With an air of optimism and determination, Marlon Hylton, head coach of Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Girlz, is ready to guide his young squad into the first round of the Concacaf U-17 Women’s Qualifiers.

Drawn in Group E, the Jamaicans will face St Kitts and Nevis on Thursday before taking on host and group leaders Nicaragua on Saturday—the latter already off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over St Kitts and Nevis.

With only the group winners and the two best second-placed teams set to progress, every match is crucial. However, Hylton has no doubt in his team’s ability to rise to the challenge, as he pointed to the importance of staying grounded and taking a step-by-step approach.

“The team and coaching staff are upbeat, and we are very optimistic about our chances of progressing to the next round. However, like every tournament, we will approach it one game at a time,” Hylton told SportsMax.Tv shortly after the team’s arrival in Nicaragua on Tuesday.

“The commitment from the coaching staff and the enthusiasm of each player have been commendable. We have a strong foundation to build on, and that gives us confidence heading into the qualifiers,” he added.

This year’s squad is vastly different from the last campaign, presenting both challenges and opportunities, which Hylton welcomes.

“Yes, it's a completely different set of players. Putting this team together came with its challenges, but as a coaching staff, we carefully assessed what was needed to take us through this round. So the focus was on identifying strengths, filling gaps, and ensuring we have a well-balanced unit that can compete at this level,” Hylton shared.

Despite the adjustments, Hylton is pleased with what he has seen so far, particularly in the players’ dedication and adaptability. He pointed out that the preparation period had its limitations, but the staff collectively made the most of the time available.

“As coaches, when we reflect, we always feel there’s room for more preparation. However, leading up to our departure, we had a crucial week-long camp that allowed us to fine-tune our strategies,” Hylton stated.

“We have a great coaching group led by our Technical Director, myself, former Reggae Girl Sashana Campbell, and goalkeeper coach Everdean Scarlet. We broke down sessions to cater to individual players, specific units, and the team as a whole, ensuring that we addressed all aspects of our game,” he noted.

That said, Hylton said the coaching staff has been meticulous in their approach to ensure players adjust smoothly, as acclimatization is often an overlooked but essential aspect of tournament play.

“As we all know, acclimatization plays a crucial role in an athlete’s performance and well-being, especially when transitioning to a different climate,” Hylton reasoned.

“We did our research and found that the climate in Nicaragua is similar to back home. Additionally, our games will be played at 6pm (7pm Jamaica time), so we structured our evening training sessions to mirror that timing. This also helped our players adjust to playing under the lights, ensuring they feel comfortable and prepared when match day arrives,” Hylton explained.

While the immediate focus is on securing six points in this round, Hylton is keeping his sights set on the ultimate goal—FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification.

“The dream is to make it to the World Cup, but we know we must take it one game at a time. For this round, our primary target is securing six points. Once we progress, we will reassess and find the best way to navigate the final round,” Hylton ended.