With the journey to a third consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup on the horizon, Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation, as he reiterated the importance of widening the player pool and assessing as many players as possible to ensure a strong and versatile squad for the upcoming qualifiers.
The latest changes to the Reggae Girlz squad for the April 5 and 8 friendly series against Mexico demonstrate that much as it features the return of two experienced players—Kalyssa ‘Kiki’ Van Zanten and Dominique Bond-Flasza—both of whom have donned the national colours on football’s biggest stage.
Van Zanten, a member of the historic 2023 World Cup squad, makes her comeback after recovering from injury, while Bond-Flasza, a key part of the 2019 campaign in France, returns after a two-year absence. Additionally, Ricshya Walker, who impressed during the team’s recent Peru camp, has been recalled to the setup. Their inclusion comes as Tottenham Hotspur’s Drew Spence withdrew for personal reasons and Newcastle United’s Shania Hayles was ruled out with an injury.
Busby pointed out that bringing Van Zanten back into the fold is a significant boost, given her potential and attacking ability. The 23-year-old forward, who plays for Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has had a challenging year due to injury, but Busby believes her return is timely.
Van Zanten returns from injury.
"We are pleased to welcome Kiki back into the group. We know she's had a challenging year, but we're happy that she's overcome the injury and is heading back to full form,” Busby told SportsMax.TV.
"We’ve been working closely with the Houston Dash medical team, along with our own, to ensure that the timing was right. She’s excited, she’s eager to contribute, and we’re looking forward to seeing how she progresses over the week," he added.
Bond-Flasza, a versatile defender who famously scored the decisive penalty that secured Jamaica’s first-ever Women’s World Cup qualification in 2018, has been plying her trade in Iceland, and though her return may come as a surprise, Busby said her performances warranted a call-up.
"Dom has done very well with her club. She brings a wealth of international experience, and her versatility is something that will be an asset to us. We’re looking forward to seeing how she reintegrates with the team and contributes, especially as we continue to refine our defensive structure heading into the qualifiers," Busby noted.
Reggae Girlz in Peru recently.
That said, Busby explained that Walker’s inclusion reflects his commitment to offering young talents the platform to gain international experience. The forward impressed in Peru and will now have another opportunity to stake her claim.
"Ricshya comes in to replace Shania Hayles, who unfortunately went down with an injury for Newcastle last Sunday. She’s another up-and-coming player, and we were very pleased with how she performed in Peru. She provides a different kind of threat up top with her power and pace. She’s got a lot of natural ability, and what she really needs now is international experience to take her game to the next level,” Busby shared.
The tactician remains adamant that these international windows must be maximized to give players opportunities and create a cohesive unit ahead of the qualifiers.
As such, the friendlies against Mexico, to be played in Kansas City and Houston, will provide an important measuring stick for Busby and his coaching staff.
Ricshya Walker in action during the Women's Gold Cup qualifiers.
"We continue to evaluate players for these camps to broaden our player pool but also to ensure that we’re giving a fair chance for players to be seen and gain experience. With the number of injuries we’ve had to cope with, it’s crucial that we build depth, and this also gives players a chance to come in and stake a claim in the team," Busby stated.
"Again, these matches are crucial for our preparations. We want to see how these players respond to different tactical situations, how they gel with the group, and ultimately, how they contribute to our overall objective of qualifying for the World Cup. It’s all about continuing to use every opportunity available to us to strengthen the team. The more players we can integrate now, the better it is for us to ensure we have the best group to represent the country when the qualifiers begin," he ended.
Updated Squad: Sydney Schneider, Liya Brooks, Rebecca Spencer, Allyson Swaby, Naya Cardoza, Jaileah McPherson, Chantelle Swaby, Konya Plummer, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Deniesha Blackwood, Vyan Sampson, Jade Bailey, Tiffany Cameron, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Jody Brown, Reanna Blades, Kayla McKenna, Trudi Carter, Shaniel Buckley, Kameron Simmonds, Dominique Bond-Flasza, Ricshya Walker, Kalyssa Van Zanten