KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Jamaica’s Women’s Under-20 team is due to leave here today for a one-week training camp in Florida, the final phase of their preparation for the CONCACAF tournament which kicks off in January.
The highlight of their preparations in Florida will be two friendly games against an All-StarUniversity team on January 4 and 6 before heading to the Cayman Islands for the January 9 to 19 tournament.
The women footballers wrapped up their local camp on Monday which included a rigid fitness programme over the weekend at the Jamaica Football Federation Training Centre, University of the West Indies.
“It is very important to assemble as a unit and play these games ahead of thetournament in the Cayman Islands,” Xavier Gilbert, coach of the Jamaica team, told The Gleaner.
“These girls are more experienced as they have played at the CONCACAF level before. This is the most talented team I have seen since the play-offs in 2006”.
The Jamaicans are drawn in Group A, alongside powerhouse the United States, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Group B comprises hosts Cayman Islands, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras.
The top-two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, with both winners advancing to the World Cup later this year.
“I’m optimistic. Our objective is to make it to the semis then take it from there. We should have little problems in advancing to the semis,” Gilbert said.
“I believe we have the toughest group, but I still think we can finish in the top two”.
The young Reggae Girlz will kick off their campaign in the 2014 CONCACAF Championship against Guatemala at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands on January 9.
