We suspect that while he is happy at the results, Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz Head Coach Mr Hubert Busby isn’t over the moon following victories over South Africa’s women’s football team in a recent two-match friendly international series at Montego Bay Sports Complex.

For while talented and spirited, this was a very young group representing the African champions.

Yet, as Mr Busby noted after the first game which the Jamaicans won 3-0, that success was “long overdue” and very welcome.

The Reggae Girlz won the second game 3-2 after being forced to come from behind as the visitors turned in a much-improved performance.

South Africa’s Head Coach Ms Desiree Ellis claimed a number of leading players were left behind because of injuries and other reasons and that jet lag might have influenced the opening loss.

All that aside, the results in Montego Bay served as a boost for Jamaica’s national women’s team which, we are reminded, was without a win in 17 games and 14 months, dating back to a 1-0 triumph over Panama at the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia.

The long drought had much to do with a fallout between players and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). That, ironically, followed the Girlz’s glorious achievement in reaching the knockout round of the World Cup.

It led to the absence of first-choice players from the national team for a significant period.

The presence of Manchester City star striker Ms Khadija Shaw for both games against South Africa was, we hope, strong signal that the acrimony which had threatened the national women’s programme is now well behind us.

All stakeholders should be on alert to prevent or, at the very least, minimise such damaging situations going forward.

South Africa’s visit was especially useful since there is never adequate substitute for actual competition on the field of play, even if it’s only friendly. And there are always lessons to be learnt.

That explains Mr Busby’s nod to the consequences of adversity when his team fell behind during the second game.

“We made a couple of adjustments, brought on some fresh legs, which was the impetus for the [team] to do some different things in midfield,” he said. The coach also credited his players for doing what was required in “turning around the game and coming out with a win”.

In the aftermath of the opening win, and ahead of the second game, Mr Busby underlined the value of scouting opposition teams. It’s an aspect of sport that’s expensive but crucial.

Mr Busby said that, while online technologies do facilitate scouting, he and his assistant coach, Mr Deon Burton, had gained significantly from watching first hand as South Africa played England recently.

As explained by him, watching “in person”, allows one to “see things… that you don’t always see on the scouting platforms… little nuances in the way that they [the opposition] play…”

We are reminded of the many and varied elements that must be taken into account as Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz prepare to qualify for, and do even better than previously at the 2027 FIFA World Cup.

They will need all the help they can get.