Reggae versus Bossanova at World Cup in France
TT “Hero” director, Frances-Anne Solomon (center) with
cast and crewmembers. Leroy “Dreamy” Riley
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Caribbean L BQ ife, June 7–13, 2019 11
“If Music be the Food of Love,
Play On” – “Twelfth Night” by
William Shakespeare
Music might be the main
ingredient when Jamaica’s Reggae
Girlz kicks off their firstround
contest against Brazil on
June 9 in the 2019 World Cup
Soccer competition in France.
The two teams propelled by
inspiration from hometown fans
who throughout their journey
to the world-stage have inserted
reggae beats and South America’s
samba and bossanova to
winning games will test their
mettle and in the process dance
to a second game and a chance at
proceeding to the next level.
Caribbean nationals are pinning
their hopes on the female
kickers representing the hard
driving beat as well as being
trailblazers, the first females
from the region to qualify for
competition on the world stage.
Although selected to play the
top 10 rated Latin ballers, the
Girlz are optimistic that skill,
confidence, pride in nation, their
nation’s repute for overcoming
adversity and the pop Caribbean
music they love to love will result
in a victory.
At home, Jamaicans are
already singing Bob Marley’s
“One Love” with hopes that the
anthem may score favor for the
island Girlz.
They left on a high after playing
a friendly game against a
local Florida team.
From the start of that game,
reggae dominated the atmosphere.
From dancehall reggae to oldschool
and traditional reggae the
music played homage to a predominant
Jamaican crowd that
filled a Miramar venue demonstrating
pride, culture and support
for the first-time qualifiers.
The Jamaica Tourist Board
sent representatives to cheer on
the team.
Classic Marley recordings
reigned over other hit reggae
tunes.
Despite her health challenges,
Rita Marley, the avowed queen of
reggae made a presence.
From a wheelchair she waved
victory throughout the contest.
Cedella, her daughter — credited
with igniting the team to
fund their journey when Jamaica
opted out on finances — joined
spectators, the team and sponsors
of the exhibition game.
And celebrated names of
the genre including Papa San
showed up to sendoff the team
they are gambling on to beat
Brazil, Italy and Australia in first
round competition.
Florida’s FC Surge were first
to deliver a 1-0 advantage.
They sustained the one love
score throughout the first half of
the game but that did not deter
the revelry of Jamaican fans who
waved black, green and gold arm
banners, cheered and sang assuredly
as if they had gotten insider
information the score might
change.
By the second half it changed
when Jodie Brown wearing
number 10 kicked an equalizer
into the goal.
Immediately afterwards,
shouts of “we want another one”
echoed across the field.
Chantel Swaby responded to
advance the Girlz to a 2-1 lead.
Jubilation from fans from
Lauderhill, Fort Lauderdale,
Davie and Broward counties and
Miami defined the long whistle
blew to end the match.
For many, the victory seemed
a confirmation of the might of
the Caribbean team due to the
amalgam of rival players for FC
Surge, many of whom now in
college but are sure picks to represent
the USA in the next Olympic
games.
Reminiscent of the 1998 exhibition
game in Miami where the
Reggae Boyz on their way to
France demonstrated Jamaica’s
enduring spirit, the recent Florida
match proved that reggae
music is gender friendly to both
Boyz and Girlz.
Jamaica Consulate
Opens Condolence
Book To Honor 5th Pri
PM Seaga
The Consulate of Jamaica has
opened a condolence book in
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
Continued on Page 30
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