We relish the confidence of vendor Mr Benjamin Bennett regarding the chances of Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz at the FIFA Women’s World Cup now ongoing in Australia and New Zealand.

“I know it sounds crazy, but you know seh, if these girls play at their best they can go [to the] final because we have one of the best strikers [Ms Khadija “Bunny” Shaw] in world football, and once we reach final, then we can win it,” a smiling Mr Bennett is reported to have told this newspaper recently.

We suspect Mr Bennett’s confidence is influenced not just by reasons of football but also because Jamaican women have a reputation for courage, ambition and drive, second to none.

The Reggae Girlz made history and boosted national pride when they qualified for the 2019 FIFA World Cup for the very first time.

And tomorrow a huge television audience expecting more glory will be up before dawn to watch the Girlz against top European team France in their opening group game.

Experts believe that the Jamaicans — grouped with France, always popular Brazil, as well as fellow Concacaf representative Panama — will be hard-pressed to reach the second round.

Yet, nothing is impossible. For sure, the Girlz will have drawn inspiration from hosts New Zealand who upset 1995 World Cup winners Norway 1-0 on Thursday’s opening day, as well as Nigeria’s 0-0 draw with Olympic champions Canada.

Realistically, the Reggae Girlz should expect to beat Panama, which would be their first victory at a World Cup finals tournament, having lost all three group games in 2019.

Any points gained from France and/or Brazil, and/or advancement to the second round of the tournament would be achievements of earth-shaking proportions for Jamaican football.

Whatever happens, this tournament should build on the popularity of, and participation in, the women’s game in Jamaica.

Fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic no doubt negatively affected the inspirational benefits flowing from the 2019 qualification.

Going forward such benefits must be maximised.

For example, we expect to see more schools participating in girls’ football in the aftermath of this tournament.

There is nothing quite like success in building the popularity of a particular sport. Also, tradition and history must be part and parcel of that growth. In terms of the relative absence of tradition and history, many of us readily recall when women’s football was non-existent in Jamaica.

In that respect we think long-standing football administrator Mr Carvel Stewart hit the nail on the head when asked about the disparity between the popularity of the men’s and women’s game here.

“… It is not yet traditional for our women to be playing football, and … locally we don’t have a league of the size and nature that would bring more people to viewing it. So until we do those things we won’t have the same level of interest that we have [for men’s football],” Mr Stewart said.

What’s for sure is that every forward step for the Reggae Girlz advances the popularity and marketability of women’s and girls’ football. We wish them well on this latest leg of their trailblazing journey.