‘Without a doubt’

REGGAE GIRL Khadija Shaw got ready for a long-awaited return to international duty with a Champions League brace for Manchester City in a 2-1 win over Hamarby at the Tele2 Arena yesterday.

Shaw’s 31st-minute opener was cancelled out by Ellen Ingergerd Wangerheim’s strike in the 48th, but there was to be no answer when she regained the lead four minutes later.

The win put Manchester City through to the next round of the Champions League. The northwest England side sit atop Group D with a perfect 12 points from four games. They lie ahead of Barcelona, who have nine points, their only blemish coming against City.

Just hours before, Shaw’s international coach, Hubert Busby, announced a 23-woman squad ahead of the Reggae Girlz pair of friendlies against South Africa set for November 29 and December 2 at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex in Jamaica.

Shaw, the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer, was one of the names in the 23.

She last turned out in the black, green, and gold of Jamaica in September last year, during the first leg of the Concacaf Olympic Play-In fixture against Canada at the National Stadium.

Initially, her absence was deliberate, the striker withdrawing her services in solidarity with her international teammates becasue of issues with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), but then, injuries sustained while representing City further delayed her return.

She was due to be called up in Jamaica’s last outing against France in October but had to be left out of the squad because of passport issues which prevented her from making the trip.

Busby said her inclusion is one of the biggest boosts for the team’s attacking options, as she stands as one of the world’s best strikers.

“Without a doubt, the biggest inclusion into this group is one of the most in-form strikers in the world right now and a leader in Bunny Shaw,” Busby said while naming his squad yesterday.

“She’s been in great form, as we all know. So it gives us another option up front to go along with the other attacking options we have. Having her back in the group helps tremendously. In terms of getting some of the service in and the final product, we’re looking to have a good performance, and that means to get a good result to end the year.”

Busby said the games against South Africa present a great opportunity for the team to end the year on a positive note against tough opponents.

South Africa’s last outing saw them falling 4-3 to Zambia on penalties in the final of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Women’s Championship earlier this month.

“South Africa is a very formable opponent,” he said. “It’s going to be a good game, they are a well-coached team.”

Jamaica, on the other hand, have yet to win a match in over a year since they last defeated Panama 1-0 in the World Cup group stage.

The team is currently winless in 17 games, which includes three draws and 14 defeats.

Busby is not concerned with the extended run of poor results, saying it was not a true reflection of the team’s quality with several of the country’s top players missing in action because of their protest.

He said the goal now is to re-integrate the players and to rebuild the team’s strength from ground zero.

“We’re almost having to start all over again in some aspects,” Busby explained.

“The reality is for a lot of the players, there is almost a nine-month gap with them not coming together. Obviously, all of that stuff is in the past now and we are moving forward. But, as far as that comes to the field, it is re-integration.”

Jamaica’s last meeting with South Africa ended in a 1-1 draw in 2019. Then, Bunny Shaw had scored a brilliant goal following a mazy run from the half line to pull the team level.