Cedella Marley and the Marley Foundations continue to provide an excellent springboard for the squad, who begins competing in the Dominican Republic this weekend.

The Bob and Rita Marley Foundations have once again stepped up to meet some of the fundamental needs of the Jamaica Reggae Girlz under-20 football squad, ensuring they have a strong foundation from which to compete in the CONCACAF U-20 Championships.

Both organisations have collaborated to provide the team with recovery equipment and nutritional assistance, valued at an estimated US$13,000.00 (J$1.95 million).

This ongoing relationship is a breath of fresh air in a world where women’s sports are often deprived of the resources needed to succeed. Especially after the recent victory for women’s soccer and athletics with the announcement that the United States women’s soccer team was awarded $24 million in an equal pay lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation after a six-year court battle. As the tide shifts, the assistance provided by the foundations becomes increasingly crucial.

Since 2014, the Bob and Rita Marley Foundations have been committed to supporting the Jamaica national women’s football programme. Over the years they have repeatedly answered the call to meet everything from nutritional needs (foods, protein shakes, supplements, etc.) to sports bras and recovery equipment (yoga mats, resistance bands, and portable pools for ice baths).

This time, Reggae Girlz Coach, Xavier Gilbert, reached out to request the vital GPS and Hyperice recovery equipment that will help to monitor the health of the junior Reggae Girlz and keep them in top form throughout the three-week tournament. In addition, at the request of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), the foundations are sending supplements, protein shakes, and post-training snacks for the squad.

Marley Group CEO, Cedella Marley, who has been the global ambassador for the Jamaica women’s football programme for more than seven years, notes that support at every level (rather than solely the senior team) is what is necessary to bring sustainable depth, development, and success to the women’s game.

As the foundations’ representative, she offered her thoughts on the ongoing collaboration: “Over the years our team at the foundations have embraced the off-pitch work required to build the program from the U15 straight through to the senior girls. We have been there to provide funds for college, medical diagnostics, and of course, support their practical needs in training and preparation. As their ambassador, I’m grateful that we’ve helped to increase their visibility on the global stage. As a Jamaican woman and leader of the Marley Foundation, I am even more appreciative of the work that our staff has done to let these talented female footballers know that we are in their corner beyond the spotlight.”

The Reggae Girlz left the island for the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championships in the Dominican Republic. 

They will play their first match against Guatemala in Group H at the Estadio Panamericano on Saturday (February 26) and will be competing there for several weeks in the hopes of advancing to the FIFA U-20 World Cup games.