Fri | Sep 26, 2025

‘Tears of joy’

JFF, ministry, JOA heartened by Reggae Girlz qualification

Published:Thursday | August 3, 2023 | 12:10 AM
Brazil’s Geyse reacts to a 0-0 tie during the Women’s World Cup Group F football match against Jamaica in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday.
AP
Brazil’s Geyse reacts to a 0-0 tie during the Women’s World Cup Group F football match against Jamaica in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP):

MINISTER OF Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, the Jamaica Football Federation, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the Jamaica Olympic Association, and a host of public figures have lauded the Reggae Girlz for their draw against Brazil and ultimately, their qualification to the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.

Grange described Wednesday’s performance as “undoubtedly the proudest moment so far in Jamaica’s football history”.

Grange reacted minutes after Jamaica ended Brazil’s hopes at the World Cup.

“I could not help shedding a few tears. Tears of joy,” Grange said on Instagram. “These have been magnificent performances by the Reggae Girlz for Jamaica in this World Cup. Words can hardly describe how well they have done.”

Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, posted “HISTORIC!” on Facebook, adding “Jamaica! Best in the world”.

Scores of Jamaicans could be seen tracking the progress of the Reggae Girlz on their phones. A small group of people huddled in a section of Half-Way Tree in the capital, Kingston, celebrated at the final whistle.

“They gone through?” a man asked as he hurriedly made his way to work while a motorist waved the Jamaican flag with pride from a BMW while proceeding through morning traffic.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) also reacted with “literal tears in our eyes”.

“History is being made right in front (of) our eyes,” the JFF said.

In a release, the Jamaica Olympic Association, through its president, Christopher Samuda, said:

“History is indelibly at their feet, the present secured in the palm of their hands, and the future in the vision of young girls who are dreaming the possible. The Reggae Girlz are authoring a script in football which is inspiring a nation to aspire where it was thought dreams only resided. The reality is that we can, and they have done it. The Jamaica Olympic Association salutes them and looks forward to sharing the Olympic dream that will become a reality in Paris 2024.”

Samuda’s comments made reference to a playoff between the Reggae Girlz and Canada for a final Concacaf spot at the Paris Olympics in 2024.