As the Cayman Islands national women’s football team readies themselves for their opening match of the CONCACAF Road to W Gold Cup, Alfredo Whittaker, president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, is encouraging them to stay focused on the task at hand.
“I am very proud of the young national team that will be representing the Cayman Islands,” Whittaker told the Compass. “[It] is impressive to see the unity and the strength that these young players are showing,” he added, noting that coach Michael Johnson and staff are playing a vital role.
Outside of their three fixtures against the University of West Florida, the last match of international significance was a loss against Jamaica in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers – with the reggae girls going on to play in the World Cup earlier this year.
However, before that match, Cayman picked up a 2-0 victory over Grenada, and they are looking to find that winning way again.
The Cayman women’s team will begin their 2024 Gold Cup campaign on Thursday, 21 Sept., when they play Anguilla in Group D of League C, which also features Curaçao.
With Cayman the highest ranked team in their group, sitting at 166 in the FIFA table, along with having key players like Shayana Windsor and Molly Kehoe available for the match, Whittaker believes teamwork will be the deciding factor for the women’s success.
“I think that they will do great,” he said. “When a team is united, they are very hard to beat.”
Anguilla currently are at 183 in the rankings with Curaçao at 178. After playing Anguilla, Cayman will then welcome them to home soil four days later.
Then on 26 Oct., Cayman will play at home again, this time against Curaçao, before travelling away to face them again on 4 Dec.
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