WITH the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour aimed at inspiring young women footballers, it certainly hit the mark with a number of Jamaica’s aspiring stars who are now determined to push beyond the norm after getting a glimpse of the coveted emblem of women’s football supremacy.

The 4.6-kilo gold-plated brass trophy — which was first awarded at the third World Cup in 1999 and stands at 47cms tall with a base made from candeias granite — was officially unveiled in the island on Monday, much to the delight of many dignitaries and football enthusiasts.

Jamaica was the 17th stop on the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy’s journey to each of the 32 countries down to contest the July 20 to August 20 global showpiece in Australia and New Zealand.

As the Reggae Girlz prepare to make a historic second-consecutive appearance at the World Cup, Head Coach Lorne Donaldson and Team Manager Crystal Walters were on hand to exchange pleasantries with female players at St Jago High school — the alma mater of Captain Khadija “Bunny” Shaw — during the trophy’s stop in St Catherine.

Donaldson believes seeing the trophy first-hand was hugely inspirational for those young girls, who someday aspire to reach the heights of Shaw, a prolific striker who currently represents Manchester City.

“It is exciting, significant, and very important to see the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy, not only here in Jamaica but also at St Jago, where Bunny’s journey started,” Donaldson told the Jamaica Observer.

“It is important for the young girls who are here to see the trophy up close and in their faces so that it can serve to inspire them to represent their national team and to dream of also competing for the right to win this trophy one day,” he added.

Annalecia Johnson, a defender for St Jago and Royal Lakes in the local Women’s Premier League, said it was incredible to see the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy first-hand.

“As a young player who is hoping to one day make the national team, seeing the trophy is a motivation to say I have to work extremely hard to represent the country.

“But it also says that no matter how far something might seem, it is closer than you think as long as you are willing to put in the work. And so I’m sure the other girls, like myself, are very happy that the trophy tour stopped here and are inspired to reach for new goals,” Johnson told the Observer.

Another defender, Iyana Campbell echoed similar sentiments as she paid tribute to Shaw who has led the way.

“It’s a great feeling seeing the trophy in person. All thanks to even Bunny Shaw — a former stalwart of this noble institution — so this inspires the St Jago female team to go out there and believe that we can and we will achieve our goals.

“Of course the aim is to go as far as possible in women’s football. Where Bunny Shaw is right now is kind of a target for me, and for sure I will be working towards it and just hope that the opportunities come along the way,” Campbell shared.

Prior to that, Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts shared his excitement at the prospects for the trophy tour attracting sponsors towards the Girlz’ campaign.

At the World Cup the Girlz will contest Group F alongside France, Brazil and Panama.

“I’m just absolutely excited to be a part of this exercise! And when you think that Jamaica, a small country, having qualified consecutively for two women’s global competition is no ordinary feat. We seem to take it lightly but the world doesn’t,” Ricketts said during the initial unveiling at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

“Others are excited about Jamaica and how much we have achieved, despite the little resources and infrastructure, but I always say that Jamaica is a brand and we must do everything to protect that brand. So, let’s bask in the glory of the achievement of our Girlz,” he urged.

Meanwhile Sarah Gandoin, FIFA’s senior manager of trophy tours, said the level of excitement in Jamaica towards the trophy designed by William Sawaya is nourishing.

She said it aligned well with the campaign’s mantra, “Going beyond, with a mission to inspire” and helps to build unprecedented global excitement and support ahead of the tournament’s kick-off.

“It’s wonderful for us to be in Jamaica with what is the most coveted prize in women’s football, the FIFA World Cup original trophy, because going beyond is really the Jamaica women’s national team.

“Four years ago you were the first Caribbean country to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and this year you are making history again by becoming the first Caribbean team of women or men to qualify for back-to-back World Cups. That speaks to very positive development of women’s football in Jamaica so congratulations for that, and we hope that the presence of the trophy will provide more inspiration to go even further,” Gandoin said.

The trophy tour also made stops in Ocho Rios, St Ann and Harmony Park Beach in Montego Bay, St James, before continuing on its journey.