AS Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz prepare to face off against Trinidad and Tobago in an eagerly anticipated friendly match, Head Coach Hubert Busby is confident the encounter will serve as a vital test ahead of next month’s Concacaf Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

The match is scheduled to take place on October 28 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The rivalry between the Caribbean teams guarantees a competitive match, and Busby is approaching the game with the respect it deserves.

“This match will be competitive because of the rivalry,” Busby told the Jamaica Observer.

“We’re looking forward to four good days of training with the group and a competitive match that will help us fine-tune our skills,” he added.

While Jamaica’s coaching staff doesn’t know much about Trinidad and Tobago’s current squad, Busby expects high-quality opponents.

“We know they will be well-coached and have a good mix of promising young players and veterans,” he said.

Beyond preparation for the qualifiers, Busby sees the friendly against Trinidad and Tobago as an opportunity to rebuild team chemistry.

“Besides the training and competitive match, it will be great to reunite the team again to continue building team chemistry both on and off the pitch,” he emphasised.

Tactically, Busby plans to use the match to develop the team’s playing style.

“The camp and the subsequent match will help us continue developing our playing model and tactical plans. More importantly, we want to provide clarity for the players regarding their roles and responsibilities on the pitch.

“We might introduce some new tactical elements into our playing model but it’s ultimately the players who will decide whether these changes are adopted long-term. It’s never about what we, the coaches, want, but rather what the players need to succeed,” Busby explained.

Busby said he expects intense physical preparation from his players, ensuring they are adequately rested and recovered between training sessions.

“All matches require intense physical demands from the players [and] we expect no less. And to be fair to the players, they demand that from themselves and each other,” he noted.

With a focus on youth development Busby has included Njeri Butts and Jaileah McPherson, two talented young players who have progressed through Jamaica’s youth system, in the current camp. Both players will be looking to make an impression in the upcoming match.

Jamaica’s women qualified for the past two FIFA World Cup tournaments, in 2019 (France) and 2023 (Australia and New Zealand). The next edition is set for 2027 in Brazil.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers – Rebecca Spencer and Sydney Scheidner

Defenders – Allyson Swaby, Tianna Harris, Konya Plummer, Chantelle Swaby, Tiffany Cameron, and Gabrielle Gayle

Midfielders – Jaileah McPherson, Deniesha Blackwood, Izzy Groves, Atlanta Primus, and Vyan Sampson

Forwards – Kayla McKenna, Natasha Thomas, Shania Hayles, Jody Brown, Njeri Butts, and Kiki Van Zanten

Jamaica’s Deneisha Blackwood (left) kicks the ball under pressure from France’s Grace Geyoro during the Women’s World Cup Group F football match at Sydney Football Stadium in Australia on July 23, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

Panama’s Wendy Natis (left) attempts to block a shot from Jamaica’s Kayla McKenna during the Women’s World Cup Group F football match at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Australia on July 29, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

Jamaica’s goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer catches the ball during the Women’s World Cup Group F football match against France at Sydney Football Stadium in Australia on July 23, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

Hubert Busby, Jamaica’s senior women’s football head coach