I didn’t know much about the Swedish league before I went there, just a little bit of word of mouth from other teammates that had been there. But it’s a top league. I am really impressed with the quality,” said Asher.

“I went there because I wanted to go somewhere that plays good football. Has a high speed of play and can prepare me honestly for this tournament and I feel like it’s done that,” she added.

“Sweden came second in the Olympics and that speaks of how they have developed domestically. I would recommend it. I am having a good time there,” she said.