Ricardo Makyn - Julie Fearon practises her ball control during a Reggae Girlz training session at the National Stadium recently.

By GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor
miami, florida

School commitments and visa problems have ruled out several key players from Jamaica's squad to face Panama in tomorrow's quarter-final round of the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup here, but the squad is confident that it will advance to a semi-final showdown against Canada next week with a place in next year's World Cup finals on the line.

Coach Vin Blaine received confirmation on Thursday night that three of his players, including definite Reggae Girlz starters Yolanda Hamilton and Omolyn Davis, would not be in the line-up against Panama after their United States school team Lindsey Wilson College won to advance in a collegiate play-off tournament. Those two, along with Hishamar Falconer, who would also have been included in the Jamaica squad, will not be released by the school for tomorrow's match at Tropical Park as they were scheduled to play today (Saturday).

Two other Reggae Girlz, Shanique Mitchell and Shakira Duncan, did not make the trip here after being refused U.S. visas.

However, Blaine said the blow of the missing Reggae Girlz, especially for the game against Panama, should be minimal as their replacements have stepped in and done well.

"In the preliminary stages (against Panama) it is not as bad," he said yesterday from the team's hotel in this South Florida city. "But when it gets down to Canada on the 22nd (of November in California if Jamaica advances) they will be needed at that time."

The reshuffled line-up proved the coach's point on Thursday night with a spirited performance against a local team in Fort Lauderdale. Jamaica dumped the select college squad 5-0. Audia Sullivan replaced Davis in midfield and the versatile Diana Hue stepped in at left back. Both, along with the rest of the team, appeared to have passed the mock exam.

"I would say they got a seven out of 10," Blaine said in grading the team. "Based on their performance you would not realise that they were missing key players."

The team, described by the coach as 95 per cent fit, will stick to its 4-4-2 formation tomorrow, and although Jamaica knows "nothing" about the Panama team, according to Blaine, the strategy will be similar to what was employed against Haiti recently.

What I plan to do is, like we did against Haiti, is run at them early and close them down and see how they respond to it," the coach said. "If they show they can handle it, then we have to show adjustment and be more patient."

Fight for gold cup

The stakes are high. If Jamaica beat Panama, the Reggae Girlz travel to Carson, California for a semi-final match-up against Canada. The winners of that game advance to the Gold Cup final on November 26 in Carson, but, more importantly, also qualify automatically for the 2007 World Cup finals.

The Girlz appear ready for the challenge, according to the coach.

"The morale is very, very high," Blaine said. "(The missing players) has not affected the team. We discussed it with them and they are sorry for the loss, but they know they have to go out and play."

Blaine also confirmed that a win for Jamaica tomorrow will not guarantee the return of Hamilton, Davis and Falconer for the Canada game. If their school wins today they will play again on November 21, the day before Jamaica face Canada. Blaine said there is a slim chance that the players would be available then, but remains puzzled by the school's decision not to release the players to represent their country.

"Somehow it does not ring true for this game," he said.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.