International exposure and time spent together played key roles in the Philippine national women’s football team title romp in the Asean Women’s Football Championship on Sunday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Coach Allen Stajcic said they won’t stray from this winning formula, saying it is important for the girls to get further exposure in many international matches in the months ahead.
“In terms of time together, you’ve got to have that. Or you could have a few players for the World Cup. Now, we’re looking forward to what can happen next year,” said Stajcic, who appeared with his team as they spoke of their experience a day after winning the Asean championship in a get-together with journalists during a victory lunch at the Crimson Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
For now, the Filipinas are set to have an almost one-month break, before they regroup by August in time for the coming FIFA window.
The FIFA window is a period when national teams can play a series of friendlies, while calling up players who are playing professionally in ball clubs based in other countries.
“We are looking at the end of August in the FIFA window. Hopefully, we get friendlies in the United States,” said Filipinas team manager Jefferson Cheng.
Before the Asean tournament, the Filipinas played seven friendlies in Europe and Australia, winning five.
Team Philippines took a historic first championship behind goals from Jessica Kowart, Katrina Guillou and Sarina Bolden.
With the 2023 FIFA World Cup for Women just around the corner, the Filipinas have vowed to step up and get their acts ready for their next journey.
Guillou, one of the Team Philippines’ newest members, vowed to get better in their next series of training.
“The key to consistency here is not to take things for granted with what we had. We had a losing match against Thailand. Then, we had a great game with Vietnam, and another against Thailand. It just shows that anything can happen in any game,” said the 28-year-old Guillou, a Filipino-French footballer living in the United States with her mom.
Guillou, who plays for Swedish professional club Piteå IF, scored one of the goals when the Philippines got past a tough Thailand, 3-0, to claim their first crown in the ASEAN tournament.
She missed seeing action in the 31st Southeast Asian Games and made up for it in helping the Filipinas make history with their memorable games in the AFF bootfest.
The presence of her mom, Lorna Rivera and other relatives, inspired her to play her best during the two-weeklong contest.
“It was a huge accomplishment, building on the momentum (over Vietnam), and winning it in front of the fans,” added Guillou.
Kowart, Guillou and Bolden sank the needed goals in the 7th, 20th and 89th minutes as the Filipinas finally beat the Thais, the SEA Games silver medalists, who have never been beaten by a Philippine team since 1981.
Many players like Jessika Kowart, a 5’8” Filipino American midfielder, had their first international matches for the Philippines this year, with Guillou, along with Carleigh Frilles, Kaya Hawkinson, Sara Eggesvik, Jaclyn Sawicki, Malea Cesar, and Isabella Flannigan.
And most of them have lived up to expectations with the senior players of the team, like goalies Inna Palacios, Olivia McDaniel, and Kiara Fontanilla. Other senior members of the team include Dominique Randle, Halli Long, Chantelle Maniti, Sofia Harrison, Eva Madarang, Tara Shelton, Tahnai Annis, Camille Rodriguez, Jessica Miclat, Riley Bugay, and Annicka Castaneda.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated the Philippine National Women’s Football team, saying that anything is possible with teamwork and unity.
Lawmakers also sent their congratulations.
“Your victory brings us so much pride as we finally see the beginnings of a truly world-class football team,” PBA party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles said.
“With your hard work, dedication, and seamless teamwork, you were able to beat Thailand 3-0 to end their domination in Southeast Asia’s women’s football,” she added.
Former Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun shared a similar view, describing the women’s football victory as “a glorious moment for the country.”
“The Malditas lifted our spirit as a people and nation starting with their qualifying win to the FIFA Women’s World Cup and until their ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship victory,” said Fortun, member of the board of governors of the Philippine Football Federation.
“They performed exemplarily against every team they went up against, displaying skills honed under the competent management of Coach Alen Stajcic,” he added.
Senator Christopher Go also congratulated the team, and expressed his gratitude to the team’s manager Jeff Cheng and head coach Alen Stajcic for continuously motivating the Filipinas to always put their best foot forward.
“Thank you for bringing honor to our country. Your win inspires your fellow Filipinos at the most opportune time when we are recovering from the pandemic as one resilient nation, as one proud people!” Go said.
The senator vowed to continue supporting the team as they train and prepare for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup that will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
