Having watched with pride as Jamaica’s young Reggae Girlz successfully navigated the Jewels of the Caribbean Under-20 Women's Invitational tournament, stand-in coach Leacroft Lettman believes the victory served as a crucial stepping stone in the team’s development as they prepare for the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 qualifiers early next year.
The tactician’s declaration came as he reflected on the team’s journey through the five-day tournament in Trinidad and Tobago, which they capped off with a 2-1 win over the Red Angels in a thrilling final.
Lettman, who is actually Head Coach of Jamaica’s Under-17 women’s team, highlighted the significance of the team’s success after he stepped in to lead the squad in the absence of Under-20 Head Coach Hugh Bradford, who had prior commitments.
“Winning the competition has certainly lifted the girls’ confidence, and the international experience with traveling out of their comfort zone to play against opponents within the Caribbean will serve them well going forward. Throughout the competition, the players bonded even stronger, their chemistry on the field improved, and their fighting spirit came to the fore,” Lettman told SportsMax.Tv.
The Reggae Girlz had a shaky start to the tournament when they were held to a 1-1 stalemate by St. Vincent and the Grenadines in their opening match. However, the team found their rhythm soon after and went unbeaten with 7-0, 4-0, and 1-0 scorelines against Dominica Trinidad and Tobago’s White Angels and Red Angels in the group stages.
Though the final showcased their resilience and growth and the silverware marked a fitting conclusion to their campaign, which was preceded by a four-day camp, Lettman insisted that there is still much more scope for improvement ahead of the Concacaf qualifiers.
“It is always a great feeling to win and end the year on a high, but this tournament was about more than just winning; it was about preparation and building confidence. It helped us identify the things we need to fix and the positions we need to fill as the tournament draws closer,” Lettman explained.
Lettman believes that the experience of traveling, adapting to new environments, and facing regional rivals is pivotal for player development, especially as the team looks to take on stronger opposition in the coming months.
“With more preparation games like these, our local girls will gain the confidence needed to compete against formidable opponents such as the USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama. So the motivation is great for both coaching staff and players because your first aim, particularly in tournaments like these, is to win,” Lettman stated.
“It also instills belief in the team’s ability to compete on a larger stage. But again, there is still much more work to be done to get them exactly where we want them to be ahead of the qualifiers,” he shared.
With St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, and Nicaragua standing in their way for the first phase of the February 20-25 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 qualifiers, the Reggae Girlz will be optimistic about carrying this momentum forward.
In fact, Lettman pointed out that it is imperative that they do so, as only the group winners will progress to join the United States and Mexico in the championship round, which will decide the confederation’s representatives for the Women’s Under-20 World Cup.
“As we gear up for the qualifiers, we know the journey won’t be easy, but tournaments like the invitational in Trinidad gave glimpses of what the girls are capable of. The key now is to build on this foundation, strengthen our squad, and remain focused on the ultimate goal, which is to qualify for the World Cup,” he ended.