Liya Brooks and Kameron Simmonds know each other well. They share the distinction of representing Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Girlz team together under the guidance of Xavier Gilbert and in a further coincidence, both earned their first senior team call-up at the same time.

To say that both are feeling a sense of pride and excitement being a part of the World Cup-bound senior Reggae Girlz outfit in South Korea, would be an understatement. Even more so if they both make their debut in the friendly contest against the Tigers of Asia tomorrow.

The game scheduled for 3:00 am (Jamaica time) at Hwaseong Stadium, will be the first encounter between the nations and the first games for the 42nd-ranked Girlz since historically qualifying for back-to-back World Cups, following on the heels of France 2019.

They are also set to lock horns against their 18th-ranked host in a second closed-door training match on September 6, at Paju National Football Centre.

For goalkeeper Brooks, representing Jamaica at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels has been a dream come true, but now being able to rub shoulders with the proverbial big girls, tops her list of achievements to date.

“Playing for Jamaica means a lot to me because my whole family is from Jamaica and so being able to represent them and their culture and my culture as well, is really important to me. So it was really surreal, I don’t think I was expecting it [a senior call-up] at the moment,” said Brooks, whose mother Tandi Nelson-Brooks was born and raised in Jamaica.

“I had to do a double take, but as soon as I realised that this was an opportunity that was coming for me, I went straight to work and prepared as best as I could. I am just happy being able to meet all these amazing players and introduce myself to the squad,” she added.

Though a bit star-struck, the 17-year-old is mindful that her inclusion represents an opportunity to possible make the final cut for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and as such, is hoping to grasp it with both hands, literally.

She joins Sydney Schneider and Yazmeen Jamieson as the goaltenders in Lorne Donaldson’s 23-member squad in East Asia. Frontline goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer is said to be recovering from a slight injury.

“It has been amazing so far, coming into the team, I was a little nervous because obviously this group of girls have come really far and have qualified for the World Cup two times in a row now. The training sessions are definitely fast-paced and really fun, so I am just pushing hard to possibly make the team and be a better player,” Brooks, who has committed to attending Washington State University, declared.

Meanwhile, Simmonds, whose roots in the game runs deep with her father Gregory Simmonds and grandfather Patrick Simmonds having also represented the island, considers herself blessed to be carrying on the family tradition.

“I couldn’t be more excited and honoured about the opportunity, I was just watching the Girlz back in July in the qualifiers and while watching I had no clue that I was going to get called up but when I did it all came into place,” a beaming Simmonds shared.

“I am so happy especially knowing that my dad played for Jamaica as well as my grandfather, so being a third-generation Simmonds to play is just the biggest honour ever to carry one the lineage of my family,” the University of Tennessee (UT) freshman added.

Like Brooks, Simmonds, 18, is intent on making the most of the opportunity, even as she continues to adjust to life on the big stage.

“Being here in South Korea is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am so happy to be here, I love the team, I love the coaches, the style of play and the pace of play is something I have never really experienced before, but I am so happy to just develop and also possibly have a chance of making the World Cup squad,” the forward, who logged a few goals during the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championships earlier this year,” she said.

— Sherdon Cowan