JFF confirms Gilbert for women’s U20

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) general secretary Dalton Wint says his association is banking on the experience of newly appointed head coach Xavier Gilbert to lead the national under-20 women’s team to a historic berth at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

The Under-20 Reggae Girlz are scheduled to compete in the final round of Concacaf qualifiers, which will be held in the Dominican Republic from February 22 to March 8.

Gilbert, who has had success with the Under-20 team in the past, having led them to a Caribbean Championships title on home soil in 2014, has replaced former coach Lorne Donaldson. Former national player Tashana Vincent has been appointed as Gilbert’s assistant.

Wint told The Gleaner that Gilbert is the right person to lead the team because he has been in this position before.

“It is a good appointment because Xavier has been a very successful coach in the female category for quite a while and he has been a part of the JFF before,” Wint said.

“He comes with wealth of experience and he has indicated that he wanted to coach in the national team again and here is his opportunity to do so.

“We can qualify, but it will be difficult because Concacaf has given up two spots by been double hosts of this tournament, so it is only two spots we are playing for. But he is experienced, so we should be able to pull through.”

Challenges

However, Wint said that the team’s preparations going into the tournament has not been without challenges.

“It is difficult because our players are all over the place,” he said. “But we have camps and we are even having one this weekend and then we move into an early camp in Dominican Republic. We then move into the tournament.

“I am not overly pleased with it (preparations), but we just have to work with the circumstances that we have experiencing now and hopefully, we will be able to be successful.”

The Jamaicans were drawn in Group C with Canada, El Salvador and Guatemala.

robert.bailey@gleanerjm.com