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Jamaica gear for goalfest
...Butch charges Reggae Girlz to whip Dominica
ST JOHN’S, Antigua — The
Reggae Girlz were yesterday feted by hotel mogul Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart at his Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and were encouraged to go out and demolish Dominica in today’s third and final Group C encounter at 12:45 pm (Jamaica time).
“I see you have beaten Antigua by 12 goals, but I want you to go out tomorrow and beat Dominica by more than 12,” Stewart told the Girlz after lunch at the Sandals Grande, where he had opened the new 180-room Mediterranean Village on Thursday.
The Girlz were feted at the Caribbean Village, which was organised by the Observer’s Executive Editor, Operations, Desmond Allen, who witnessed the 12-0 clobbering of Antigua and Barbuda on Friday at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
Following their 4-0 and 12-0 wins over Bermuda and Antigua & Barbuda, respectively, the Reggae Girlz, barring unforeseen circumstances, should secure top spot and make it three from three and advance to the second round of the 2008 Olympic Caribbean Qualifying.
Dominica have been the whipping girls of the group, losing 0-3 to Antigua and 0-8 to Bermuda. The Dominican team, which is staying at the same Airport Hotel as the Reggae Girlz, has developed a close bond and could be seen cheering for their hotel mates during Jamaica’s first two games.
The favour was returned by the Reggae Girlz during Dominica’s games, but that did not stop their demise.
Today they won’t be singing the same tune because they will face the music as the Reggae Girlz aim to dance around them.
Coach Charles Edwards told the Sunday Observer that he will be starting a weakened team with the hope of exposing some players who have not yet played a full 90 minutes.
“Tomorrow’s (today’s) game will basically be to look at the players who haven’t really played as yet, just like an interview, to see what they can give us on the international stage, and when we go back home we want to know who can be kept in the squad.
“We will not be taking the game lightly as if it’s a walkover, although it seems like a stroll in the park. We’re approaching it in a very serious manner to see how the benchers can produce the chemistry that we have produced over the two games so far,” Edwards explained.
The coach has made four changes, bringing in goalkeeper Nikeisha Thomas, as well as Sydonne Hall, Shareca Stevens and Iesha Mowatt. The likes of Yanique Goldspring, Neisha Forbes and Kerry-Ann Edwards will feature later in the game.
Six-goal hero from the last game, Tashana Vincent, and striking partner Kenesha Reid, should increase their goal-scoring tally against the weakest team in the competition if they are given the nod by their coach.
Vincent has scored seven goals, while Reid, who scored four times against Antigua, has six from two games.
The outstanding Jodi-Ann McGregor and Alicia James should again run the middle, while captain Vincent will again marshal the backline.
In the other game, Bermuda should record their second win against hosts Antigua and Barbuda and secure second spot in the group behind Jamaica.
Jamaica will advance to the second round where they will be joined by the other three group winners in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final CONCACAF round.
Hotel mogul Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart (right) poses with a member of the Reggae Girlz senior squad which he hosted at his Sandals Grande Antigua Resort yesterday. Coach Charles Edwards looks on.
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