Despite naming a few newcomers in his squad to face France in a much-anticipated friendly, senior Reggae Girlz Head Coach Hubert Busby says the objective remains to continue building out a playing model to ensure they improve their competitiveness ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Busby will be without talismanic striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and defender Konya Plummer for the October 25 encounter away to France due to passport issues.

However, the tactician believes the absence of those two key players, as well as his university representatives, provides an opportunity for the newcomers—Taylor Hinds, Lulu Jarvis, Reanna Blades, and Natasha Thomas—in particular to fit in and show that they belong.

“So we're really excited. We'd spoken to Taylor Hinds a few years ago and we're glad that she's in our squad to come in and embed within what we're trying to do. Lulu Jarvis is another young player that we've been monitoring; she just made a move from Brighton to Plymouth. At 20 years of age, she's another up-and-coming player,” Busby shared during a virtual press conference on Friday.

He continued: “The same with Reanna Blades, who was on the books of Chelsea but just moved to Burnley. I credit a lot of these players who, it might seem like they are dropping down a level, but they're looking to invest in themselves and to play as opposed to necessarily stagnate their growth and development by staying at what would be considered a bigger club but not necessarily getting the minutes that they need.

Reggae Girlz in action against France at last year's World Cup.

“Natasha Thomas is someone who's kind of reached out. We've been monitoring her well, so we're looking to bring her in and see how she fits in. Davia Richards has come through the programme and has done well with Frazsiers Whip through all those different experiences. We're looking to see how she fits in with this group as well as we continue to evaluate all the players from the Gold Cup (qualifiers).”

These fresh faces are expected to bring energy and a renewed sense of competition, something Busby believes is crucial as the team builds toward future challenges, including the 2025 World Cup qualifiers.

In fact, he believes the squad strikes the right balance, as the experience of Allyson Swaby, Jody Brown, Drew Spence, and others will be vital against a formidable French side ranked among the best in the world.

The two teams last met at last year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia, where the gritty Girlz held their more illustrious opponents to a goalless stalemate.

“The expectation really is for us to continue to work on our playing model. I think it's important for us to also continue to build on our playing principles so that we can ensure that we're flexible in and out of possession. We want to be a team that continues to use the ball and is known for a good defensive base,” Busby reasoned.

“So the most important thing is, yes, results are always the main thing at senior international play, but the longer-term picture is for us to be successful come next year when we're in our first round of qualifying for the World Cup. I think that's really the main goal is for us to be peaking at that sort of time, heading into those qualifiers,” he added.

Deon Burton to serve as Reggae Girlz assistant coach.

That said, Busby pointed out that this friendly against France, as well as the two against South Africa on November 29 and December 2 in Jamaica, are the stern tests he requires in a bid to build a team capable of sustained success on the world stage.

“We are deliberate in the games that we're playing and trying to play as many top ten, top 20 opponents as possible to ensure that we are tested heading into World Cup qualifiers in arguably one of the top confederations in the world when it comes to women's football. So, a lot of work has gone into it and obviously, we're looking forward to this camp and looking forward to taking a look at some players and embedding some, even some new staff, into the programme as well,” the former national goalkeeper noted.

That new staff Busby refers to is former Reggae Boy Deon Burton coming aboard as an assistant, joining Xavier Gilbert in the position, while Renee Balconi of Houston Dash will be the Girlz strength and conditioning coach.

Squad: Rebecca spencer, Sydney Schneider, Chantelle Swaby, Allyson Swaby, Taylor Hinds, Deneisha Blackwood, Vyan Sampson, Maliah Atkins, Lulu Jarvis, Atlanta Primus, Jade Bailey, Drew Spence, Sade Adamolekun Reanna Blades, Natasha Thomas, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Kayla McKenna, Jody Brown, Shania Hayles, Tiffany Cameron, Davia Richards, Mikayla Dayes

Steve Bruce has been revealed as a leading contender to become the next Jamaica head coach. He is among a shortlist of four names being earmarked by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to lead the Boyz into the next World Cup finals.

 The 63-year-old former English Premier League manager was last in charge at West Bromwich Albion, but he was given the boot by the Championship club in October 2022.

 The ex-Manchester United defender has never managed at the international level but has been in charge at 11 different clubs in England and amassed over a thousand matches. His CV includes being head coach with Aston Villa and Newcastle.

 Jamaica have been without a coach since Icelander Heimir Hallgrímsson resigned last month following a poor Copa America 2024 campaign and promptly took over the Republic of Ireland hot seat.

 With over 30 serious applications received by the JFF, which included ex-Manchester United players Ole Solsjaer (Norway international) and Dwight Yorke (Trinidad & Tobago), there has been a gradual process to narrow it down.

 JFF president Michael Ricketts, who is not part of the selection process, has publicly expressed that he personally prefers to have an England-based head coach as Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz prepare to tackle the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers. There were murmurs that former West Ham United boss David Moyes could be a surprise appointment, although that appears to have only been rumours.

 Whoever takes over the role will be expected to guide the Boyz to the next World Cup finals, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

 These three nations are Jamaica’s biggest rivals in the CONCACAF region. As they have been given automatic berths for football’s biggest competition, the Boyz are expected to breeze into the World Cup finals for only the second time in their history.

 The other names believed to be on JFF’s shortlist are Deon Burton, Miguel Coley and Jose Peseiro.

 British-born Burton is the U23 coach of West Bromwich Albion. The 47-year-old won the 1997 Jamaican Sportsman of the Year award after bagging four goals in five games during the Boyz’ successful 1998 World Cup qualifiers. He played in all three games at France ‘98 but failed to find the back of the net.

 Jamaican Coley, 41, has served as assistant manager and U23 head coach with the Boyz. He has recently been in the UAE with various clubs.

 The standout name being touted is former striker Peseiro. The 64-year-old Portuguese has managed at international level with Saudi Arabia (2009-11), Venezuela (2020-21) and Nigeria (2022-24).

 Peseiro was given the boot by Saudi Arabia, left Venezuela because he had not been paid for over a year and quit Nigeria in March following 22 successful months. He guided Nigeria to the 2023 African Cup of Nations final, where they lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast, and was awarded the Order of the Niger by President Bola Tinubu for his achievements.

 The JFF Technical Committee is anticipated to decide on one candidate this week, with an announcement expected as early as August 1 to reveal the new Jamaica head coach. The next game for the Boyz is the Nations League tie against Cuba at the National Stadium in Kingston.