Wilson backs Cavalier women's long-term plan after JWPL semi-final exit

Cavalier will not feature in the Jamaica Women's Premier League (JWPL) semi-finals this season, yet head coach Collin Wilson maintains the women's setup is progressing toward the next two campaigns and has committed to bringing the club back among the final four.

The side narrowly failed to secure a semi-final place, closing Zone A in third on 15 points. Arnett Gardens led the zone on 25 points, while Real Mona climbed into second on the last match day with 17.

It marks the first occasion since 2016 that Cavalier have been shut out of the JWPL semi-finals. Wilson said he understood from early on that the campaign would be demanding.

As many as nine players from the squad that reached last year's final had departed, leaving a sizeable void. Striker Shanel Spence was among the most significant exits; she tallied 37 goals for Cavalier in the previous season.

"We knew it would have been a very challenging season for us, even though we were just outside of the semi-finals," Wilson said. "We knew what was at stake and what was against us because, starting off, we had lost a couple of players, up to nine. So, for us to be right here, it's not too bad for us."

Through match week seven, Cavalier appeared on track for a semi-final berth and required only one win from their last three fixtures to seal qualification. They then faltered over the closing stretch, falling in all three remaining matches to Proven Girls, Arnett Gardens, and Real Mona.

Wilson attributed the late slide to limited squad depth coupled with injuries. "Losing the last three games really hurt us. We had some injuries and, because of personnel, we don't have enough [players] that can play, so the same players have been playing every week," he explained. "So the fatigue and injuries really got the better of us."

With their season concluded, Wilson said the immediate focus shifts to laying groundwork for the next term. The club is operating on a two-year roadmap with targets of regaining semi-final status and pushing for the JWPL championship.

"From the season start, we have been building for the next season. So, even for this season, we were building for the next two years. We are on course to be a contender again, and a semi-finalist or a finalist for next season."