Minister of sport Olivia "Babsy" Grange address the gathering, while sharing a light moment with the Reggae Girlz during a sendoff event at the Summit House on Tuesday
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After a week of intense training where they pushed their limits to impress the coaching staff and also had a few off-field issues, Jamaica's senior Reggae Girlz capped their 10-day stay in the island in a most fitting way –with fun, frolic, and entertainment on Tuesday.
The "Goodbye and good luck" session with the Reggae Girlz held at Summit House (formerly Knutsford Court Hotel), hosted by minister of sport Olivia "Babsy" Grange, was the perfect opportunity for the Lorne Donaldson-led technical staff and players to unwind in the company of family, friends and well-wishers.
But beyond that, the sendoff event was also used to raise funds for the Girlz programme with a few corporate entities and individuals committing as much as US$10,000 (just over $1.5 million Jamaican), as their way of rallying around the team ahead of a second-consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup appearance.
Donaldson expressed pleasure seeing the Girlz enjoying themselves just as hard as they trained.
"Yeah, it's good, we had a very successful camp, one of the most successful we have had in a while, we covered a lot of grounds and we saw a lot from the players, as they really dug in and showed that they want to make the team to the World Cup," Donaldson told SportsMax.tv during the event which lasted well over four hours.
"So, this is the ultimate way for them to relax, some things happened over the weekend that would have been a distraction so, again, this is a great way to take their mind off things. Plenty of fun and just generally chilling out because when we get to Amsterdam, it will be all business again," he added.
Having completed their assessments for the most parts, Donaldson and his assistants Xavier Gilbert, Laura Thomas and Ak Lakhani, are expected to name the final 23-player squad to the World Cup in the coming week. The Girlz are drawn in Group F alongside France, Brazil and Panama for the July 20 to August 20 showpiece in Australia and New Zealand.
"We have seen a lot, especially at this camp here, it allowed us to look at players like Konya Plummer and Trudi Carter, who are both without clubs, so again, it was really good to see where they are at and after this, we will just zone in on selecting the best 23 to represent Jamaica at the World Cup," Donaldson shared.
Sashana "Pete" Campbell was one of those players that came into the camp as a late addition after some time away and the utility was pleased that she had an opportunity to parade her skills for the coaching staff.
"The camp was great football wise, all the ladies left their best on the field as we are all aware that positions for the World Cup are up for grabs, so it is now up to the coaches to decide who they think is best fit for the team.
"The sendoff party was even better, after a long week and few days, it was good to just unwind and have a great night together. A lot of us have been playing right through, so it was just good to have some fun time," Campbell, who plays professionally in Poland, said.
Left full-back Deneisha Blackwood, echoed similar sentiments.
“We had a great training camp where we focused on preparing ourselves as best as we can and not think about the off-field issues or distractions. So, the main focus was just to get better for the World Cup," Blackwood said.
"I said in a previous interview that I just want us to be in the best mental state as a group and I think once everybody has the right mindset we will do well. This sendoff party would have done a lot for us where that is concerned, we were able to have some fun, free our minds and we had family and friends here which was good. So, it was good to relieve some tension which is the most important thing for us now," she added.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Sugar Boyz ready for crucial Nations League playoff against Cuba
The Sugar Boyz, St. Kitts and Nevis' men’s national football team is back in training as they prepare for their Concacaf Nations League Playoff clash against Cuba. After a brief rest period following their matches against the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, the team resumed training on Monday, November 4, at the National Bank Group of Companies Technical Center. Head Coach Austin “Dico” Huggins shared insights into the preparations underway as the team looks to advance toward a potential second qualification for the Concacaf Gold Cup.
“After we played against Cayman Islands and BVI, we had a brief rest period. So we're now beginning our training session from today,” Huggins explained.
Coach Huggins emphasized the significance of these playoff matches, noting the challenging task ahead. “It's going to be very hard here in training. We've got to make sure the guys are mentally prepared, physically prepared, knowing the task we have at hand. Cuba is a very good team, very professional team. So we're going to have to take them very seriously. And we are playing the first game at home, so that should be to our advantage,” he added.
He further outlined the rigorous training plan to ensure the team is ready for the intense match-up. “Our preparation will be very strenuous, very hard, very intense so that we could be better prepared for the task.”
With the first leg at home on November 14 at the NBGC Technical Center, Huggins reassured fans of an improved performance compared to their last outing against the Cayman Islands. “We're going to have a better showing, for sure. Like I said, we're playing against Cuba. The guys are up for the task,” he said.
The Sugar Boyz will then travel to Santiago de Cuba for the return leg on November 18 at the Antonio Maceo Stadium.
Carsley yet to speak to incoming England coach Tuchel in person
England interim manager Lee Carsley has said he has not spoken to permanent head coach-to-be Thomas Tuchel in person since it was announced he would take over last month,
Carsley is scheduled to take England's Nations League games against Greece and Republic of Ireland before he returns to the Under-21s and Tuchel takes the job in January.
He said they had only exchanged text messages up to now, but was unconcerned that they were yet to see each other in the flesh.
“I think it’s quite clear in terms of the starting date,” Carsley told a press conference
“It was more of a text message to him, which was ‘congratulations’ and he said ‘good luck for the window and look forward to meeting up’.
“He is fully respectful that I am in charge at the moment, that is the priority. I do not feel hard done by or shunned.
“If anything I look forward to hopefully create a situation where we can hand over a healthy squad of players to the new coach and his squad.”
Carsley had raised eyebrows in the previous international break by struggling to give a straight answer when asked if he wanted the job permanently.
Tuchel had signed the contract two days before England were beaten by Greece at Wembley, but Carsley said that he was unaware of that at the time.
“My focus was massively on the games, on the camp. In terms of my position, I’m really comfortable with the way that it was handled," he said
“I didn’t feel undermined or anything like that. If anything I felt really well supported.
“So in terms of the Greece performance there is definitely not an excuse or that I knew something or I didn’t. In respect to the performance it was down to me.”
Van Nistelrooy aiming to restore Old Trafford fear factor in final Man Utd outing
Ruud van Nistelrooy has challenged Manchester United to be ruthless, with the interim boss saying Old Trafford has less of a fear factor after their recent results.
Van Nistelrooy led the Red Devils to a 2-0 win against PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday and remains unbeaten in his time as Erik ten Hag’s temporary successor before Ruben Amorim’s arrival next week.
All three of his games in charge have come at the Theatre of Dreams, which culminates with another home fixture against Leicester City in the Premier League, a side he has already beaten in the EFL Cup at the end of last month.
United have picked up just seven points from their five home league games this season, with only seven teams winning less, something Van Nistelrooy says must improve.
"That's something that is important to change," he told TNT Sports. "Home games at Old Trafford were basically hardly won [by the visitors].
"As I said, the reason why I'm here is to get United back to that point. It's hard work, it needs to be done, but, of course, it is a chance to get a home win after a long time."
"I don't know. I think less because of the results that more teams got at Old Trafford, that means something. How teams are coming and playing here, so again that's something you have to build again.”
Leicester, meanwhile, come into the encounter at Old Trafford after snatching a point late on against 10-man Ipswich Town, with Jordan Ayew netting in the second half stoppage time.
The Foxes are without a win in three games in all competitions since back-to-back victories against Bournemouth and Southampton in the Premier League in October.
While head coach Steve Cooper was happy his side were able to add another point to their league total, he said he left Portman Road with mixed feelings after reflecting on the encounter.
“A point away from home in the Premier League is never anything to be too despondent about. It will feel like a win scoring late, but I think we'll feel better about the result than what Ipswich will,” Cooper said.
“It's miles a better result than it is for Ipswich, but we think of ourselves, we think internally we shouldn't be satisfied with just the point. There should be some disappointment and frustration there, but we also know that we worked really hard in the end to get something out of the game.
“We started really strong, finished really strong, but bits in between were a little bit too up and down for my liking, so it’s mixed feelings, but we keep ticking over, and we move on now.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes has been involved in eight goals in seven starts against Leicester in all competitions (four goals, four assists), netting twice against the Foxes in last month’s EFL Cup meeting.
He has also created more chances (15) than any of his United team-mates in the Premier League this term, with his creative edge needed to unlock the Leicester defence.
Leicester City – Jordan Ayew
Only Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran (four) has scored more goals as a substitute in the Premier League this season than Ayew (two).
Both of the Ghanaian’s strikes have come in his last two away games, and both in second half stoppage time (winner against Southampton, equaliser against Ipswich).
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
United have lost just two of their last 17 Premier League games against Leicester (W10 D5), with those defeats coming consecutively in May and October 2021.
The Red Devils have also scored in each of their last 28 top-flight games against Leicester, since a 1-0 loss in January 1998. In their Premier League history, only against Arsenal have they ever had a longer scoring streak (30 between 1953 and 1968).
United have won 16 of their last 18 Premier League games against promoted sides (D2), since a 1-4 loss to Watford in November 2021, and will be hopeful of continuing to get their season back on track.
Their 12 points this season is the club’s lowest return after 10 top-flight games in a season since 1986-87 (eight), while their nine goals scored is their lowest at this stage since 1973-74 (also nine).
Leicester, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 14 Premier League away games against United (D3 L10), picking up a 2-1 victory in May 2021.
But the Foxes are one of two teams – along with Man City – to have scored in all 10 of their Premier League games so far this season. Only in 2018-19 (first 11) and their 2015-16 title winning campaign (17) have they had a longer streak from the start of a season in the competition.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester United – 65.1%
Draw – 18.8%
Leicester City – 16.1%
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