Reggae Girlz say Gold Cup qualifiers call-up rejection is to “end JFF’s cycle of mistreatment”
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The senior Reggae Girlz have said that their decision to reject the call-up for the upcoming Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifying matches against Panama and Guatemala is to “end the cycle of mistreatment from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).”
None of the players who played for Jamaica at this summer’s Fifa Women’s World Cup and the Paris Olympic Qualifiers in September have made the squad. This, according to Jamaica Observer sources, is due to a number of issues including an alleged pay dispute between the players and the JFF.
READ: ‘Weakened’ Reggae Girlz set for tough road ahead
“While this has been the hardest decision we have had to make, we feel it is necessary…We have yet to receive full and correct payments for our historical performances at the World Cup and the numerous outstanding bonuses for qualifying in the summer of 2022. We have dealt with…delayed payments from the JFF time and time again,” the statement said on Saturday.
On Friday, the Federation said it was “uncomfortable with the response of the players and the non-attendance of the player representatives to a scheduled meeting…” and shared that it has written to members of the senior women’s national team, who have, as a group, decided to reject the call-up for the two upcoming matches.
As a result, the JFF said that given the concerns some players have regarding contracts, it decided to suspend any selection of the players in question until the issues are resolved.
The JFF also noted that it is eager to clear up all concerns from the players.
READ: JFF suspends selection of Reggae Girlz in money dispute
Late Friday afternoon, the Federation announced a 23-member squad, just five days before their opening match against hosts Panama. Three players from the squad — Chris-Ann Chambers, Destiny Powell and Shaneil Buckley — were set to play for Jamaica against Mexico on Sunday in the Pan American Games in Chile, but will have to leave the South American nation to join the delegation in Panama.
The Reggae Girlz cited that their stance is also due to a “lack of communication” by the governing body, adding that it is a “reccurring” issue.
“…We have dealt with this lack of communication, poor organisation, poor management…time and time again. We have gotten confirmation of our head coach [Xavier Gilbert] three days prior to our report date through social media, despite our efforts to have direct communication with the JFF,” the statement said.
In June, the Girlz blasted the JFF over a range of issues which they say, among other implications, have affected their preparation for the upcoming Fifa World Cup and threaten the integrity of women’s football in Jamaica.
In a scathing open letter, which was shared to social media by star striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and other team members, the Girlz expressed “utmost disappointment” with the handling of their affairs by the JFF.
