THIS newspaper agrees with former Reggae Girlz Head Coach Mr Charlie Edwards that the already highly decorated Miss Khadijah “Bunny” Shaw’s third-place ranking at the prestigious Ballon d’Or Féminin awards in London should serve as a stepping stone for greater achievements in Jamaica’s football.

Clearly, the recent feat by the 29-year-old striker should build confidence as the national team strives to reach yet another FIFA Women’s World Cup finals. Aspirations should exceed the round of 16 — a summit the Reggae Girlz conquered in 2023.

Beyond immediate national ambitions — and more far-reaching, in our view — Mr Edwards highlights the potential of Miss Shaw’s rise to inspire young women and girls to not merely compete, but to take football seriously.

“This is a momentum that Jamaica could use in a very significant way in the sense of motivating the young, talented female players in Jamaica. You’re looking at the Women’s Premier League, you’re looking at the high school [level] — this is mileage that we need to capitalise on and utilise it in a very significant way to help develop and grow what we are working so hard to accomplish,” Mr Edwards told this newspaper.

“I personally think [Ms Shaw’s] accomplishment should create a lot more inspiration for the young players in Jamaica and maybe even around the Caribbean. What she has done is shine a light where nobody else in the Caribbean has ever shone light…,” he added.

Miss Shaw has repeatedly spoken of her own satisfaction at being an exemplar.

After winning a second Player of the Year award in England in August, Miss Shaw told interviewers that she wanted to continue inspiring girls in Jamaica to achieve their full potential.

“Once you believe, and have faith, and keep working hard, I think it’s possible…,” she said.

Without doubt the Spanish Town native’s own experience is unmistakable proof that with ambition and effort even the seemingly impossible can become possible.

Consider Miss Shaw as a very young girl gaining a gateway to football by playing with her brothers. From excelling at St Jago High School, she gained football scholarships to United States colleges. She moved on up to the professional leagues in the US before crossing the Atlantic to France and then to Manchester City in England where she is now a star of talismanic proportions.

Our reporter reminds us that Miss Shaw’s Ballon d’Or third-place ranking adds to a professional football resume which includes Women’s Super League Player of the Season, Professional Footballers Association Player of the Year, and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

We note Miss Shaw’s recognition “over the years” that her personal work ethic “rubs off on everyone else”. Nor should anyone assume that these achievements should be of inspirational value to women and girls only.

Coaches of men and boys at all levels need to emphasise to their charges the extraordinary magnitude of Miss Shaw’s body of work and what’s possible once there is conscious effort to emulate.

Also, against the backdrop of woefully inadequate resources for football and wider sport in this country, we believe all Jamaicans should ask themselves how more could be possible, should there be conscious, focused national effort across the gender divide to nurture many more such as Miss Shaw.