2022: ‘REMARKABLE YEAR’ PARA SA FILIPINAS

HINDI maitatatwang ang 2022 ay isang matagumpay na taon para sa Philippine women’s football team.

Natupad ng tinatawag ngayong “Filipinas” ang inaasahan ng Filipino football fans makaraang muling magwagi ng medalya sa Southeast Asian Games at dominahin ang AFF Women’s Championship noong nakaraang Agosto sa harap ng 8,257 fans sa Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Ang pinakamalaking tagumpay sa lahat ay ang pagkuwalipika ng mga Pinay sa FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“It’s been a remarkable year and to sum it up in just two sentences would be an injustice. To qualify for a World Cup for the first time in the history of the country is truly amazing. The bronze medal at the SEA Games was amazing. Winning the tournament at home for the first time, the AFF, was really really remarkable and humbling. To have that in front of our home crowd is really special,” sabi ni coach Alen Stajcic sa isang yearend recap.

Ang tagumpay ng mga Pinay ay nagresulta sa maraming friendlies, kabilang ang laban sa mga koponan na sasabak din sa FIFA WWC, na nagbigay sa kanila ng ideya kung paano maghanda para sa event.

“The first trip to Europe, winning in Europe. The first trip to Central America, getting a point in Central America. The first trip to South America, getting a point in South America. Learning how to travel across time zones and getting your body right in preparation for matches are so many things that we achieved, so many things that we did, different footballing countries, and different pedigrees,” ani Stajcic.

Ang koponan ay sumalang sa 30 matches sa buong taon, kung saan nanalo sila sa 18 sa mga ito, kabilang ang penalty shootout win kontra Chinese Taipei sa AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarterfinals noong January na nagselyo sa kanilang FIFA WWC berth.

Nanalo rin sila laban sa Myanmar sa SEA Games bronze medal match noong nakaraang Mayo, at ang mga panalo kontra perennial powerhouses Vietnam at Thailand sa AFF Women’s Championship playoffs noong August upang kunin ang championship gold.

Inilarawan niya ang 18 wins mula sa 30 matches sa 12 buwan bilang “incredible statistics and an incredible ride” para sa koponan.

Binigyang kredito ng Australian mentor ang kanilang team manager na si Jeff Cheng sa lahat ng tagumpay ng mga Pinay.

“We’ve said it many times, but the support of Jefferson Cheng is amazing, the players and the staff are blessed to have his support in sponsoring this team and for us to achieve to be able to achieve the things that we have. It’s been an incredible journey,” ani Stajcic. PNA