FT. LAUDERDALE – After making its contribution to historic achievements by both the National Under-20 and Under-17 female football teams, the Florida based Jamaica International Female Football Development (JIFFD) is hoping to pull off an even bigger project with Jamaica’s women football which could be significant in seeing the first Jamaican women football team playing at a FIFA World Cup.
With the CFU U-20 Championships and CONCACAF U-17 Championships now history JIFFD is focusing on making the U-20s the first Jamaican Women football side to qualify for a world cup finals.
The Young Reggae Girlz are scheduled to travel to the Cayman Islands January 7-19 for the CONCACAF U-20 Championships which will qualify three countries for the FIFA World Cup to be played in Canada next year.
International Contributions
Having earlier this year facilitated a girls try-outs in South Florida, flying-in Technical Coordinator of Jamaica’s National Women’s Football program, Vinmore Blaine to see some of the talent in the region, JIFFD is now working assiduously to host a training camp for the U-20 girls team ahead of the CONCACAF Championships in January.
The plan is to have the girls in Florida for a camp between January 2-7 (six days, five nights) where they will train as a unit but most importantly get at least top class practice matches against college or university teams which should give the girls the experience of playing against the North American Style of play ahead of the CONCACAF Championships.
Combining the local based players with the overseas based players for the Jamaica National team has proven to be a successful endeavor however; history shows when the Reggae Girlz play at CONCACAF Championships this is their first opportunity to play together as a team. Practicing as a team prior to their first match, building team spirit and working together as one unit is critical to the teams’ success. By providing these necessary training sessions the Reggae Girlz will be better prepared to challenge Canada, USA and Mexico teams which are known as the big three in CONCACAF.
The Reggae Girlz will this time around be hoping to capitalize on the fact that Canada (one of the big three) will not participate in the CONCACAF Championships hence an excellent opportunity to capture at least that third spot creating history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
JIFFD is working hard to support the Reggae Girlz in their mission; however we need the support of our community. Already through the try-outs in May, JIFFD has opened the door for four players from the Florida region to be in that squad in Nicole Nikki Harris, Mackenzie Marsh, Rachelle Smith and Robyn-Anne Whittaker. In all between the U-20 and the U-17 the JIFFD trials try-outs in May resulted in some 9 girls getting spots in the national teams with Felicia Davidson, Asia Lee-Fatt, Samantha Sanfilippo, Lyana Steele and Cheyenne Wakeland-Hart earning spots in the under 17 side while Mackenzie Marsh and Robyn-Anne Whittaker were both in the u-20 and u-17 sides.
History was created
With the inputs of these players Jamaica for the first time were crowned Caribbean U-20 Women Champions and for the first time reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF U-17 championships. Lee-Fat scored 3 of Jamaica’s 6 goals in the CONCACAF U-17 Championships which saw Jamaica ending the preliminary round topping their group on 7 points two more than Mexico with whom they played out a 1-all draw in the top of the table clash match on November 3. In fact Lee-Fat scored both goals in Jamaica’s opening match 2-nil win over El Salvador and Score in the 3-nil win over Haiti. CONCACAF ranked Jamaica’s Felicia Davidson, third best goal of U17 tournament.
The ability of JIFFD to host the try-outs which led to these players getting into the Jamaica squads was based on a number of fund raisers and contributions from members of the Florida community. This coming after a year of work starting with the Mayors of at least three cities declaring the Month of October Reggae Girls Awareness Month in Florida and a grand launch of JIFFD “Reggae Girlz Awareness Campaign” in February which saw the participation of Jamaica’s Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of The Prime Minister with responsibility for Sports Natalee Neita-Headly, Jamaica Football Federation President Captain Horace Burrell and Jamaica Consul General The Honorable Sandra Grant-Griffiths amongst other dignitaries in Florida.
The fund raising activities also saw partnership with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers Soccer Club. With all that JIFFD is facing, what could be the most crucial challenge yet and that is, to get the girls that camp which could open the doors for future support for Jamaica’s female football program. Success has many friends and like anything else if the Jamaican girls were to create history in Cayman by qualifying for the world cup then everyone including the corporate companies will invest in a brand that’s marketable and identifies with them. That would certainly improve the program finances and by extension improve the JFF’s ability to supply their training needs including good nutrition, training camps and good practice matches.
The social aspect of the women’s program would also benefit with exposure for more girls to get scholarships hence proper college and university education to turn around and make meaningful contributions to the society.
Adopt-a-Player
JIFFD’s Adopt-A-Player Program focuses on preparing our Reggae Girlz for the challenging road ahead by providing them with competitive matches, proper nutrition and additional training ahead of the crucial CONCACAF finals. There are several rewards for sponsors as JIFFD is 501 (c) 3 certified and your contributions maybe tax deductible, along with public recognition for your contribution. JIFFD is relying on the Jamaican community along with Jamaican well-wishers, family, friends and businesses to support our Reggae Girlz. The rewards are, seeing our Reggae Girlz make history by securing their place in the 2014 world cup and opening doors for future Reggae Girlz.
For Sponsorship Opportunities visit JIFFD.ORG or 786-417-1225
