Representative teams for region and country in cricket and football are in sharp focus starting this weekend.

West Indies women, hoping to stun the cricketing world as they did in 2016, face powerful England in South Africa today to launch their ICC Twenty20 (T20) World Cup campaign.

On Sunday, Jamaica’s Under-17 footballers are to face Cuba in the Concacaf Under-17 Championship in Guatemala as they strive to emulate achievements in 1999 and 2011 by reaching the FIFA Under-17 World Cup finals tournament set for Peru from November 10 to December 2.

West Indies women — without senior players such as retired Ms Deandra Dottin; Ms Anisa Mohammed, who has taken a break; and former Captain Ms Stafanie Taylor, who is struggling with fitness — have had tough times in recent months.

Yet, their win over Sri Lanka this week — a tense, close affair — in their final warm-up before today’s clash with England should have provided some level of confidence.

However, they are up against an England squad riding high after visiting the Caribbean to sweep the home side in One-Day Internationals and T20s last year.

Much as is the case for their men counterparts, batting has been the major downfall for West Indies women who won the T20 World Cup against all odds in 2016.

Head coach, legendary fast bowler Mr Courtney Walsh, has pointed to the need for “partnerships” as a cornerstone to building an innings; and also for senior, experienced players to pull their weight.

We note that Under-19 players have been drafted into the senior T20 World Cup squad as part of the effort to build for the future. In that regard the value of this tournament shouldn’t just be seen in terms of on-field success.

We believe this World Cup presents another opportunity for Cricket West Indies and their territorial boards to market the sport, targeting young women and girls.

In Jamaica, for example, it is surely past time for a schoolgirls’ cricket league. We can’t expect to compete with the world if youthful talent is not found, encouraged and nurtured.

After success in practice games against Trinidad and Tobago here over the last week, Jamaica’s Under-17 footballers should be in a good place mentally and psychologically as they go up against Cuba.

Guadeloupe and Costa Rica are also grouped with the Jamaicans.

The top four teams in Guatemala will qualify for Peru.

An unfortunate downside for the young Jamaicans was visa trouble, which caused some members of the squad to be delayed here until yesterday.

Mr Dennis Chung, general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), has given the assurance that the problems have been satisfactorily resolved. Our understanding is that the entire delegation should have landed in Guatemala by Friday night.

We are well aware that much can go wrong and often do, even with the best preventive efforts. But Mr Chung — who joined the JFF last year amid high expectations of a boost in efficiency for that organisation — will know that this latest travel foul-up is not a good look.

We wish the very best for the young Reggae Boyz and West Indies women as they seek to make us all proud.