July 30 – Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz have turned to crowdfunding to make up the shortfall in their budget as they prepare for the 8-team 2014 CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup finals in Trinidad and Tobago, August 17-27.
Backed by Cedella Marley and the Bob Marley Foundation, the Reggae Girlz launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign and, at time of writing, have raised $24,915 towards their target of $50,000 to cover their food, training and accommodation expenses.
“Jamaica can be a very different place,” said Marley. “Even now, there are people who think that girls shouldn’t be playing sports. Helping the Reggae Girlz is one way to show that girls’ sports are just as important.”
The House of Marley has gone a step further with a matching donation promise. With every new $1 donation the House of Marley will match it with $100, up to $25,000. The message in their support is clear, with the message “Let’s Strike Hard and get the Reggae Girlz to the Women’s World Cup 2015….All women deserve the right to play!”
The campaign will be open for another 10 days and donations can be made at www.indiegogo.com/projects/are-you-a-reggae-girl-help-fund-women-s-jamaican-soccer-team
The Jamaicans are currently ranked in the top four in the Caribbean having won their Caribbean Cup qualification group in Domenica, but failed to secure the needed funds from their national federation or private sponsorship to cover the costs of the final round in Port of Spain.
No Caribbean team has ever made it to the Women’s World Cup. The top four teams from the CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup will qualify for the eight team finals of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in the US October 16-26.
This championship acts as the qualifier for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada with the top three team going through and the fourth team playing off against the third placed Conmbol team. Canada have qualified as hosts.
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