MORE financial assistance is needed to help the Philippine national women’s football team as it embarks on a first-ever campaign in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand this month.
Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta said they have been seeking funding from the Philippine Sports Commission for the Filipinas, who have gone into the final phase of their preparations this week in Sydney, Australia.
“We have reached out to him (PSC chairman Richard Bachmann). We hope they give more to sustain the preparations,” said Araneta.
Araneta said the PFF is seeking around P30 million for their campaign.
Their first game in the FIFA tournament is against the New Zealand Fern on July 25 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Coach Alen Stajcic, on Saturday, named 29 players to his provisional squad.
“I hope the PSC can give us some funding for that also. Because we know that they have given P1 billion to basketball as host, and we have (also) qualified for the World Cup,” added Araneta.
Veterans like co-captains Hali Long and Tahnai Annis are among the players listed, along with mainstays Olivia McDaniel and Inna Palacios.
Araneta bared the budget for their campaign has reached around $3 million as they were able to get some support from the FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
Just like every player seeing action in the competition, members of the Filipinas are guaranteed to receive at least $30,000 from FIFA.
This is assured to each of the 32 countries that qualified for the World Cup, with each team to take in least $1.56 million.
The funds will be paid to the individual federations, with the expectation they pass on to the players the money earmarked for them by FIFA.
This will grant each player around P1.7 million once the funds are given out.
There are plans for FIFA to distribute money directly to players rather than to national federations.