JAMAICA’S Reggae Girl Shaneil Buckley believes that donning the national colours of black, green, and gold provides an opportunity to not only represent her country but also to learn and enhance her trade.

Buckley is one of 22 players chosen to play a two-match friendly series away to Chile, starting this week. The senior Reggae Girlz are due to arrive in the South American country on February 21, prior to the two games scheduled for February 23 and 27.

Buckley, 18, from Newland in Portmore, remarked that any opportunity to represent Jamaica is special.

“This will be my third time playing at the senior level and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to represent my country,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“For me, every opportunity to represent my nation is a dream come true. I work extremely hard because I love the game; I was born to play football. I will continue to work hard at this because I want to progress.

“Every time I play, I improve my game. I am a quick learner and a team player. I am always eager to learn, and I want to thank the coach [Xavier Gilbert] and everyone for the opportunity to serve my country and progress,” she added.

Buckley stated that she wishes to learn as much as possible because her ultimate goal is to become a professional.

“I want to be a professional football player,” she said. “I’d like to play football in England or elsewhere in Europe. That is my goal — to go pro — so playing at the national level will provide me with the platform to do this. I don’t have anything in mind or planned right now because I’m focused on national duties,” Buckley added.

The 22-player roster is made up largely of players who competed in last year’s Women’s Gold Cup qualifiers. Former Liverpool midfielder Jade Bailey, who just signed with the London City Lionesses, returns to the national team after knee surgery, while Naya Cardoza, a national under-17 representative, makes her senior debut.

This will be the second two-game friendly series between the two sides since their 2019 meeting in Jamaica, which the Reggae Girlz won 1-0 and 3-2. However, Chile won 6-0 in their most recent meeting at last year’s Pan American Games.

SQUAD: Theanna Burnett (Sacred Heart University), Serena Mensa (Fordham University), Malikae Dayes (AAB, Denmark), Zoe Vidaurre (George Mason University), Nevillegail Able (University of Maine, Fort Kent), Chinyelu Asher (SCU Torreense), Alika Keene (SK Slavia Praha Zeny), Ricshya Walker (LaSalle University), Marlo Sweatman (Viktoria Haladas), Christina Salmon (William Carey University), Davia Richards (Hill College),Mikayla Dayes (Rodez AF, France), Shaneil Buckley (Excelsior High), Melissa Johnson (Charlton Athletic Women FC), Aliyah Morgan (George Mason University), Jade Bailey (London City Lionessess), Destiny Powell (Excelsior High), Lachante Paul (Burnley FC), Isreala Groves (London City Lionesses), Naya Cardoza (Brown University), Njeri Butts (University Of Florida), Sydnie Street (Seneca College)