
After falling short in their bid to advance to the next round of the Concacaf Under-17 qualifiers, Jamaica’s young Reggae Girlz head coach Marlon Hylton was left to reflect on the highs, lows, and lessons learned as the team now looks ahead to the future.
Though they showed good attacking prowess when they thrashed St Kitts and Nevis 6-0, the young Reggae Girlz were unable to replicate their goal-scoring form in the all-important final match against Nicaragua, as they were edged 2-1.
While surrendering the lone qualification spot to Nicaragua was tough to take, Hylton took heart from his team’s display.
“The girls gave it their best shot, but in the end, we fell short. Conceding early really set us on the back foot, but we kept our shape well and fought hard to get back into the game and managed to equalize before halftime.
“However, as the match wore on, fatigue became a factor, and one lapse in concentration proved costly as we allowed our opponents to get in behind our defence and that was the decisive moment,” Hylton reflected.
Heading into the Nicaragua fixture, the Young Reggae Girlz only needed a draw to progress to the next round. Although disappointed, Hylton praised the team for the heart and determination they displayed.
“I have to commend each and every player for the effort they put out there on the field. They went out and really represented our nation proudly. They stood up to the challenge, gave it their all, and fought hard until the final whistle,” Hylton told SportsMax.Tv.
“We are disappointed because we didn’t achieve our objective. The aim was to make it to the World Cup, and this was a crucial step toward that goal. Falling short is tough, but there are valuable lessons we have taken from this experience,” he added.
Despite missing out on this occasion, Hylton remains focused on the long-term development of the team, as he points to the importance of ensuring that the foundation is laid for future success.
“It’s about preparing for the next cycle. We need to analyze what went well and identify areas that need improvement—not just for the players, but for us as a technical staff as well,” he noted.
That said, Hylton is confident that with better preparation, structured development, and strategic planning, the Reggae Girlz will come back stronger, especially after the invaluable experience gained by the young squad.
“With this template, we can build a more successful plan for the next campaign. We now have a better understanding of what it takes to compete at this level, and we’ll be working to ensure that when the next opportunity comes, we are fully ready,” Hylton declared.
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