BRADENTON, Florida – Canada FW and team captain Jordyn Huitema says that the reason Canada is headed to the 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay is because of its unwavering faith in itself.
“It’s what we set out to do all along. It’s been our goal and we stuck to the process. We were knocked back in the semis, but our determination and belief never left,” said Huitema to CONCACAF.com following Canada’s 2-1 win over Haiti in the 2018 Women’s Under-17 CONCACAF Championship third-place match, which clinched Canada’s World Cup berth.
“We kept pushing and striving for that win. In the end, we got what we wanted,” added Huitema.
Tuesday’s win over Haiti was far from easy. Huitema scored her first goal of the CWU17 to give Canada a lead in the 48’, but Haiti would respond with a Melchie Dumonay penalty conversion in the 75’.
It was at that moment that Canada’s resilience surfaced and with it the game-winning goal from Andersen Williams in the 89’.
“At moments it was chaotic. We calmed it down and played our game. At some moments we got lost, but we found our path, we stuck to the process and fought so hard for each other. In the end, it showed in the result,” said Huitema.
For Huitema and her teammates, now that the objective of reaching a World Cup has been met, it is time to celebrate.
“To say that I’m going to a World Cup is an unbelievable feeling. Very few players get to go, so to say that I’m going is unimaginable. The party we are going to have is going to be great. We’ve worked so hard for this,” concluded Huitema.
