Jamaica’s Under-20 female football team, the Young Reggae Girlz will resume preparation for their CONCACAF group World Cup qualifiers today when they begin a six-day camp.

The Girlz, following their November advancement from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) group, have been drawn alongside the United States of America (USA), Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago in one of two CONCACAF groups to begin battle in January. In the second group are Cuba, hosts Guatemala, Costa Rica and Canada.

At stake in the qualifiers are three places for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup. The group winners will qualify automatically while the third team will be decided by a playoff between the second-placed teams from the two groups.

“The group that we have gathered right now is not made up entirely of the Under-20s as we have drafted in a few Under-17s whose qualifications begin in March. Majority of the group though is the local-based players,” Vin Blaine, coach of the national women’s teams outlined.

With the Girlz drawn in arguably the tougher of the two groups Blaine said that the emphasis during this camp is to eliminate weaknesses which can be exploited by these teams that are more technically equipped that Caribbean teams.

“What we will be concentrating on is largely the discipline, mental toughness, our movement off the ball as well as attacking and defending as a unit,” Blaine added.

The Young Girlz open their account on January 21 against the regional powerhouse, the United States before taking on the tough Mexicans two days later. They close out group play on January 25 in the Caribbean derby against Trinidad and Tobago. Playing the toughest team first Blaine said could be a positive for his charges.

“One of the things that we have observed about the United States is that they normally start slowly so in tournaments their first game is usually their worst. This could be a blessing in that we could catch them cold and if we do so and are able to pull off a good result against them then that could give us a psychological advantage against the other teams,” reasoned Blaine who will have his charges in camp throughout December and most of January.

“We are looking to have the overseas-based players with the group by January 8, and we are not just talking about those such as Cathryn Rogers (central midfielder), Jamila Campbell-Henny (midfielder/winger) and Zovel Hyre (central defender) but there could be reinforcements.

“We could strengthen with a goalkeeper, two more defenders,” Blaine outlined.

Training squad: Shena Wint (Reno), Sasha-Gay Spence (Reno), Tasheka Gordon (Reno), Shanise Foster (Norman Manley, Meadhaven), Shushana Dobson (Waterhouse), Toni Cowan (Ardenne, Constant Spring), Trudi Carter (Trench Town, Constant Spring), Nugene Nugent (Reno), Sashana Campbell (Reno), Teashian Thomas (Waterhouse), Nesa Ralph (Arnett Gardens), Semone Honeghan (Reno), Shenika Williams (Trench Town, Constant Spring), Peta-Gaye Burrell (D.Q High, Harbour View), Latoya Duhaney (McGrath High/Harbour View), Abegail Walker (Portmore Strikers, Davia Smith (Meadhaven), Natasha Douglas, Shantel Graham (Waterhouse) and Vanessa Ramsay (Meadhaven).