AFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SISIPA NA

Mga laro ngayon:
(Rizal Memorial Stadium)
4 p.m. – Singapore vs. Malaysia
7 p.m. – Philippines vs. Australia U-23
(Binan Football Stadium)
4 p.m. – Indonesia vs. Thailand

SASANDAL ang Pilipinas sa hometown inspiration sa pagsagupa sa powerhouse Australia sa pagsisimula ng 12th Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship ngayon sa Rizal Memorial Stadium at Binan Stadium sa Laguna.

Magbubukas ng Group A hostilities, ang mga Pinay at ang Aussies ay magsasalpukan sa alas-7 ng gabi matapos ang 4 p.m. match sa pagitan ng traditional rivals Singapore at Malaysia sa alas-4 ng hapon sa Rizal Stadium.

Haharapin ng four-time champion Thailand ang Indonesia sa alas-4 ng hapon sa iba pang Group A game sa Binan Football Stadium sa Laguna sa 11-nation tournament na inorganisa ng Philippine Football Federation at suportado ng Philippine Sports Commission.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na sasabak ang mga Pinay sa harap ng hometown crowd magmula noong 2019 30thSoutheast Asian Games, at umaasang makakakuha ng dagdag na lakas mula sa local fans, na inaaasahang dadagsa para panoorin silang maglaro sa heritage-rich pitch.

Galing sa bronze-medal finish sa 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, target ng tropa ni Aussie coach Alan Stajcic na gamitin ang torneo bilang bahagi ng kanilang paghahanda sa FIFA Women’s World Cup na iho-host ng Australia at New Zealand sa 2023.

Bagama’t haharapin ng kanyang tropa ang Australian Under-23 squad at hindi ang senior side, iginiit ni Stajcic na ang kanilang katunggali mula sa Down Under ay mabigat pa rin at liyamado sa torneo.

“Age really isn’t an issue but the quality on the pitch. Australia has probably a lot more depth than most countries in Southeast Asia. No doubt they are still the favorites for this tournament whether they brought in their Under-23 or Under-20 squads,” sabi ni Stajcic sa pre-tournament virtual press conference kahapon.

“Some of their 16-year—olds are as good as any of those who have come before them. Midfielder Daniela Galic and defender Alexia Apostolakis are probably among the best talents in Southeast Asia and they’re only 16,” dagdag pa ng Aussie mentor.

“I am not underestimating them (the Australians). They are a very good team and it will be a very good experience for us to play them,” aniya.

Sinabi ni Aussie Under-23 squad coach Melissa Andreatta, na naging assistant coach ng Matildas na bumokys sa mga Pinay, 4-0, sa AFC Asian Cup noong nakaraang February sa India, na tanging si defender Charlotte Grant ang carryover mula sa koponan sa AFF Women’s Championship.

“The last time we played in this tournament was in 2018 (in Thailand) and we are here to continue building up our experience playing against the best teams in Southeast Asia,” sabi ni Andreatta, na minsang nakasama ni Stajcic sa “mentee-mentor” capacity.