Reggae Boyz Success Aids Women’s Programme

As the country celebrates the Reggae Boyz’ progression to the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers following Tuesday night’s 4-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda, those inside the national set-up are also celebrating, albeit for a different reason.

And none moreso than those involved in the Women’s programme. They know that their future hinges on the success of the senior men’s team. The Women’s programme has already suffered from the financial constraints faced by the local governing body, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

In 2002, the JFF suspended the entire national programme after a 65 per cent cut in the government subvention and in late 2010 the senior Women’s programme was cut.

Only the Under-20 and Under-17 programmes survived and national Women’s coach Vin Blaine said the average citizen does not understand the impact the senior men has on local football.

“People don’t understand that if we don’t qualify it would’ve had far-reaching effects on the entire football programme in Jamaica,” he said.

Chairman of the JFF’s Women’s Committee, Elaine Walker-Brown, agrees.

“It means a lot because the Reggae Boyz are like the father for all the other football. Sponsors don’t gravitate to the Women’s programme or to the youth programme. They mostly focus on the Reggae Boys.

Read more: The Jamaican Observer

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