While the results in their sweep of the two-match friendly series against Peru were pleasing, senior Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby was particularly encouraged by how his younger players performed.

Two of those young players, Naya Cardoza and Reanna Blades, both 20, found the back of the net alongside experienced campaigner Tiffany Cameron as the Girlz closed out the second game with a 3-2 win on Wednesday to continue their winning momentum. They had a more straightforward 2-0 win in the opening contest.

Busby, who strategically rotated his squad to provide valuable minutes to emerging talents, lauded the resilience and composure displayed by the younger players.

“We're trying to make sure that the players see a pathway into the senior team, and that's why we play these games,” Busby said.

Reggae Girlz defender Allyson Swaby gets away from an opponent. (Photos: Andrea Diaz)

“The prerequisite is always to get a result, but it's the performance and finding a way to win that’s more important. Credit to Peru for giving us a really tough game. We got off to a really good start, but we had to manage the game over the line. Again, credit to the players for finding a way to get the result, but more importantly, giving the young players some valuable experience,” he added.

The Reggae Girlz took early control of Wednesday’s encounter, with Cardoza and Blades both registering their first international goals. The game, however, turned into a stern test of character, as Peru fought back and even had a chance from the penalty spot, which goalkeeper Liya Brooks crucially saved. Despite the pressure, Jamaica held firm to see out the victory.

Reflecting on the performances over the two games, Busby acknowledged that fielding debutants and younger players inevitably led to some disjointed moments, but he was pleased with how they adapted.

“It's going to be a little bit disjointed when you've got players coming in for the first time and players making their debuts, and the nerves that go along with it,” he admitted.

“Credit to some of the senior heads for being able to manage it and help the young ones through. But overall, these two games proved valuable for us. Some of these players have asked questions, put themselves in contention going forward, and that’s exactly what we wanted. We needed to see who was able to step up, and credit to all of them—they've had a really good week here,” Busby shared.

Reggae Girlz midfielder Drew Spence challenges for possession.

With a packed 2025 schedule ahead, including the World Cup qualifiers, Busby is already looking toward the next steps for his squad. In fact, he stressed the importance of utilizing every available international window to continue the team’s development, particularly for younger players transitioning from the youth ranks to the senior setup.

“We've got some pending games on the horizon, so hopefully we can finalize those. As I've always indicated, we need to utilize each and every window,” Busby stated.

“Hopefully, we can do something at the end of the school year for some of these college players, as well as the U-20s who just finished playing, so we can take a look and make sure we're not missing anyone. It’s about making sure we provide opportunities for players to come through,” he explained.

That said, the tactician reiterated that the integration of youth and experience remains a cornerstone of his approach, as he credited the team’s unity and resilience as key factors in their success.

“The group is really important, and our superpower is our unity and ability to stay resilient through trying times,” the former national goalkeeper stated.

“I give the senior players a lot of credit. It doesn't matter where they come in—the young players know there's a standard. The more experienced players bring them along, but when they come in, they also raise that bar. You could see that towards the end of the game.

“We had two senior players on at the end alongside nine college players, and as I said to them after the game, I couldn’t be prouder. They found a way to get that result over the line, but more importantly, they showed the resilience to finish off that match,” he ended.