‘There really isn’t much that we can do’

The Reggae Girlz biggest opponents ahead of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games are not Colombia, Puerto Rico, or Mexico, but rather the challenge of selecting a squad for a tournament staged outside FIFA’s international window.

Jamaica will enter the CAC Games with a youthful squad bereft of key players after several clubs and universities exercised their right not to release their players for international duty.

Under FIFA regulations, teams are only required to release players during official international windows.

Head coach Hubert Busby explained that he had to pivot to a squad selection which features the island’s emerging talent, rather than its established names.

“As most people will know, this is not a full international window, hence the reason why a lot of familiar names aren’t here. That is because they won’t be released either by their schools or by their clubs,” Busby said.

“There really isn’t much that we can do. If there was, trust me, we would have explored every possibility,” he admitted.

Busby explained Jamaican players who compete in Europe have just started pre-season training with their clubs, and are not available for selection.

For professional players in the United States like Kalyssa Van Zanten, Amelia Van Zanten, Solai Washington, and Kameron Simmonds, they are currently in the middle of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.

“Those clubs pay their wages and, unfortunately, they’re not going to release those players,” the Reggae Girlz boss explained.

The NWSL players are in their season, so there’s no way they’re releasing someone like Mimi Van Zanten, who’s starting for San Diego, to come play in this tournament at this particular point in time,” he continued.

“It’s the same thing with Soleil and the same thing, obviously, with the rest of our players. Then, obviously, the European teams have just started pre-season and they’re not letting their players go, so it is a challenge.”

NCAA RULES

Busby said for Jamaica’s collegiate athletes, the NCAA does not follow FIFA guidelines, so player availability comes down to colleges’ decision.

He said several key players have returned to campus ahead of the new season, making player releases even more complicated.

“The NCAA doesn’t have to follow any FIFA rules and they are able to retain their players,” Busby said.

He pointed to the example of Shaneil Buckley, who recently moved to Florida State University (FSU) from Daytona State College.

He said FSU was not willing to release Buckley for the competition as she is still adjusting to her new surroundings at one of the best programmes in the US.

“She needs to be on campus. She has to complete physicals, understand the campus, settle into a new environment and integrate into the programme.

“That is in her best interest, not just for us as a programme. So we have to take into consideration what’s right for Buckley at this particular moment.”

He continued, “It’s for her to understand that she’s going from a school of 2,000 people to 52,000 people. How does she navigate on campus? How does she understand where her classes are? How does she integrate into a new programme?”

Despite the missing players, Busby is confident the team will do well at the CAC Games and believes they have the quality to challenge for a medal.

The Girlz will start their campaign in Group B, alongside Mexico, Colombia, and Puerto Rico.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Liya Brooks, Mariah Scott

Defenders: Njeri Butts, Akelia Johnson, Dejionee Anderson, Jaileah Cox-McPherson, Kalila Daley, Shanae Ashley

Midfielders: Lola Nesbeth, Peyton McNamara, Davia Richards, Destiny Powell, Samantha Lyew

Forwards: Maya McDermot, Ricshya Walker, Malayna Johnson-Mighty, Phoenix White, Alyssa Stephenson