Playing and beating Thailand and Indonesia again, this time in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, is the immediate goal and direction that the Philippine Malditas national women’s team is looking forward to take.
“Our last tournament before the qualifiers was the SEA Games and I think it’s clear that that’s the direction we’re going and that will prepare us for the World Cup in 15 to 18 months’ time,” said veteran player Camille Rodriguez, one of the remaining senior players of the squad for the last 11 years.
“Definitely, we’ll go for wins because it will help us towards our goals, and at the same, it will help us keep breaking barriers, make history not just for us and for the entire nation,” said Rodriguez, a midfielder.
Rodiguez and her teammates reflected on the team’s accomplishments in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup in India in a live-streamed press conference Sunday at the Seda Hotel, following their return to the country.
Fourteen members of the team went back to the Philippines after their stint in India, while coach Alen Stajcic headed straight home to Sydney.
Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta joined the online gathering with secretary general Ed Gastanes and manager Jeffrey Cheng.
The Filipina booters made history when they clinched a first-ever berth in the World Cup after pulling off a dramatic 2-1 win over favored Chinese Taipei via penalty shootout during the quarterfinals.
They eventually settled for fourth after absorbing a 0-2 loss to South Korea in the semifinals.
To make it to the quarterfinals, the Malditas won over Thailand, 1-0, and SEA Games silver medallist Indonesia, 6-0.
They have not yet met SEAG host Vietnam, which beat Chinese Taipei, 2-1, in the repechage to earn the last Asian slot to the World Cup.
The Philippines and Vietnam assured themselves of seats in the World Cup with host Australia, South Korea, along with China and Japan, which met in the Asian Cup finals.
Araneta said discussions are now going on with Stajcic on having the Australian coach stay on and handle the Malditas not only in the SEA Games, but also in the ASEAN Football Championships in Manila and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
“The main priority was building a foundation of team mentality, the discipline within the team, structures within the team. I think it’s pretty clear that the players know their role with the group when we have the ball, and when we don’t. When you have all the ingredients, you have a chance for success,” said Stajcic while in Sydney.
