When the Cayman girls Under-17 footballers face host nation Costa Rica their legendary team spirit will be tested to the core.

Cayman have reached the last eight of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and play their first game in Group B in San Juan tomorrow

Cayman tackle defending champions USA on Friday and Haiti on Sunday. If they reach the semi-final stage, they will play again on 18 March and the finals are on 20 March.

The lion hearted Cayman side has been adopted as every neutral supporter’s favourite.

Amanda Nelson will be battling like all her team-mates. The 15-year-old defender said: “We’ve got a lot of experience in recent months. We’ve travelled a lot, got the team together and got some good experience.”

Nelson has only been in the national programme a year but she’s been kicking footballs since she was five.

“I’m very excited to be going to Costa Rica, playing different teams. I think the Costa Rica girls are very smart, they’re strong and have a lot of skill and ability and quickness.

“USA are tall and aggressive but I think we’ll handle them pretty well.”

 Haiti lost five of their players and one coach from the earthquake so there will be huge emotion everyt time they play.

Cayman lost both recent friendly games against Jamaica. Nelson played both learnt from the experience.

“The Jamaicans are very fast and physical. They cut in a lot and just shoot, shoot, shoot as soon as they get the space to.

“I not worried about the other teams because we play really well as a team and we can do anything when we put our minds to it physically, mentally and spiritually.”

The squad making the team is; Emily Kelly, Jasmine Ebanks, Tacita Berry, Brianna Hydes, Brittany Mobley, Nelson, Marissa McLaughlin, Chelsea Bush, Alyssa Chin, Jetena Bodden, Shanice Monteith, Chelsea Greene, Brown, Shanelle Frederick, Monique Roberts, Brittany Bodden, Ashani Francis, Xotchilt Watler, Ashleigh Shim and Nikki Ebanks.
Berry is the captain.

The team is accompanied by Head of Delegation Martha Godet, Head Coach Bobby McLaren, Technical Director Thiago Cunha, Manager Gloria Gall, Equipment Manager Annette Monteith and Physiotherapist Al Bartice.

Chelsea Brown is only 13 but she has the air of someone who has played international football for ever.

She played in Haiti last year and went on the recent Orlando trip. She had the satisfaction of scoring the solitary goal against Jamaica in the defeats of 3-1 and 6-0.

Brown said: “The matches so far have not been easy for us but as we go on we learn from them. I think we can manage to move on to the next round.

“Our training has been excellent over the past few months. We’ve done drills, practice matches, on-field fitness and a lot of physical work. We’re ready.

“Against Haiti will be an emotional match but we have to do what we have to do and try to make it to the next round.”