SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Jamaica Reggae Girlz face a stern test today when they oppose the host nation here in their opening match of football competition at the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games.

Match time is 7:00 pm (8:00 pm Jamaica time).

The Reggae Girlz team comprises a number of young players, as senior players have been selected to represent the country at the FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be held jointly by Australia and New Zealand next month.

In fact, midfielder Olufolasade Adamolekun, who represented the Reggae Girlz at the 2019 FIFA World Cup in France, is the most experienced player on the Jamaican team on entering the championship. She has represented the country 16 times since making her debut four years ago.

Xavier Gilbert, the Jamaica head coach, said the Salvadorians have been making steady improvements in the women’s game over the last couple of years.

“I think that this is going to be a tough game because they are at home and, of course, once you play the host nation it is always going to be tough,” said Gilbert.

“I think that they have grown in terms of what they have done in terms of women’s football and so they are going to be very competitive and it is going to be a very tough encounter for us. I am just hopeful that we can go there and give our best and get a positive result,” he said.

He said the Reggae Girlz have been preparing well for the competition and he is eager to get off to a positive start.

“We are just going to go out there and do what we have to do because we are going to utilise our speed and athleticism and go after them.

“They are a team that likes to possess and knock around the ball and so we are just going to see if we can upset their rhythm and manage the game as best as possible as we go along,” Gilbert stated.

“I think we have a very solid team because we have a mixture of experience and youth and, hopefully, we can get things right on the day,” he said.

Along with Adamolekun, the Reggae Girlz will also be depending on the experience of Chris-Ann Chambers, Lauren Reid, Mireya Grey and Maliah Atkins to lead their victory quest.