The Philippine Women’s National Football Team beat the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1-0 last Wednesday to cap its campaign in the second round of the 2024 Paris Olympic Qualifiers in Perth, Australia.
Tahnai Annis slotted the winning goal in the 19th minute to give the country some hope of advancing to the next round. The football gods, however, had a different plan.
The Filipinas eventually finished second in group A, with six points behind the perfect nine points of host Australia. The Matildas beat Chinese Taipei, 3-0 in their last group fixtures to book their passage to the next phase of the qualifiers.
Despite finishing second in their group, the Filipinas’ lopsided 8-0 loss to the Matildas proved to be costly as it prevented them from getting the best second place mark in the tournament due to goal difference.
The Philippines had a -4 in goal difference after three games. Uzbekistan took that spot after demolishing India, 3-0 in their Group C matchup to finish with six points but with a +2 in goal difference.
China and South Korea played to a 1-1 draw thus ending their own respective quest while Japan beat Vietnam, 2-0 to advance to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
A draw or a win by India could have extended the Philippines’ campaign for a spot in Paris.
North Korea topped Group B in Xiamen, China to complete the four teams advancing to the third round where the top two teams will eventually go to Paris.
The failure to advance due to goal difference is a bitter pill to swallow for the Filipinas.
They almost qualified. But then again, there are many takeaways and positives for the team to build on.
A strong and sustainable program for the team, hopefully, will be in place as the Filipinas set their sights on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Speaking of thinking forward, the Philippine Football Federation released all football related activities for November the other day.
From the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers to the AFC Cup, AFC Champions League, the PFF U19 Boys National Championship, Copa Paulino Alcantara Semifinal Leg and to the PFF Women’s League, the play dates are all included.
The Azkals’ games, too, are mentioned. Even the much anticipated PFF elections to determine who will succeed Nonong Araneta as football chief in the country has been calendared and set on Nov. 25.
To say that whoever wins the presidency will have the task of setting the direction for football in the country will be too simplistic and an understatement.
For the bare minimum, the new president will have to play a crucial role on what will happen to football in the country for the next few years.
On the upside, the move to release the full fixtures this month is praiseworthy for it will give fans the time to prepare for which games they will watch out for, whether in the domestic or foreign fronts.
It also opened the door for more positive possibilities for local football like sponsors to come in and support the local tournaments. Just hoping that the national team and the local clubs competing in the AFC tournaments will fare well and register strong results this month.
Azkals
In an Azkals’ related news, two more names were added in the list for the training pool that is set to start on the 12th.
The PFF is expected to announce by next week the names of the players who were called up to possibly play against Vietnam and Indonesia in the World and Asian Cup qualifiers.
Just the same, several die-hard Azkals players who doubled as de-facto scouts for the national team have been busy of late.
They have been updating a list of possible prospects who can join the team by next year or in time for the squad’s next games in the qualifiers in March 2024.
These scouts, which include Rafael Pagaura, Ken Altar, Hans Roque and several more, have identified players coming from different leagues all over the world that have secured, if reports are true, Philippine passports already.
Meaning they can play for the flag and country once they are invited and accept the invitation to suit up for the sun and three stars.
These prospects are Kristofer Reyes, a center back for Throttur Vogum; Adrian Ugelvik, another center back who plays for Levanger FK; Dominic Vegaalban, a striker for Sacramento State Hornets; Daniel Lucas Larsson, a center back for Saint Peter’s Peacocks; Eddie Hudson lll, who plays as a center back for Flint City Bucks; and Pedro Ferndadez, a left winger/striker for FC Barcelona’s U16 team.
Several players too are on their radar who hold dual citizenships and are eligible to play for the Philippines if they choose to do so.
These include Rhino Goutier, Isaiah Chisolm, Daniel Mahiya, Sean Leadley, Julius Lucena (son of Azakls’ great Jerry), Rocket Ritarita, Kruz and Kamden Held, Ethan Curtis, Joey de Ruijter, Will Mendoza, Enrique Elias Katsaros, Zachary Gabriel Cabiling, Mateo Colmenares, Justin von der Hitz, Stavros Charalampous and Cole Mrowka.
Most of these players are in their late teens and early 20s so there is enough time for them to get their papers in order.
Hoping that Azkals Coach Michael Weiss, team advisor and recruitment manager Stephan Schrock and the rest of the management team will check on these players soon and assess if they can play for th e team or at least deserve a face to face to assess the level of their skills and desire to play for the country.
Please tune in this Sunday, November 5 from 2-3:30pm at DZME 1530 Khz for another exciting episode of Larong Pilipino with The Designated Kit Man, veteran sports journalist Chino Trinidad and the walking history book himself, Cong. Butch Pichay.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at [email protected] or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat