‘A change is gonna come’

NOW A bona fide international football star, Khadija Shaw, Jamaica’s first-ever Ballon d’Or nominee, gave a peek into the mind of a sportswoman, who always knew she would be different.

Shaw, in the island ahead of an Olympic qualification tie against Canada, which begins on Friday at the National Stadium, was speaking during a welcome home celebration put on by the community of Crescent in Spanish Town, St Catherine, where she is from.

According to her, the beacon of light for other women in sport she has become was something she knew would happen.

“My mom didn’t really allow me to play football because she thought there was no opportunity for female footballers,” Shaw reminisced.

“So we struck a deal that if I graduated from college I would play.

“I turned to her and said: ‘Maybe I will be the one to change how female footballers are viewed’,” said Shaw.

How female footballers are viewed has certainly changed.

So much so, that Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott is proposing to change the name of one of the streets in Crescent in a bid to honour Shaw’s achievements.

“Crescent district, when you produce a champion like this, people all over the world know her, so I am going to take the liberty, at the next general council meeting, to ask my colleague councillor Pat Harris to move a resolution to rename Mellissa Crescent, the Khadija Shaw Crescent,” said Scott.

Shaw thanked the organisers for the hero-like welcome, and pledged to continue to be an inspiration to young girls.

She also thanked the people of her community for their support during her childhood, reminiscing on when she would play with the boys and wind up getting injured.

According to Scott, ‘Khadija Shaw Crescent’ would be prominently displayed so everyone passing through the community would be able to see it.

Shaw is Jamaica’s leading goal scorer with 56 goals to her name. Just this season, Shaw scored 30 goals for Manchester City, the most ever in a single season, was nominated for the PFA player of the year award, made the PFA team of the year, as well as earned a nomination for a Ballon d’Or. She also captained the Reggae Girlz team that famously made it to the knockout round of the World Cup, a first for any Caribbean team.

Earlier, the festivities began in front of the Kentucky Fried Chicken store, one of Shaw’s main sponsors, in Angels, Spanish Town.

The heartwarming reception saw a multitude of Shaw’s adoring fans, family members and friends, along with principal organisers, Member of Parliament for St Catherine North Central Natalie Neita-Garvey, and municipal councillor for the Angels division, Patricia Harris.

Adding to the colourful affair was Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts, and former principals of both Crescent Primary and St Jago High schools where Shaw began her educational exploits.

The occasion featured a touching gesture as Shaw made her entrance, accompanied by lively beats of the Spanish Town-based George Washington Marching Band, and the cheers of students from Crescent and St Jago.

Shaw beamed with pride as she greeted enthusiastic supporters from the sunroof of a black SUV.

The parade would end at Mellissa Crescent in her neighbourhood even as passing motorists shouted ‘Bunny Shaw’ on their way through.

Speaker after speaker alluded to her exploits on the football field while showering her with gifts, notably an enlarged childhood picture of the Reggae Girl balancing a football on her forehead.

The gift, brought by Harris, was a hit, the surprise laid bare on Shaw’s face.

JFF President Michael Ricketts thanked Neita Garvey for staging the event, saying it will forever be etched in his mind.

He said Shaw had become a global treasure and is now inspiring a long list of girls.

Neita Garvey described her as a superstar, who has placed Jamaica and her community on the map. She announced a scholarship for $250,000 to be accessed by students in Crescent.

A $1-million scholarship named after the late Jean Nelson, former manager of the Reggae Girlz and past student of St Jago High School, who passed away in 2021, was also announced. Cynthia Nelson, a friend of the late manager, made the funds available for the scholarship.