Michael McLean, Gleaner Writer
DOWNSWELL
SANTA CRUZ:
JAMAICA'S UNDER-21 female football team, presently preparing for the final round of the World Cup qualifications later this month, were on Sunday beaten 4-0 by a St. Elizabeth Under-21 male football team at the Lacovia Community Centre.
Despite the loss, coach Vin Blaine said he is not worried and believes the Reggae Girls can beat the mighty United States, one of three teams in their play-off group. The others are Suriname and El Salvador.
FIRST QUALIFYING GAME
"As you know we'll play the U.S. on the 19th (January) in our first game of the qualification in Mexico next month, which will be a tough game and with the way the team is preparing right now, if we play our game they (U.S.) are gonna have a hard time beating us," said coach Blaine.
However, Blaine said he doesn't expect Suriname, who they beat in Trinidad and Tobago last year, to beat them. He said they do not know anything about El Salvador at present but they will be scouting around to study how the Central Americans play.
Having said that though, Blaine made it clear that they are focusing primarily on the opening game.
"We are concentrating on our first game which is with the U.S.," Blaine pointed out.
The Reggae Girls, who are having a three-week training camp at Munro College, will play their second game at the same venue on Thursday.
QUITE PLEASED
"I was quite pleased with the workout and I saw what I wanted to see and I believe the girls are gonna make Jamaica proud," said Blaine.
Technical Director of the Jamaica Football Federation, Wendell Downswell, who was also at the game, said the practice was quite good for the girls.
He said they have chosen Munro because of the high altitude which is equivalent to Mexico, which is about 200 feet above sea level.
"What we have seen here over the last three weeks is they have been doing a lot of physical work-outs, not so much tactical work but in their game you will see a more tactical game come Thursday," Downswell predicted.
