Trailblazing Filipinas set sights on SEAG gold

From the celebration of the country’s first Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship title, a hunger for gold has emerged.

This time, the national women’s football team, which has reached a milestone after coach Alen Stajcic, is looking for a historic gold at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Olympics to be hosted by Cambodia.

“After the Philippines captured the AFF Women’s Championship trophy last year, they really hope to win another medal, if not gold,” said lawyer Ed Gastanes, secretary general of the Philippine Football Federation, during the Philippine Sports Writers Association Forum on Tuesday.

History

World Cup-bound Philippines made history when they won bronze in the 31st edition of the regional biennial meet in Hanoi, Vietnam.

But they aim for more.

“The SEA Games women’s final will be another historic event for us,” added Gastanes.

Two-time champions Vietnam will be one of the main opponents the Philippines will have to face in order to win gold, and the two-time champions will enter the tournament with a vengeance. The Philippines defeated Vietnam, 4-0, in the semifinals of the AFF tournament.

The Philippines will fly to the SEA Games prepared; they will have a packed schedule of matches before the regional meeting, which will be held in May.

“The Filipinos will start their season with the four-nation Pinatar Cup in Murcia, Spain,” Gastanes said.

The tournament will be held from February 15 to 21 and the Philippines will face No. 16 Wales, No. 21 Scotland and No. Iceland.

Olympic Qualification

The women’s national team will also participate in the first round of Olympic women’s football qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics from April 3 to 11. The Philippines is in Group E of the qualifiers along with Pakistan, Tajikistan and Hong Kong.

All these matches will sharpen the squad for the SEA Games, raising optimism about the team’s chances against the best in the region.

“We now have a real chance for the national women’s soccer team at the Cambodia SEA Games thanks to our committed and competent preparations and coaching staff,” Gastanes said.

Filipinas has been in play since last year. They qualified for the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Women’s World Cup by reaching the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup hosted by India in January last year. Four months later, the team won the AFF in front of an appreciative crowd at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. INQ

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