Soccer

Bob Marley's daughter behind historic Jamaican World Cup qualification

21 October 2018 - 00:00 By BBC

Bob Marley is one of Jamaica's favourite sons, but it is the late musician's daughter who is revelling in the nation's latest success.
Jamaica has become the first Caribbean team to qualify for the women's football World Cup and it's Cedella Marley - the first-born daughter of Bob - whom the Reggae Girlz have to thank.
In 2010, the team ceased to exist, only for Cedella Marley to come on board four years later as an ambassador and sponsor with the Bob Marley Foundation.
That turnaround was completed in Texas this week, when Jamaica defeated Panama on penalties in the Concacaf women's championship third-place play-off - a feat that has been described in the Jamaican press as "almost super-human".
Twice Jamaica took the lead over Panama and twice the Central Americans equalised, before Dominique Bond-Flasza scored the winning goal from a penalty to send the Reggae Girlz to next year's World Cup in France.
"Big up to Cedella Marley for putting her neck on the line for us," said coach Hue Menzie after the game.
GETTING TO KNOW CEDELLA MARLEY
Previously a singer in the family band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Bob Marley's daughter, Cedella, 51, is now the CEO of her late father's record label as well as a fashion designer who created Jamaica's kit for the London 2012 Olympics.
As fate would have it, their qualification for the women's World Cup in France next year comes on the 20th anniversary of the men's team reaching their first World Cup, in 1998 - also held in France...

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