MONTERREY, Mexico — Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF’s) head of delegation to the Concacaf Women’s Championship Gregory Daley said they are elated with the Reggae Girlz World Cup qualification, citing they did everything to make the dream possible but now they need all the financial assistance they can get to prepare the team for the World Cup next year.

The Reggae Girlz, who first qualified for the Fifa World Cup in 2019, repeated their historic feat and the JFF can’t sing their praises any higher.

“This is a great achievement. It’s historic. We are all elated, we are thankful and I don’t think there are words we can find to describe this situation,” said Daley.

The St James Football Association president said the Girlz’ qualification was a welcome shot in the arm for the cash-strapped JFF.

“The JFF has made the right decisions and put the right persons in place for this to happen — the right recipe — and that’s why we are here now,” he explained.

The flagship Reggae Boyz and the Under-20 boys, over the last few months, failed to make it to their respective World Cups.

“It would have been great if other units have qualified [but] for some reason or another they did not make it all the way,” Daley noted.

He continued: “For the second time around we are seeing the Girlz going through. The support will remain. The support will get greater and we just hope that others will come on board and give support as well.”

Daley also acknowledged the well-needed financial input of Reggae Girlz Ambassador Cedella Marley, through the Bob Marley Foundation.

“The plan is to always make the environment better and to give as much as we can give. We are just coming out of a camp in Colorado. Support is wide and it comes in different ways. I know that the Girlz got full support from the federation,” he reiterated.

“Finances are always a problem. It is a problem worldwide and I will take the opportunity to ask corporate Jamaica and other sponsors to come on board,” said Daley.

“Just like the success of the Reggae Girlz, it takes hard work. It takes a lot of finances and it takes a lot of dedication. Without them coming on board, it will always be difficult and it is more difficult without them,” he ended.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Lorne Donaldson, speaking at a press conference, prompted the JFF to get more involved with the women’s programme. But Daley has no idea what the coach was alluding to.

“I don’t know exactly what the coach is talking about of the JFF has not been doing their part. The Girlz would not have been here and what is happening now would not be happening,” said Daley.

“Maybe he will have to explain that. I don’t think this is the time for it anyhow. But later on, he will explain what he was alluding to,” Daley continued.

“But I know the JFF put a lot of work into this and it will not be heard all over the media, it’s not negative and we know that we bask in negative news. But we need to see the positives,” he emphasised.

Now with qualification out the way, Daley noted that the JFF will now be busy making sure the Girlz are even more well prepared and supported.

“What we will do from a technical standpoint is look at the timelines. We all knew what happen with the changing of the coach and that took away from the time as well,” said Daley.

“I don’t want to say fully satisfied because there is always more that can be done. But I am satisfied that we did enough that the Girlz could be here right now,” he concluded.

— Howard Walker