KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Head coach Hubert Busby has named his 23-woman squad for the Reggae Girls’ upcoming friendly international against Caribbean rivals Trinidad & Tobago.
In announcing the roster, Coach Busby highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable foundation of players who have navigated the team through recent high-stakes matches.
“I think if you look at the roster, there’s a strong core of players that have been with this group for a while now,” Busby stated. “We’ve used the opportunities to maintain that core, and it’s allowed us to build our group. You’ve seen a lot of those players participate in some huge matches where they’ve gained some really valuable experience.”
While acknowledging that past results may not have always reflected their performances, Busby pointed to the “invaluable experience” gained, particularly for the younger collegiate players, who are now excelling in their respective programs.
The core remains largely intact, but the selection also introduces fresh faces poised to challenge for positions. A key addition is defender Tiana Harris, who has been impressing while playing in France and Portugal.
“Tiana is a player we’ve been following for a while. It was a great opportunity to bring her in to add to the competition for places, but also add to the depth in the back line.”
Another player earning a recall is defender Gabrielle Gayle, whose performances in Mexico have caught the coaching staff’s eye.
“She’s a local-born player that we want to see how she’s kind of progressed in the last year and a half playing abroad,” Busby said. “This is a great opportunity for her to make a claim.”
The squad also sees the inclusion of promising youth talent, such as Jaileah McPherson, captain of the U20 side. After a conversation with her collegiate coaching staff, her schedule was cleared to allow for national team duty.
This friendly renews a regional rivalry. The last time the two teams met was on August 31, 2018, at the National Stadium in Kingston, where Jamaica secured a decisive 4-1 victory.
The goals that day came from Giselle Washington, Jody Brown, and a brace from superstar striker Khadija Shaw, who is not featured in this current squad.
The match against Trinidad and Tobago will serve as a key tune-up for the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifiers, which begin in November.
FULL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Rebecca Spencer (Chelsea W FC), Sydney Schneider (Tampa Bay Sun FC)
Defenders: Allyson Swaby (Crystal Palace W FC), Tianna Harris (Damaiense FC), Konya Plummer (Fenerbahçe), Chantelle Swaby (Leicester City W FC), Tiffany Cameron (Halifax Tides FC), Gabrielle Gayle (Lancaster Inferno SC)
Midfielders: Olufolasade Adamolekun (Hearts FC), Jaileah McPherson (Florida International), Deniesha Blackwood (Cruz Azul W FC), Israela Groves (Athlone Town FC), Atlanta Primus (Southampton W FC), Vyan Sampson (INAC Kobe Lionesses)
Forwards: Kayla McKenna (FC Zurich Grasshoppers), Natasha Thomas (Ipswich Town W FC), Shania Hayles (Newcastle United W FC), Jody Brown (Marseille W FC), Njeri Butts (University of Florida), Kalyssa Van Zanten (Houston Dash FC)
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