Sat | Sep 27, 2025

Young Reggae Girlz take second crack at Panama

Published:Sunday | August 27, 2023 | 12:12 AMOrane Buchanan - Staff Reporter
Ricardo Makyn/Chief Photo editor Jamaica Under-17’s Bella Drummond (right) attempts a square while coming under pressure from Panama Under-17’s Veronica Latorraca during the first leg of their Concacaf Under-17 Championship qualification game at Sabin
Ricardo Makyn
Ricardo Makyn/Chief Photo editor Jamaica Under-17’s Bella Drummond (right) attempts a square while coming under pressure from Panama Under-17’s Veronica Latorraca during the first leg of their Concacaf Under-17 Championship qualification game at Sabina Park on Friday.

FOLLOWING THEIR 1-1 draw with the Victor Suarez-coached Panama Under-17 team on match day one of the 2023 Concacaf women’s Under-17 qualifiers at Sabina Park on Friday night, the young Reggae Girlz will take another crack at topping Group E at the same venue.

Head coach of the Reggae Girlz Hugh Bradford believes the team has it in them to turn around Friday’s performance and get the desired results needed to end as group winners.

The Jamaicans can top Group E with a win by virtue of the fact that Anguilla and Grenada pulled out of the qualifiers, leaving the two teams who play their second-leg qualifiers this afternoon.

“I was pleased with the fact that, when the pressure came, they didn’t go away from what we’ve been working on, and they were trying to make it happen. So, hopefully on Sunday we can put it all together,” said Bradford.

Jamaica, who created very few scoring opportunities throughout the evening’s 90-minute affair, looked more threatening when starting left back Olivia Ashbourne overlapped.

Bradford, while defending his choice of playing Ashbourne in a defensive role, isn’t ruling out the possibility of deploying the Reinas Academy forward in her usual position in today’s crucial fixture.

“It was from things that I saw in training and we needed some help there. She was willing to go and help us in that position. So, come Sunday, who knows what we will do with her?” said Bradford.

According to Bradford, the young Reggae Girlz may also be a little short on preparation for the two fixtures.

“You never have enough time to prepare. Some of the local players were training from before, but, as you come in, you try to look at things and make adjustments. There is a certain style that we want to play and, for that, you have to get fit, and so the fitness level is taking its toll on them now,” Bradford said.

Only the six group winners will advance to the 2023 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championships, joining the top-two ranked nations, USA and Mexico.

Despite the challenges, Bradford believes in the group.

“I believe in the players. I’m confident they will come out and show it.”

Kick-off is set for 4 p.m. at Sabina Park.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com