Xavier Gilbert, interim head coach of Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz, remains optimistic about the team’s progress despite suffering consecutive defeats to hosts Chile in recent friendly matches in South America.
Acknowledging the challenges faced, Gilbert noted that the team showed improvement in their second game against Chile, attributing it to increased training sessions leading up to the match compared to their opener.
“In the second game, we applied ourselves better. It was having more training sessions before the second game…and it was difficult to sort some things out,” Gilbert explained.
Despite falling 1-0 to Chile with a goal from Yessinia Lopez in the 34th minute, Gilbert sees value in facing competitive opposition, emphasizing that the experience will contribute to the team’s development.
Evaluate new players
“I believe we were unlucky to not have gotten something out of the game as we created some opportunities…We will continue to build, and with opposition like these, we will get better,” Gilbert remarked.
The friendly matches provided an opportunity for Gilbert and his coaching staff to evaluate new players, expanding the team’s selection pool ahead of important competitions such as the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the CONCACAF Nation’s League.
“As some players made debuts, it augurs well for the pool…Hopefully, we can occupy the FIFA windows that are available and look at as many players in these windows heading into World Cup qualifiers and the CONCACAF Nation’s League,” Gilbert added, reflecting on the overall benefits of the trip.
Despite setbacks, Gilbert remains focused on the team’s long-term growth and development, expressing confidence in the potential for improvement as they continue to strive towards their goals.
