Jamaica expect to top the group when they face Bermuda and Curaçao in the Concacaf Caribbean Women’s Under-20 football qualifiers at the National Stadium.

According to a report in the Jamaica Observer yesterday, the Jamaica team have built a solid platform under Xavier Gilbert, the head coach. The majority of the squad helped Jamaica win the Caribbean Football Union Under-17 Championship in Puerto Rico two years ago.

Jamaica were set to play Bermuda tonight but will now face Curaçao on Friday in their first group B game after a late change to the schedule when St Lucia withdrew from the competition. Bermuda take on Curaçao tonight at 8pm.

“Nothing has changed despite the withdrawal of St Lucia, we still have a job to do and the objective remains the same, to top the group,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer. “We now have some time on our hands to enhance our preparations and we intend to make the best of it.”

Gilbert’s side crashed to a 7-1 defeat to St George’s College Under-16 boys in a warm-up match before heading to Bermuda, but their coaches remain optimistic about the team’s qualifying chances. They must finish top of the group to advance to the four-team regional finals to be held in St Kitts & Nevis from November 22 to 26.

“That game gave a good indication of where we are as a team and I don’t think we should read too much into the scoreline because they are boys that are very much advanced in terms of their football development,” Davion Ferguson, the assistant coach, said.

“But in terms of our chances going forward from the first round of the CFU qualifiers, we are expected to dominate and we are not taking anything for granted, but I believe that we will have a very positive tournament.”

Gilbert insists he is pleased with the way the team is coming together.

“I think it is a good mix [of players] and they are gelling nicely and I am pleased with the progress so far,” he said. “We had to put in the work before the tournament and I think we have done that for the most part.

Jamaica beat Bermuda 5-1 when they previously met in an under-17 match. Gilbert is expecting stiffer competition from the home side. “I know Bermuda has injected a few players and I think they will be our toughest test,” Gilbert added. “Curaçao is also doing well, but you never can tell because the region is catching up with us.”