High-school footballers matched skills in the annual Tarania ‘Plum Plum’ Clarke Girl Power Invitational last Friday, a tournament held in honour of the late Jamaica international, who died under tragic circumstances in October 2019.
The young footballers, drawn from Camperdown, Edith Dalton James, Excelsior and Merl Grove, were watched by head coaches Keidane McAlpine, of the University of Georgia; Renne Horton of the University of Missouri; Mallory Sayre of West Georgia University; and Hope Clarke of National Junior College, Champions Daytona State College.
Clarke, who conditions Jamaica Internationals the 2025 US Junior College Player of the Year Shaniel Buckley and Destiny Powell, told The Gleaner the transition to the faster style of play and packed schedule in the US collegiate system, which often leads to physical and mental fatigue, are challenges Jamaican players can successfully overcome.
“I think they’ve got to get in situations and environments at the highest level they can possibly be in. So, if that maybe here on the island training with men, training with boys, and just playing that faster pace, more physical match and a much-higher intensity that would really help them to just get more familiar with US game. So, I think it’s really all about their training environment and instead of going through the motions, as we see sometimes, it’s really about rising to the very top and playing everything in each match.”
On his first visit to Jamaica, McAlpine, who has enjoyed state and national success with the Bulldogs since he joined them in 2021, has coached US-born Jamaicans and was coached by Jamaicans in his own playing career, told The Gleaner he was impressed with some of the talent he saw.
“They have the talent, some of the qualities they have on their own and so of course we see it now. There are some steps to go to get to where they could be elite, but it’s here for sure. There are things that are natural to their game that are different from the US-born players. What they do between now and moving forward is gonna be the difference between actually being able to reach those heights and the exposure necessary to reach those heights, and I am hoping to be able to help.”
Competitions director and Reggae Girlz assistant coach, Xavier Gilbert, reminded parents and guardians of the role football can play in gaining higher education.
“I mean the opportunities are there, it’s just for them to support them and give them the opportunity to play. It’s easier for the girls to get scholarships than the boys. Every day we are being asked can we get players into (US) colleges whether Junior College or Division One or Division Two (universities), we just can’t find (enough) players. So it’s a good platform and I hope they can use this opportunity.”
Former Jamaica International, national coach and now women’s football supervisor at Concacaf, Tashana Vincent, who competed in the US College system, also underscored the opportunities available, but admitted players have to be able to push themselves beyond their comfort zones.
“I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to attend college overseas and I can tell these young ladies that it’s a never-before experience that will change your lives forever. As you said, I started in this league, I got an opportunity to study, I went and did courses, stayed in the game, became a life-long learner, and also a life-long fan of the game.
‘It helped me to progress in life to be able to earn a living from football where I can take care of my family and live the life that I longed for as a child growing up. So I must say kudos to the organisers for this event because this is definitely laying a platform where young ladies can get life-changing opportunities. My advice (to the players) is to be strong because your desire to be successful must be greater than your desire to come home.”
Former senior Reggae Girlz head coaches Hue Menzies and Lorne Donaldson were instrumental in getting US college coaches to scout talent from the island and both told The Gleaner there are great opportunities for more young players to follow in the footsteps of players like Khadija Shaw, Konya Plummer, Jody Brown, to name a few, whose journey to becoming professionals came by way of the US collegiate system.
A combined team of players from Camperdown and Edith Dalton James won the tournament with victory over Excelsior High, while Merl Grove ended third after getting the better of Eltham High.
