Reggae Girlz Captain Khadijah Shaw Thanks Cedella Marley: “You Always Put Us First”
Following the Reggae Girlz qualification for back to back FIFA Women’s World Cup Football tournaments, after their 4-0 defeat of Haiti on Monday night, skipper Khadijah “Bunny” Shaw, poured out her heart to Reggae singer Cedella Marley, the Jamaican team’s benefactor, and the woman she refers to as “the real magician”.
In her Instagram stories this morning, Shaw, whose double-strike helped to propel the team to victory, tagged Cedella, who is Bob Marley’s eldest child, in a video of the team celebrating, while lauding her for her unwavering support of the team, in her heartfelt post.
“When they were quick to scrap the senior woman’s program, again you said otherwise,” Shaw, who also represents Manchester City in the English Super League noted.
“Now look at us few years later going back to back World Cup. Despite the disrespect and the amount of backlash you have received, you always put us first and for that we are grateful. Thank you for giving us a chance and the opportunity,” the St Jago High School old girl added.
Cedella came to the rescue of the Reggae Girlz in 2014 after her son Skip, showed her a flyer which said that said Jamaica’s national women’s team needed help.
Prior to that, she had been unaware of the existence of the team, as it had been cancelled by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in 2010, when the governing body stopped funding women’s programmes, and which also meant that the team, which had no FIFA ranking, could not compete in qualifying matches for the 2011 Women’s World Cup.
Cedella had approached the Federation to offer assistance, and was subsequently designated a team ambassador. Her first plan of action was to raise both awareness and funding for the team. Her brothers Stephen and Damian had teamed up with her to record the Dancehall song Strike Hard in support of the Girlz. A crowdfunding campaign was also launched, which raised more than US$50,000 for the 2015 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
Cedella has, in the past, said she initially found it difficult to get sponsors to come on board, as many held on to the notion that football was not a sport for women.
However, with the backing of the Tomorrow People singer, and the Marley family, the Reggae Girlz spiralled from being virtually non-existent, to qualifying for the World Cup in June 2019, becoming the first Caribbean team to play at the Women’s World Cup which was held in France that year.
Late last month, Cedella, via the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation (BMF), as part of her ‘Football is Freedom’ initiative, had presented a sponsorship package valued at approximately $22.5 million, to cover all costs to ensure peak performance from the Girlz, in their games ahead of their camp in Mexico.
In Monday night’s critical matchup, Shaw had marshalled the team to World Cup qualification with a double strike in the 59th and 70th minutes. Her teammates Trudi Carter and Drew Spence took the team ahead in the 26th and 29th minutes, to outmaneuver the Haitians who had only needed a draw to qualify for their first ever World Cup.
Prior to the game, Cedella had said regardless of the outcome, she was happy for the Caribbean region.
“Whatever happens tonight between Haiti and Jamaica’s game…. I am proud and happy to see a sister represent the Caribbean at the @concacafw. Go Caribbean people ✊🏾❤️ I am proud of you ⚽️,” she had noted.
A few days ago, Cedella had shared a video clip of some of the Reggae Girlz viewing the music video for Skip Marley’s Lions (Champions Mix)” which she said features herself and carries images of members of the Reggae Girlz squad.
Following Monday’s game, members of the music fraternity had sent out congratulations, among them deejays Cham, who is a former National Under-14 footballer, and his friend Bounty Killer.
“OUR REGGAE GIRLS DID IT!! #wordcup 🥳
Everyone Please Help Me to Send A BIG CONGRATULATIONS To Our Girls… Qualifying For Their Second Straight World Cup!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🔥🔥🔥🔥,” Cham posted on his Instagram page.
“Congrats to our Reggae Girls on qualifying for the World Cup 🍾🎉🎊,” Bounty Killer noted.
Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Babys Grange in extending congratulations to the team, described the qualification as “a Great Jamaica 60 Gift to the Nation” and hailed Cedella for her patronage.
“Our #ReggaeGirlz did it the hard way, their backs were against the wall in a high stakes must win game but they did it. The best of Jamaica was on show in Monterrey Mexico in this fantastic 4-nil win over Haiti,” Grange, a former manager of Dancehall stars Patra and Shabba Ranks said.
“Congratulations are also in order for the coaching staff, ambassador of women’s football Cedella Marley, the JFF and everyone who played a part in this history making achievement. Once again the true grit, determination and never say die attitude which we have become known for, came to the fore once again.
A proud country salutes you. See you in Australia and New Zealand next year,” Grange added.