A Milestone Final
The ISSA Construction Reinas Cup reaches a significant milestone today, August 1, 2026, as the tournament celebrates its fifth anniversary with a high-stakes final between defending champions Reinas Academy and a reinforced Los Perfectos squad. The match, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Buttercup Park, is being touted by organizers as a landmark event for the growth of women’s youth football in Jamaica.
Neo Oxford, the founder of the competition and head coach of Reinas Academy, describes the tournament as a vital platform for player development. Over the past five years, the competition has expanded its footprint significantly, drawing 12 teams from across the island—spanning from Negril Point to Morant Point. According to Oxford, demand for entry has become so high that organizers were forced to turn away interested clubs this season, signaling the tournament’s rising prestige.
Talent and Tactical Stakes
The final promises a clash of two of the most talented rosters in the youth circuit. Reinas Academy enters the match with a legacy to defend, supported by a core group of experienced players. Their roster features senior Reggae Girl Shanae Ashley, alongside her Real Mona teammates Olivia Ashbourne, Kai Phillips, Breanna Marr, and Alexia Evans—all of whom recently secured a third-place finish in the Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL).
However, they face an intensified challenge from Los Perfectos. In a strategic move to bolster their performance, Los Perfectos has joined forces with JWPL champions Frazsiers Whip. The squad now includes several national youth representatives, such as Shennel Walters, Tavia Gayle, Kyra Grant, and Italia Robinson. This collaboration is expected to provide the toughest test yet for the defending champions.
Oxford emphasized that beyond the trophy, the match serves as a barometer for the quality of talent currently emerging within the Jamaican system. “As a coach, and in a final at this age group, you always want to get that feeling of winning,” Oxford said. “But if you are a football fan, you should be expecting one of the best female football matches on local soil.”