Menzies backs Lorne
Former Reggae Girlz Head Coach Hue Menzies is hoping that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) will provide all the necessities to ensure the now reappointed Lorne Donaldson has the best possible chance of qualifying the country to another Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Menzies — who led the Girlz to a historic World Cup appearance in France in 2019, with Donaldson and Andrew Price by his side — beieves Donaldson’s appointment was long overdue, especially with the July 4-18 Concacaf Women’s Championship fast approaching.
Though being overwhelming favoured as the suitable replacement for Vinimore “Vin” Blaine, who resigned from the post just over two weeks ago, Donaldson was said to have faced stiff competition from Englishman Jonathan Morgan, who found favour with the JFF Technical Committee.
However, Morgan later received an offer from Burnley Women’s team and as such, opted out of the race for the Girlz top job.
Donaldson’s return was officially confirmed by the country’s governing football body on Wednesday and comes with the crucial tournament now less than five weeks away.
This will be Donaldson’s second time at the helm of the senior Reggae Girlz programme, as he took over as interim coach in October 2019 after Menzies’ departure, and guided the Reggae Girlz through the Caribbean leg of Olympic qualifiers in Jamaica.
However, after being asked to permanently occupy the position, Donaldson declined, citing unprofessional behaviour by the JFF hierarchy.
Still, the tactician at the time of his leaving expressed that he still had the players best interest at heart.
“Honestly, I am surprised that it took so long to appoint Lorne,” said Menzies, who left the programme in 2019 after failing to see eye-to-eye with the JFF top-brass.
“He understands the culture of Concacaf, developed players that play for countries in the region and he has a great connection with the current players. He should have been a no-brainer, especially based on the stage of the competition. But I guess the technical committee had to do their due diligence,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
That delay, Menzies said, makes it even more critical for the JFF to act quickly in assisting Donaldson to get things in order, as he is now caught in a race against time, as the Girlz hunt a second-consecutive qualification to the global showpiece in Australia and New Zealand next year.
The 51st-ranked Jamaicans are drawn in Group A alongside World champions United States, hosts Mexico and Caribbean neighbours Haiti for the Women’s Championship in Monterrey.
Canada, Costa Rica, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago will contest Group B.
The top two teams from each group will secure qualification to the World Cup, with the two third-placed teams having another shot through a inter-confederation play-offs.
“I am happy that Lorne has returned for the sake of the players and the JFF needs to support him in getting his team of staff as soon as possible to start the preparation,” Menzies stated.
“It (qualification) will be difficult at this late junction, but if he gets the full support then it is very possible for the team to accomplish that goal. I want to wish them all the best of luck,” he added.
Meanwhile, publicist and close watcher of the women’s programme Carole Beckford, in welcoming the JFF’s decision, pointed out that the focus should now be on paving the way forward to ensure success in Mexico.
“Lorne is the most suitable for the job at this time. His experience and work with women at that level before should serve the team well. It’s now for the ladies and the coaching staff to put all their cards on the table to make this qualification run a success,” she told the Observer.
Meanwhile, the Michael Ricketts-led JFF Executive in confirming as the best candidate to lead the charge at this point in time, promised its full support to Donaldson and his team.