U-20 Girlz coach confident ahead of Concacaf Championship
Hugh Bradford, the newly appointed head coach of Jamaica’s Under-20 girls’ team, is optimistic of their chances of advancing to the final round of the Concacaf Championship, with the qualifiers slated to begin in Nicaragua on Friday.
The junior Reggae Girlz, drawn in Group E of the championships, are to face Bermuda, Honduras, Anguilla and French Guiana. They are set to tackle French Guiana in their opening match on April 14.
Only the winners of the group will advance to the final round of the qualifiers to be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from May 24 to June 3.
“I think the girls are looking good because we have been in camp for almost a week and training has been really good,” said Bradford.
“The build-up has been good and I think they are getting there, but they are a little bit tired and we are getting a little bit of injuries, but overall the squad is looking good.
“From what I have seen so far, I think we have a good chance of qualifying from this round, but I have never seen other countries play before and you never know what they have. But I am confident in what we have and that we will go our give maximum effort,” he said.
The Jamaica coach said they are not going to take anyone lightly because they must ensure that they get three points in every game.
“I feel good about our chances because with the countries that we are going to play, it is going to be a challenge, but I think the players are going to be up for the challenge.
“We are going to concentrate on the first game and then after that we will look to the next one, but I think the countries are going to give us a challenge. But I think we will be ready,” Bradford said.
He said they have been working assiduously to have everyone fit ahead of their departure on Wednesday. “I think that one thing is health. I think you always have to stay healthy to be able to play three games in that short space of time and they have to go out and be comfortable and do the things that we have been working so they have to go and not let the moment be too big for them,” Bradford stated. “They have to relax and just go play their game and we will be alright,” he said.
Squad: Dreanna Thaw, Shaneil Buckley, Lillian Clarke, Tiny Seaton, Kieba Cowan, Liha Williams, Natoya Atkinson, Dannique Wilson, Destiny Powell, Akeila Johnson, Tyesha Nelson, Janiel Mignott, Kayesha Sibbles, Liya Brooks, Katie Oakley, Davia Richards, Avery Johnson, Mia Mitchell, Maya Ragahanada, Sundai Amele.