Local stakeholders feel Khadija ”Bunny” Shaw’s incredible achievements on the international stage with powerhouse side Manchester City will undoubtedly have an impact on the Caribbean as a whole.

Shaw’s remarkable goal-scoring prowess continues, and she will conclude the year atop the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) scorers chart.

Shaw, the senior Reggae Girlz captain, leads all scorers with 21 goals in just 10 games this season. Her achievement has moved Manchester City into second place on 22 points, just three points behind leaders Chelsea.

Shaw’s record puts her ahead of Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly (18 goals), Tottenham Hotspur’s Bethany England (12 goals), and Brighton Hove and Albion’s Elisabeth Terland (12 goals) in the hunt for the Golden Boot entering next year.

Dennis Chung, general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), stated that his federation has always recognised the accomplishments of all its players, and they wish Shaw well and hope she achieves much more in the future.

“I mean, this will help in terms of the role model [aspect]. What we are hoping for is that the little girls will see this type of accomplishment from others before them, emulate it, and go on to thrive for that excellence.

“We strongly believe that football is a way out for a lot of people who have no other way out in terms of a social standard and certainly a way to avoid crime and violence,” Chung told the Jamaica Observer.

Shaw’s heroics should come as no surprise, since she simply continued where she left off last season, when she set a new record for Manchester City’s women’s squad by scoring 31 goals in all competitions in a single season.

Shaw was elected Women’s Player of the Season in a fan poll during the 2022/2023 season, and she was also nominated for the Barclays Women’s Super League’s equivalent accolade.

Shaw’s 31 goals exceeded Nikita Parris’ previous season mark of 25 goals for a Women’s player. She accomplished this feat in only 30 matches, implying she scored at a rate better than one per game. Shaw scored 20 of them in the WSL, two in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, two in two Continental Cup games, and an incredible seven in three FA Cup appearances.

National Coach Xavier Gilbert stated that Shaw’s accomplishment will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of players, and that scouts will pay closer attention to the Jamaicans.

“I mean, it is a tremendous feat. First of all, as a Jamaican, and secondly, she is somebody that I have worked with since she was younger. She is an individual who works extremely hard at her craft and deserves to be rewarded for putting in the hard work,’ Gilbert told the Observer.

“I am very pleased and happy, and I am sure that in the Caribbean, Concacaf, and world, she would have inspired a lot of the young players, and that in itself is a tremendous feat. The good thing that this will do is motivate the youngsters, and of course, when people are looking for the next bunch, they look to the Jamaicans to see if they can find that talent. She is the Usain Bolt in women’s football,” he further added.