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