Gainesville soccer mom's GoFundMe helps Jamaica during unprecedented World Cup run
One of the top stories off the pitch at this year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is rooted right here in Gainesville.
Sandra Phillips-Brower, the mother of former University of Florida and Buchholz High School standout Havana Solaun, started a GoFundMe in April to support the Jamaica's women's national soccer team that Solaun plays on.
As of Sunday morning, the campaign has raised more than $72,000.
"The journey to Australia in July of 2023 is a costly endeavor and it is my intention toto allow both staff and players to focus on the competition by helping raise funds tocover some of the expenses incurred on this incredible adventure Down Under," Phillips-Brower wrote Aug. 4.
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The GoFundMe was created due to a lack of support and uncertainty from the Jamaica Football Federation to help pay for expenses, such as the team's training camp in Amsterdam, food and other travel-related costs.
She's keeping all checks and receipts to provide full transparency, and is posting updates to let those who donate know how the money is being spent.
“If I can somehow make this journey smoother for them — and let them focus on what they’d love to do is play soccer — they shouldn’t be worried about the politics or getting a flight or getting accommodation,” Phillips-Brower told The Associated Press. “They should be able to go there and do what we they qualified to do, just play soccer.”
The "Reggae Girlz," as they are affectionally known, have certainly taken advantage of their time down under. Jamaica — ranked 43rd in the world — has not allowed a goal through its first three World Cup matches and is the first Caribbean nation to ever reach the knockout stage of the tournament.
Jamaica defeated Panama 1-0, and played world powers France and Brazil to 0-0 draws to finish second in its group. The Reggae Girlz will play Colombia in the Round of 16 on Tuesday at 4 a.m. The game will be televised on FS1.
Phillips-Brower's daughter, Solaun, 30, has appeared in one game so far in this year's World Cup. The midfielder told FIFA.com in July that a successful tournament for Jamaica would be to advance out of the group stage.
"This is now our second World Cup and we have to be brave, block out all the craziness of the World Cup and just play," Havana said. “The team is still young and we haven’t fully had the time to really put our DNA on what Jamaican soccer looks like but we have time to do that and once it all comes together it will be fun.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Jamaican Havana Solaun's mom starts GoFundMe to help team at World Cup
