Head coach for Jamaica’s World Cup-bound women’s players Lorne Donaldson says the two international friendlies against Paraguay could provide the perfect opportunity to further assess players’ development as preparation continues for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

The Reggae Girlz will play their first game against World Cup aspirants Paraguay on November 10 at Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay and their final game on November 13 at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Donaldson gave a synopsis of the make up of the squad to face the South Americans, stressing the importance of giving opportunity young players a chance, plus welcoming back a few furloughed veterans.

“Konya [Plummer] and Cheyna [Matthews], they just came off maternity leave. We know that most likely they will be a part of what we are trying to do for the future, and so we brought them back to get familiar with the team again.

“Zoe Matthews is a young player, an upcoming player, a Bunny Shaw-type of player. I hate to mention that, but she is built like Bunny, plus she has that kind of ability, and if we can get her into the fold, it could be great.

“[Shaniel] Buckley, I think maybe one of the top players in Jamaica right now, playing at Excelsior. She has done well with the Under-17 and 20s, so we are just going to give her a look and see how she does with the older national team players. And again, it is a growing process for her, so we can continue our continuity of building,” Donald said about the current 26-member squad.

The World Cup will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the first time that the Fifa Women’s World Cup will have two host nations, and is scheduled to take place from July 20 to August 20, 2023. The Reggae Girlz are to play France on July 23, a team from a play-off on July 29, and Brazil on August 2 to end the group stage.

Donaldson said he is hopeful that Fifa will review and set the final roster limit to 26 players so as to give teams additional players to strengthen their squad for the global showpiece.

“Yes, I am satisfied with what we have right now, and looking forward, as I said, by the time the next window comes around, we have to try to narrow this team down to 30 players that we would like to go with to the World Cup,” Donaldson told the Jamaica Observer.

“Fifa has 23 players right now, but in the latest discussion we had, the 26-player issue came up, and it was evident that most of the big countries, even some of the smaller countries, would like to see 26.

“Fifa kind of fumbled right there in trying to explain why not 26, and so I think that they are going to look at it again, and so it all depends on what the number is that we have. We can have 23 or 26 as we want to include some younger players in what we are trying to do,” he stated.

Donaldson also expressed satisfaction with how the tour of venues and hotels went and, hopefully, the Jamaicans can get a site that is more suitable for their preparation.

“The sites were good and of high quality, especially in Melbourne. The one that Fifa chose is of higher quality, but more interesting are the fields. The pitches are of good regulation size and quality, and obviously Fifa is going to spend money to upgrade some of these fields to make them the best that they can be.

“I think Melbourne has the nod right now, and if we can get a place in Melbourne where we can continue our preparations,” Donaldson said.

The tactician continued: “It doesn’t matter if we stay in Melbourne or Sydney, but the last game could be a game that is a deciding factor, and I think a home-based team is always good, but you know you’re sleeping in the bed that you used to sleep in, and the last game is there, and so hopefully, again, we say if we can get a place in Melbourne, we will look at it closely.”

Squad — Rebecca Spencer (Tottenham Hotspur); Sydney Schneider (Kansas City); Allyson Swaby (Angel City FC); Chantelle Swaby ( FC Fleury 91); Satara Murray (Racing Louisville); Deneisha Blackwood (GPSO 92 Issy); Tiernny Wiltshire (Houston Dash); Atlanta Primus London (City Lionesses); Drew Spence (Tottenham Hotspur); Chinyelu Asher (AIK Football); Havana Solaun (North Carolina Courage); Khadija Shaw (Manchester City); Trudi Carter (Levante Las Planas); Siobhan Wilson (Birmingham City); Shania Hayles (Bristol City FC); Kayla McCoy Rangers (Tiffany Cameron ETO Gyor); Vyan Sampson (Hearts); Paige Bailey-Gayle (Crystal Palace); Rachel Jones (University of North Carolina); Cheyna Matthews (Racing Louisville); Zoe Matthews (Legends FC); Jody Brown Florida (State University); Konya Plummer (Unattached); Shaniel Buckley (Excelsior High); and Liya Brooks (Hawaii Surf).